IT WAS very much a game of two halves at Poltair on Saturday as St Austell threw away a first half advantage to crash out of the FA Vase.

The Lillywhites had started brightly and when Alex Hamley swept them ahead in the 15th minute with a quality finish, things looked good for Adam Castlehouse’s side.

They went into the break well on top but the tide turned five minutes into the second half when Stuart Bowker – who played for St Blazey recently – equalised from the penalty spot.

Bovey stepped up the pressure as St Austell sat much deeper and two goals in three minutes from Ollie Aplin midway through the half put the visitors in control.

They even survived having to play with 10 men for the last 10 minutes after Jack Brimming was sin-binned.

Lillywhites boss Castlehouse said: “What can I say? Very, very frustrated. The lads let themselves down in the second half.

“I thought we were magnificent in the first half as we limited Bovey to half chances, they were visibly frustrated.

“However, as anticipated, they emerged in the second half with a little more intensity and despite our half-time team talk being centred on this, the lads failed to execute our instructions and were deservedly punished for it.”

He went on: “I’m very disappointed by the manner of our defeat, having controlled the game in the first 45.

“This is another learning opportunity for the lads though, as it proves to them they have to be at their best for 90 minutes.”

AFC ST AUSTELL: Jason Luscombe, Sonny Cooper, Lewie Rendle, Theo Roberts, Tyler Pickering, Billy Coton, Matt Pilkington, Cody Jones, Alex Hamley, Carlton Allen, Owen Mills. Subs: Richard Marshall, Joshua Lashbrook, Lucas Kaye, Innocent Kasonde, Marley Cunningham.