Local lad Bassett wins it late on for Lillywhites

TEENAGE striker Callum Bassett came off the bench to score two goals in stoppage-time as the Lillywhites turned one point into three at new boys St Mawgan on Saturday.

The 16-year-old St Austell-based player was introduced just after the hour and emerged as an unlikely hero on a day when the visitors lost another player, striker Rubin Wilson, to a serious knee injury.

All of the goal action came in the last 18 minutes. Martyn Duff broke the deadlock in the 84th minute before Olly Morrison equalised in the last minute of normal time.

But due to a long delay when Wilson was treated for what looks to be a medial ligament injury, there was almost 12 minutes added on, providing an opportunity for either side to win.

And the visitors took advantage. Bassett put them 2-1 ahead in the sixth minute of stoppage time and made sure of the points three minutes later.

Joint manager Chris Knight said: “We knew with it being their first ever home game at the level it was going to be a difficult afternoon and so it proved.

“Credit to St Mawgan and everyone there, I thought they ran the day superbly and their team certainly did them proud. They set up in a way that made it very difficult for us; fair play to them, they caught us out a bit with their playing style and it made for a difficult afternoon.

“One thing I can’t throw at my lads though is lack of character. We’ve had it all thrown at us so far and I think I must have walked under a ladder at some point in the last month. On top of Kyle Marks’ MCL on Tuesday it looks like Rubin’s done the same, which is obviously a disaster for us. But again we dealt with it and for a young lad from St Austell to come off the bench and win the game makes it all worthwhile – a great moment for the club and I’m delighted for him and his family.

“Callum went to school at Penrice and has been on our radar for some time. He’s off to Millfield School shortly to start a scholarship.”

Knight added: “It was another good day for the club with a young lad doing that and our second team full of local boys also getting a win. That means as much as anything really. We have a lot to do as a club, we know that, but it’s an encouraging start.”

St Austell, who are top of the early season table, have learned that the scheduled game at Wadebridge Town on Tuesday has been postponed due to problems with floodlights at Bodieve Park.

The game has been rearranged for Tuesday September 15.

AFC ST AUSTELL: Morgan Coxhead; Freddie Kemp, Alfie Flack, Noah Teagle (Josh Bragg, 75), Aaron Dilley, Ollie Brokenshire (James Ward, 55), Neil Slateford (capt), Martyn Duff, Rubin Wilson (Haiden Chapman, 70), Callum McGhee (Callum Bassett, 60), Kieron Bishop.