Duchy Premier Gunnislake 1 Edgcumbe 2 DESPITE hot temperaturesm this match was played at a good pace throughout as both teams competed for everything and played entertaining passing football. The opening half-hour saw nothing between the two sides and while each searched continuously for openings neither could muster a decent chance. Both teams had a couple of long range off target shots and forced a handful of corners. On 30 minutes the visitors took the lead. And for all the good football each team was playing the goal was a route one affair with a long ball being headed on for Chris Staniforth to slide home. The visitors then had a few minutes pressure before the match returned to the pattern of the opening 30 minutes. Gunnislake started the second half brightly only to be dealt a severe blow when Edgcumbe broke swiftly ending in Graham O?Neill firing home a good finish to double his team?s lead. With 15 minutes left Gunnislake made some personnel and formation changes in an attempt to pile pressure on their opponents. This had the desired effect as the hosts spent the majority of the remainder of the match in the Edgcumbe half. With ten minutes remaining Gunnislake halved the deficit. And, as with the Edgcumbe opening goal it was route one stuff. Keeper Andy Brenton launched the ball forward, player/joint manager Mark Vernon, only on the pitch for a matter of minutes, challenged in the air and the ball went forward into the path of Stef Kelly. Kelly neatly finished across the keeper into the far bottom corner. Gunnislake pressed and Edgcumbe hit them on the break twice striking the woodwork. In the dying seconds Gunnislake had a chance to grab what the visitors admitted would have been a deserved equaliser. The again impressive Neil Kinger played a perfect throughpass that Kelly latched onto only to be denied by the Edgcumbe keeper. Duchy 4 Tintagel 1 Gunnislake Reserves 2 WITH Dean Martin now out of his summertime temporary and what would have been too early retirement, together with Steve Gaggini returning from suspension, Gunnislake were able to renew the central defensive partnership that with some 80 years plus experience served them well last season as they gained promotion from division 5. The visitors controlled the first half and took a two-goal lead. Mike Fitze made amends for an earlier penalty miss by opening the scoring before a Darren Evangelista corner enabled Gaggini to power home a header. Gunnislake were on course to secure a comfortable win until ten minutes from time when Nick Morris scored for the hosts. A nervy ending followed but Gunnislake held on for the win. This Saturday the reserves host Stratton and the Premier team travel to Pensilva. Both games kick off at 2.30pm.
