Cardew delighted with much-improved Torpoint in St Blazey draw

SAM Pearson scored a sensational goal to earn Torpoint a deserved point against unbeaten St Blazey in an entertaining clash at Blaise Park on Wednesday night.

Dean Cardew’s side were trailing 2-1 with 11 minutes to go when Pearson cut in from the right and curled a 25-yard left foot shot into the far corner of the net.

But it was a hero to zero night for Pearson, who was then harshly sent off four minutes later for what the referee judged as a last man challenge to stop Olly Redd.

That left the 10-man visitors to hang on for the last few minutes, which they did.

Based on recent form Torpoint could have been excused for starting the game in a cautious way; the opposite was the case as they dominated the opening 20 minutes.

Gary Hird should have done better with a sixth minute chance and Elliott Crawford’s brilliant cross from wide on the left in the 17th minute only needed a tap-in, but nobody was in position to provide it.

As is often the case when you don’t take your chances, the opposition strike and that’s exactly what Blazey did in the 24th minute with their first opportunity.

Kai Burrell held up the ball well on the edge of the penalty area before slotting through a pass for Redd to smash his shot past Ty Rowe.

Torpoint had further chances through Lewis Flowers and Crawford and were given a boost on the stroke of half-time when Blazey midfield man Tallan Mitchell was sin-binned.

It meant the home side started the second half with 10 men and Torpoint were able to take advantage four minutes in, with defender Callum O’Brien firing in from close range after a penalty area pinball exchange.

Three minutes later Torpoint had an opportunity to go ahead when Hird, finding space on the right, attempted to chip Kyle Moore, but the Blazey keeper collected comfortably.

The visitors thought they should have had a penalty in the 57th minute when Blazey centre-half Jordan Bentley appeared to use his hand in attempting a clearance, but the referee waved play on.

With Mitchell back on and Blazey restored to 11 players, they started to build more pressure and it all led to Burrell restoring their lead after 72 minutes with a quality finish after playing a one-two on the edge of the box with Redd.

Torpoint responded with Crawford producing another of his trademark left foot pace crosses which substitute the unmarked Joe Rapson met at the near post, but his header flew just wide.

A minute later the visitors were level with a ‘goal of the season’ contender from Pearson.

Soon after that, with Pearson red-carded, Blazey came close to a winner but Tallan Mitchell’s piledriver from 25 yards scraped the bar.

That would have been unfair on Torpoint, who showed real signs that they are getting their act together after a tough start to the season.

Victory would have lifted Blazey to the top of the table on goal difference, but it wasn’t to be as Torpoint secured a more than deserved point to the delight of boss Dean Cardew.

He said: “I was very pleased with our performance last night, one which has been missing far too many times for us this season. It was obviously going to be tough playing away against a very good, in-form St Blazey team, but I think it tells me everything that I've come away slightly disappointed that we’ve not come away with all three points.

“We now have to make sure we keep up those standards and not be as inconsistent as we have been.”

Manager Dan Hart admitted his side weren’t at their best, saying: “It was a pretty average night from us as a group, which we have recognised and addressed together.

“Firstly, I’d have to praise Torpoint for the way that they came to play. They showed fight, overloaded us in midfield and put pressure on every ball all over the pitch.

“We went ahead through Olly, a great finish in transition which was probably undeserved and took us in ahead at the break knowing we’d have ten-men for the opening stages due to Tallan’s sin-bin.

“In the second half, they scored from a set-play and levelled the game. When Tallan re-entered the game, we made a chance in structure and from that point forward minus their equaliser, we did look far stronger.

“Our second goal was a fantastic combination, and I did feel at that point we had a much stronger foothold in the contest despite still struggling in possession at times.

“Again, though, their equaliser was a superb goal in transition and fair play to Sam Pearson, it’s a great finish to level it up.

“I think we can be disappointed, but as a group fully aware that we did not reach the standards we have set ourselves in last night’s display.

“We have to reset, and push onto a really tough test at a resurgent Sidmouth on the weekend.”

ST BLAZEY: Kyle Moore; Will Tinsley (capt) (Cam Hutchison 58), Jack Calver, Sean Thomson, Jordan Bentley, Aaron Bentley, Olly Redd, Ben Fowles (Sam Clifton 73), Kai Burrell, Tallan Mitchell, Teigan Rosenquest. Subs not used: Joe Cook, Harry Blows, Todd Hanrahan.

Goals: Olly Redd (24), Kai Burrell (72).

TORPOINT ATHLETIC: Ty Rowe; Dave Barker, Sam Hepworth, Owen Haslam, Callum O’Brien, Elliott Crawford (capt), Lewis Flowers, Sam Pearson, Gary Hird (Joe Rapson, 67), Tom Payne (Freddie Chapman, 88), Sam Morgan (Ryan Downing, 74).

Goals: Callum O’Brien (49), Sam Pearson (79).

Referee: Peter Wroe.

Attendance: 148.

Men-of-the-match: St Blazey – Kai Burrell; Torpoint Athletic – Dave Barker.