South West women’s premier

CALLINGTON TOWN LADIES 4

BISHOP’S LYDEARD LADIES 4

IN an enthralling encounter it was Callington who were most relieved come the final whistle forcing an equaliser in the 94th minute.

 The home side enjoyed early pressure in the opening 15 minutes, as winger Sam Veal twice brought the Lydeard keeper into action. That was before Keri-Ann Moxom fired an effort over the bar from inside the area. On 20 minutes the away side created their first chance but Amber Guy-Kemp’s lobbed effort ran wide of the target. Eight minutes later, Town had the lead when Eleri Griffiths played a superb pass to Amy Hemingway and the winger finished calmly into the far corner.

 Their joy was short-lived as Lydeard scored two minutes later. Some good play down the away side’s left resulted in a pin-point cross to an unmarked Lydeard striker to head in from six yards.

 Hemingway and Griffiths then combined at the other end with the latter having her effort saved by the keeper. Town were back in front on 37 minutes. A superb Sam Veal free-kick was guided beyond the keeper off the head of Moxom.

 Just seconds before the break the visitors equalised. Guy-Kemp found herself baring down on keeper Sara Rowe and although the forward seemed to ride the efforts of the out-stretched keeper, the referee pulled play back and deemed it a penalty. The spot-kick was dispatched to make it 2-2 at the interval.

 The second half saw Lydeard improve their game and after five minutes from the re-start they were in front. The ball fell inside the six yard box and some indecision in the home defence allowed Lydeard to bundle the ball home from close-range.   

 Callington changed formation and Gemma Farley and Jodie Smith came on and helped Town to regain their footing. On 75 minutes, they were level, as Chloe Williams crossed for Eleri Griffiths to bundle the ball in from three yards. Five minutes later, Callington let Holly Miller carry the ball from a deep midfield position right to the edge of the box before she curled a low shot into the far corner of the net for 4-3. 

In the dying seconds (the 94th minute) Callington forced the goal to cap off an entertaining match. A dangerous Sam Veal cross into the box was sliced into the net by a Lydeard defender just before the final whistle.

Callington Town manager Adam McPherson said: ‘There is clearly little between the teams with that being two draws this season with them. In the game at their place, we felt we had done more than enough to win it and today I wouldn’t be surprised if they felt that same way, given the second half and how it ended. That is football though and it is why we wanted promotion – to be tested almost every week.’