Carlsberg South Western League
Saltash Utd 0
Callington Town 0
SALTASH leave the South Western League at the end of the season for pastures new in the Western League. However, the battling performance of Callington throughout this local derby must have given them notice that there is still life and a good degree of competitiveness left to the west of the Tamar.
With United chasing third place in the league, and Town battling to avoid re-election, most fans inside Kimberley Stadium would have expected a one-sided game with the home team cruising to victory.
But from the opening minute, Ian Southcott?s Callington side were showing they had not come to make up the numbers. New signing Adam Coombestock was soon rushing headlong at the home defence and caused problems throughout the match.
He was not alone in his battling performance. Southcott has installed a sense of passion and pride and this showed as they hassled and harried their opponents at every opportunity. If they can produce this kind of standard between now and the end of the season, they will do more than just avoid the dreaded bottom two places.
Chances were few and far between in this match with both defences having the upper hand ? but the best two fell, one to each side, late in the second half. Saltash?s Gareth Jones saw his header fly wide of Callington?s impressive Steve Williams? left-hand post while at the other end, a great Town move saw the ball drop to the feet of Coombestock ? his shot on the turn beat the defenders and keeper, only to cannon off the foot of the post and bounce nicely for the Ashes defence to clear.
Matt Hawke and Pete Southcott were deserving of the men of the match accolade.
Callington make the short trip to Launceston on Tuesday evening while on Saturday they are on the road again, making the trip for a vital six-pointer against bottom of the table Truro City.