Falmouth progressed through to the quarter finals of the Cornwall Senior Cup following one of their toughest games of the season at a blustery Godolphin Way on Saturday. Town had to make several changes to their starting line-up due to injuries and James Miller was brought in to the play alongside Matt Drummond up front in what was only his second game of the season.
Godolphin had an early chance when, after only two minutes, Mark Rose played a through ball to Phil Lowry who raced in to the penalty area, but Jason Chapman was out quickly to dive at the striker’s feet to gather the ball. Town bounced back and James Miller ran on to a ball from Dan Green, but Tim Peacock managed to deflect his shot and the ball flew out for a corner.
Falmouth took the lead after 23 minutes when Dan Green unleashed a fierce shot from 25 yards which Shaun Semmens did well to block, but could not hold. Miller was quickest to react and he prodded the loose ball home from 6 yards.
There was a lot of midfield play from both sides, but defences were on top and the off-side trap was being successfully deployed by both sides to the frustration of players and supporters alike. Falmouth were dealt a blow after 37 minutes when Miller went down after a hard challenge and he was unable to continue so Aiden Way came on at full-back with Shane White moving up to the forward line to partner Drummond.
The second half saw Godolphin push forward for long periods and Chapman made a good save as he dived full length to his left to grasp Erin Dilley’s powerful header following a good ball in from the right. Falmouth forced a corner which Karl Turner sent in to the middle for Shane White to get in a good header which flew across the face of the goal and just wide of the far post.
Mark Rose played a good ball along the left flank to Ross Fallens who cut in goalwards and tried a shot which flew wide of the post. Mark Vercesi played a good ball through to Joe Lugg who took the ball on a few paces before hitting a low shot that Semmens managed to block with his feet. Godolphin had a corner which resulted in the ball being cleared off the line by Aiden Way at the near post and a couple of minutes later another home corner saw Chapman make a good save under pressure.
Town almost doubled their lead after 70 minutes when Dan Green ran on to a quick ball out of defence and raced into the area before cracking a low shot which struck the foot of the post.
Godolphin deservedly got their equaliser after 82 minutes when following a couple of good saves by Chapman, the Town custodian was finally beaten by Erin Dilley’s 25 yard free-kick which squeezed into the net between the keeper and the post. Five minutes later Chapman came to the rescue when he blocked substitute Lee Paxton’s shot with his feet.
Falmouth forced a couple of late corners late on and just before one of them was taken, Matt Drummond was struck in the stomach by a defender, but none of the officials saw who the culprit was and the incident went unpunished. With the game at stalemate at the end of the second half, the game went into extra time and Town brought on Mitch O’Donnell and Dan Magee to provide some fresh legs and they helped to put the home defence under pressure.
Chapman made another good save when he tipped Mark Rose’s shot over the bar and following this the home side started to tire and Falmouth took full advantage after 103 minutes when Shane White headed home at the near post to score what proved to be the winning goal.
Falmouth were down to 10 men for the second half of extra-time when Lee Rundle limped off and Godolphin found themselves reduced to 10 men also when Lee Paxton was sent off three minutes from the end.