Duchy Premier Godolphin 2 Gunnislake 1 GUNNISLAKE were without much of the spine of their team as central midfielder Dean Martin and centre half Simon Wakeham joined keeper Andy Brenton on the injured list. The absentees allowed new signing Mark Dewhirst to make his debut in the back four whilst Andy Brown returned after he was cup tied last time out. Playing down the slope and with the wind at their backs the experienced and organised Godolphin side made a good start. Keeper Mark Southcott lost the ball when a Godolphin attacker flew in. Amazingly the whistle did not come but fortunately Mark Warwick reacted quickest to clear the danger. Minutes later and the same attacker made an identically rash and dangerous tackle that the referee did penalise. The forward was booked when he may well have seen red. By the 30 minute mark astonishingly the player was still on the pitch albeit he had twice dived in the Gunnislake penalty area and petulantly kicked the ball away, all bookable offences. The home manager rode his luck no longer and substituted this player. On 15 minutes the home side had taken the lead when a right wing cross was headed home at the far post. On 35 minutes Gunnislake?s Brown was sent off for retaliation when he reacted after being kicked in an off the ball incident. Ironically Gunnislake then had their best spell of the half. Dave Yorath played in Matt Avery who struck the woodwork. Then from an Ian Gray free kick Andy Wakem got in behind the home back four but ran out of space before he could convert. Hampered by conditions, the home side were unable to really make their man advantage count in the second half. This though was also due to their opponents showing fantastic effort, commitment and work rate, driven on in part by a feeling of injustice at how many of the decisions were going. On 60 minutes though Godolphin doubled their lead from a corner. Gunnislake were not deterred by this further setback and continued to attempt to get forward at all times, albeit often only on the break. From one such breakaway Wakem got on the end of a Dewhirst clearance and having got beyond the home keeper converted from a tight angle. Gunnislake threw more men forward but were unable to get an equalising second. This left the visitors short of numbers at the back but with all players, including the substitutes, performing superbly Southcott was only required to make one telling save. Come the final whistle Gunnislake were left unrewarded for their tremendous effort and did feel a bit hard done by. But from a Godolphin perspective they will no doubt feel their greater possession, together with having the better of things territorially will justify them taking 3 points. Gunnislake are certainly in for another tough match this Saturday when they play table topping St Columb Major at home with a 2.30 kick off.