WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Newquay 3 Shepton Mallet 1

NEWQUAY bounced back from successive defeats to see off visiting Shepton Mallet at Mount Wise on Saturday.

The Peppermints had enjoyed a 14-day break from league action ahead of a hectic few weeks, but despite missing several players to injury, which allowed centre-half Joe Baker a debut from the reserves, put in commanding performance to run out comfortable winners.

The Cornish side dominated large parts of the game but trailed on 27 minutes as Sam Hodges beat Shaun Semmens from close-range.

Newquay created chances in the opening 45 minutes with man-of-the-match Jack Bray-Evans, Callam Mconie and Matt Searle all denied or putting shots off target, however they were level five minutes after the restart as Bray-Evans played in right-back Jacob Kevern who made no mistake.

Eight minutes later the turnaround was complete in farcical circumstances as keeper Harry Charlesworth’s clearance rebounded off the onrushing Searle’s face and straight into the net.

Chances came and went as they sought a third which eventually arrived on 84 minutes as brilliant hold-up play from Bray-Evans saw him stand up a cross which sub Louis Price guided into the corner.

Reflecting on the victory, which moved Newquay up to seventh in the table with 11 points from seven games, boss Shaun Middleton said: “I was really pleased with the performance, I felt we controlled the game really from start to finish and should have had a few more goals. But it was nice to get some points on the board ahead of the next few weeks, and hopefully we can now show the consistency we know we need.”

NEWQUAY: Shaun Semmens; Jacob Kevern, Harry Downing (capt), Joe Baker, Tom Moxham; Connor Paine, Matt Searle, Ross Fallens; Callam Mconie, Jack Bray-Evans, Tim Nixon. Subs: Sam Fearon, Alex Cole, Louis Price, Alfie Treweek, Tom Shepherd.

Peppermints’ man-of-the-match: Jack Bray-Evans.