WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

St Blazey 3 Ivybridge Town 1

ST BLAZEY moved up to second in the table on Wednesday night after two goals in the last nine minutes secured victory over hard-working Ivybridge at Blaise Park.

The Green & Blacks, the only team still unbeaten in the division, are now three points behind leaders Bridgwater with two games in-hand following the Robins’ 4-2 reversal at Shepton Mallet 24 hours earlier.

Sean Thomson (55 minutes), Kai Burrell (81) and Tallan Mitchell (84, penalty) were on target for Blazey with substitute Owen Howard (68) getting Ivybridge’s goal.

Blazey boss Dan Hart said: “The game was everything we expected. Ivybridge are an opponent to be respected, such a hardworking and together group of players. You can see why they have earned some big results this season already.

“I felt in the opening stages our intensity and passing quality was superb, probably as sharp as we have been without that final action.

“However, this only lasted for 5-10 minutes, and then we allowed ourselves to be immersed in a battle, and it was a very even first half in that sense with limited opportunities.”

He went on: “At half-time I challenged the players to reset, to understand the task at hand physically and to have more clarity in the final third. We got that – in the second half we looked a very dangerous team that could open them up.

“Our first goal, comes from a pass into Kai which he moves through the last line in one touch, Sean ran clear and finished neatly against such a big presence in their goal, who was excellent for them throughout.

“After conceding an equaliser through an individual error, we responded well again, and our second comes from some good intelligent counter pressing from Tallan, who steals in and robs Jake Lane on the edge of their box. Kai does the rest.

“It then felt like we were in our groove and a short set play set Tallan away past two men, and he was clattered in the box. He got up to finish low and into the corner.”

He added: “I was delighted with the second half, I didn’t feel we produced too many moments – but when we did, they were smoothly completed.

“I thought Ivybridge had several key performances too, Kane in goal made two fantastic saves in the second half and Lane and Ogwu were very bright.”

After a goalless first half Blazey broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a goal from Thomson, his first for the club since signing from Liskeard Athletic recently.

Ivybridge were level after 68 minutes through substitute Howard – only brought on a minute earlier – who took advantage of a poor backpass from Will Tinsley to score.

Blazey retook the lead nine minutes from time and it was former Ivybridge striker Burrell who was on hand to bundle the ball into the net, after a penalty area scramble, for his sixth goal of the season.

It had been a good evening for Burrell, having set up Thomson for the first goal.

Three minutes later it was game over when Mitchell picked himself up to confidently convert a penalty after being brought down.

The only points Blazey have dropped so far this season were against Tavistock, who scored a last-gasp goal to rescue a 3-3 draw at Blaise Park on August 19.

On Saturday, Blazey are at home to Millbrook in the FA Vase (3pm) before returning to league action next Wednesday when Torpoint Athletic visit Blaise Park (7.30pm).

ST BLAZEY: Kyle Moore, Will Tinsley, Jack Calver, Tom Cavanagh, Jordan Bentley, Aaron Bentley, Teigan Rosenquest, Sean Thomson, Kai Burrell, Tallan Mitchell, Cam Hutchison. Subs: Ben Fowles, Harry Blows, Sam Clifton, Todd Hanrahan, Tom Strike.

Goals: Sean Thomson (55), Kai Burrell (81), Tallan Mitchell (84, pen).

IVYBRIDGE TOWN: Kane Gregory, Calum Fife. Jake Lane, Joe Rutherford, Dan Vile, Ryan Geach, Colin Pritchard, Josh Pope (Alfie Slough, 90), Chris Harvey (Jacob Pickavant, 89), Jack Rider (Owen Howard, 67), Kaycee Ogwu (Charlie Menear, 90). Sub not used: Hayden Baugh.

Goal: Owen Howard (68).

Referee: Mark Bird.

Attendance: 110.

Blazey man-of-the-match: Kai Burrell.