Third placed Falmouth completed the league double over league leaders Launceston at Pennygillam and in doing so they inflicted their hosts’ first home defeat of the season. The Town line-up was missing five regular first team players due to various injury problems, so second team striker Nathan McIntosh was drafted in to partner skipper for-the-day Matt Drummond up front.
Falmouth were the first to launch an attack when Mitch O’Donnell played a long ball up to Dan Green who weaved past a defender before hitting a shot from the edge of the area which only just went over the bar. Launceston hit back with Liam Tilley putting a quick ball over to the right where 22 goal striker, Sam Davey, ghosted in and hit a low shot which Jason Chapman gathered at the foot of the post.
Falmouth took the lead after 16 minutes when Nathan McIntosh took the ball past two defenders before squaring it to Matt Drummond who laid it back to Karl Turner. The winger smashed a low shot just inside the post and into the back of the net. This seemed to knock Launceston out of their rhythm and Aiden Way played a ball up to Drummond, who laid it into the path of Joe Lugg, but he hurried his shot and it went just wide of the post from 15 yards.
Launceston got back into their stride and Liam Tilley cut the ball back to Sam Davey whose shot brought a good save from Chapman. Falmouth’s central defenders Lee Rundle and Chris Menhenick were clearing the high balls that the home side were floating into the area before Adam Yeo and Sam Davey had a chance to get to them. The one time that Yeo did win a header, Chapman tipped the ball away for a corner.
Kevin Hill was doing a solid job in midfield for Town and he found that the hard working Karl Turner with a high ball out to the left and Turner’s pass to Lugg resulted in Dan Stevenson turning his shot around the post for a corner.
Falmouth started the second half at a fast pace and the impressive Nathan McIntosh forced Gavin Welsh into miss hitting a clearance. The ball fell to Drummond, but his 20 yard dipping shot was well saved by Stevenson. Launceston fought back and Rob Blake hit the ball over the Town defence for Callum Martindale to square it to Mike Burke, but he rushed his shot as Menhenick closed in on him and the ball flew over the bar.
Falmouth doubled their lead on the hour when Matt Drummond ran on to a great through ball leaving the defenders standing and drew the keeper before slotting it past him from 10 yards. The home side made some substitutions, but Town’s defence was in no mood to give anything away and a lot of their attacks were getting bogged down in the middle of the park.
Dan Green played a good ball out to O’Donnell who raced down the wing before playing it inside to Hill who in turn fed Joe Lugg, but his 15 yard shot flew straight at the keeper. Town had the chance to extend their lead after 77 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after McIntosh was brought down from behind in the area. Matt Drummond stepped up to take the spot kick, but only managed to lob the ball a good 3 yards over the cross bar. This spurred Launceston on and they threw everything into attack, but some good covering by Aiden Way and Chris Menhenick prevented the Clarets from scoring at home for the first time this season!