Carlsberg South Western League
Penryn Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Callington Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
THIS was a truly Jeckyl & Hyde performance from Callington as they slipped to their third defeat of the season and to second from bottom of the league.
Their early promise and dominance failed to be converted into goals and in the final 10 minutes they capitulated with the home side scoring at will.
Almost from the opening whistle, Callington were at the Athletic defence and could have been ahead inside the first 60 seconds.
Dominic Farris created the chance with a powerful run on the left. His cross found James Crawford on the right and his ball came back with Chris Truscott free 8 yards out but he failed to make contact and the chance had gone.
Chris Tilbury provided the next chance for Town with a cross that Farris connected to but Andy Avery produced a great save in the Penryn goal.
Truscott produced another great save from Avery on 29 minutes after pouncing on a poor defence but 10 minutes later it was the home side who, against the run of play, opened the scoring with a contender for goal of the season.
The ball was launched into the middle from the right wing and, some 20 yards out, Paul Cox launched a spectacular overhead kick that whistled past debutant Town keeper Richard Rendle and into the back of the net.
Michael Ruark almost equalised for Callington on the stroke of half time from a Tilbury cross but his header was cleared off the line.
There was little to choose between the two sides as the second half got underway. Dave Wilkinson set up Cox who fired over from 5 yards out on 52 minutes while Wilkinson himself was denied by Rendle nine minutes later.
At the other end a great move saw Tilbury cut in from the left but his shot was deflected wide while with 10 minutes to go Farris crossed from the left after a good run and the ball sat up nicely for Tilbury but the youngster got too much under the ball and his shot cleared the bar.
With just five minutes of normal time remaining however, Town?s world caved in as they were hit with a double whammy of goals that killed off their spirit.
Wilkinson beat the defence with a scintilating run and rounded the keeper and, when his shot came back off the post, he was the first to react as the Town defence stood and watched and he made no mistake with his second shot.
Less than a minute later, Paul Willey beat the offside trap to fire past Rendle for Penryn?s third. Deep into injury time, teenage substitute Gary Davies rubbed more salt into Town?s now gaping wounds when he fired home the rebound after Cox?s initial shot had been parried by Rendle.
The final score barely did justice to Callington?s posession but spoke volumes about their inability to take their chances.
If they are to move away from the foot of the table, they will need to take their chances in future matches, starting with next week?s trip to Poltair Parc and the match against St Austell.