Falmouth Town make long trip home from Gloucestershire empty handed

BISHOPS CLEEVE 1 - FALMOUTH TOWN 0

Falmouth Town made the long trip into Gloucestershire to take on Bishops Cleeve, with their small available squad nursing some minor injuries, writes Scott McCormack.

They welcomed Marcello Jones back who started in the No. 10 role and also gave a start to the promising Kian Thomas. The result of the changes was a strong bench of Massey, Webber, Barner and Elcock. Cam Hutchison travelled but could not be named as he sustained a hamstring injury during Tuesday night's game against Bideford.

It was an even first five minutes on the artificial surface, but Bishops Cleeve looked the more dangerous going forward.

As the game progressed, Falmouth were struggling to win second balls in midfield and couldn’t retain possession. As a result, Rubin Wilson was becoming more and more isolated up front as Town had to resort to a succession of long clearances as they strived to keep it at 0-0.

It was a strong defensive display however and they held on to keep the scores level at half-time, despite a series of corners and free kicks having to be dealt with.

With their strong bench Falmouth must have fancied their chances in the second half and they looked much sharper in the first five minutes.

Unsurprisingly there was a triple substitution for Falmouth after 12 minutes - Elcock, Webber and Massey coming on for Wilson, Marcello Jones and Calleja-Stayne.

Immediately, Massey picked the ball up on the edge of the box, turned and hit a powerful shot that was well saved by Clayton in the Bishop Cleeve goal. From a corner soon after, Harrison Jewell, who had a fine first game back after his three-match ban, rose at the far post but could only direct his header over the bar.

Falmouth made their final substitution on 24 minutes with Barner replacing Kian Thomas. However, after 77 minutes it was Bishops Cleeve who took the lead. Substitute Isaac Pearce drove at the Falmouth defence and cut the ball back from the by-line into the path of the on-rushing Ethan Dunbar, who directed his shot past Coxhead.

Bishops Cleeve then had the better of the last part of the game, but Falmouth stayed in it and their doggedness was almost rewarded on 90 minutes. Luke Brabyn won the ball inside the Bishops Cleeve half when he dispossessed giant full back Bower. Running at the retreating defence, he slipped in Massey, but he could only steer his shot past the far post and just too far in front of the outstretched leg of Barner.

Bishops Cleeve saw out the five minutes of injury time and Falmouth faced the long trip back to Cornwall empty-handed.

The next game is the massive away tie against local rivals Helston Athletic, who suffered their first league defeat of the season, with a 4-3 reverse against Malvern Town.

Manager Andy Westgarth will be hoping he can patch up his squad and field a competitive side in order to get something out of the game and gain some points in this impressively competitive league.