Crago and Lorenz at the double as Blues beat Bovey Tracey

LISKEARD Athletic moved up to third in the table after arguably their best performance of the season so far to blow away old foes Bovey Tracey at Mill Marsh Park on Tuesday night.

James Lorenz and Jack Crago scored two goals each as the Blues followed up Saturday’s 4-0 win against Wellington with another emphatic and richly deserved result. The margin of victory could have been wider because they hit the woodwork three times, continuing their trend of recent games.

Seeking revenge for a last gasp 3-2 defeat by Bovey at Lux Park last month, Liskeard made a fast start and were ahead in the fourth minute when Lorenz converted a Crago cross.

Bovey were back in it four minutes later when former Blues striker Stuart Bowker was on hand to finish from close-range after Josh Webber’s cross was flicked into his path by Ollie Aplin.

But Liskeard were soon back on the front foot and in the 12th minute Lorenz’s 20-yard shot cannoned off the bar; six minutes later Crago was also denied by the woodwork.

The Lorenz-Crago partnership was causing havoc and Liskeard seemed certain to score after 39 minutes when they led a two-on-two break, but Lorenz’s pass towards Crago had just too much on it and Bovey escaped.

But not for long. Three minutes later Lorenz was through again and this time he chipped his shot over keeper Andy Collings to restore the visitors’ lead.

Within a minute it was 3-1 when Harry Probyn robbed Collings in the penalty area and the ball broke for Crago to score.

As Liskeard would have expected, there was a reaction from the home side in the second half and they were on top in the first 20 minutes, but Blues captain and man-of-the-match Josh McCabe stopped everything that was thrown at them.

Liskeard continued to be dangerous on the break and Crago hit the post in the 70th minute, while Collings pulled off a fine save to deny Lorenz his hat-trick.

But the final word went to Crago, who slotted home his second goal and Liskeard’s fourth in the first minute of stoppage-time to complete a magnificent night for the Cornish side.

The addition of Crago from Tavistock three weeks ago looks to have been a masterstroke.

The Blues welcome league leaders Bridgwater United on Saturday (3pm).

BOVEY TRACEY: Andy Collings; Charlie Stevens (Tom Ross, 46), Owen Hanks, Owen Stockton, Shane White, Stuart Bowker (Leighton Green, 46), Josh Webber, Callum Leech (Levi Landricombe, 62), Ollie Aplin, Louie Roberts (Charlie Castlehouse, 75), Rudi McKinnon. Sub not used: Zico Kendall.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Cross, Ben Collins, Harry Jeffery, Josh McCabe (capt), Toby Haley, George Marris, James Lorenz, Harry Probyn (Josh Robins, 80), Harvey Mullis, Jack Crago. Subs not used: Kai Gilbert, Ryan Richards, Scott Sanders.