Mixed emotions for Knight despite Lillywhites win

THERE was something old and something new about St Austell at Poltair on Saturday as they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games with this hard-fought victory.

The old, relatively speaking, was the inclusion of new signing Ryan Richards in the Lillywhites’ attack alongside other vastly experienced strikers in Liam Eddy and Mark Goldsworthy.

The new saw debuts for local youngsters, goalkeeper Jack Clarke and full-back Jake White, who played their parts in the win.

After a goalless first half, St Austell scored twice in three minutes through central defender James Ward (57 minutes) and Eddy (59), his second goal in two appearances since rejoining the club from Helston.

Mousehole’s young side battled well and reduced the arrears through Steffan Van Blerk to set up a nervy last 20 minutes for the crowd of 228 to enjoy or, perhaps, endure.

St Austell joint manager Chris Knight said: “It was an afternoon where everything about it was excellent – apart from maybe the football!

“A big crowd, packed clubhouse and an afternoon when you think, yeah, as a club we are back.

“The game itself is a strange one. Now I’ve slept on it I’m a lot less annoyed than I was yesterday and to be honest we could have been out of sight in the first 20 minutes.

“What annoys me is we then turned a routine win into a basketball match where it looks like we are hanging on – madness.”

He went on: “Most of the problems come from not being able to pick the same team twice yet. I’ve been in this game a long time and I’ve never known anything like it.

“I’m going to sound like a grumpy old man now, but things aren’t like they were. I’ve never known so many holidays, injuries or just not wanting to play before.

“As a football man I’ll be honest, it absolutely baffles me.”

He went on: “It was great to see two lads making their debuts in Jake White and Jack Clarke, both young St Austell lads, again showing we are doing something right and again our reserves had a great result yesterday.

“Overall, as I said, a brilliant day at the club – perhaps the less said about the game the better.

“If you’d asked me if we’d get to now and haven’t lost a game all pre-season or in the league yet I’d have of course bitten your hand off. It’s a brand new team and it’s going to take some time but I trust the lads and hopefully with a few coming back we will settle down.”

Knight added: “We were rocked on Friday with the news that Rubin (Wilson) has unfortunately injured both his ACL and MCL and is out for the season.

“We are absolutely gutted for him obviously and so the arrival of Ryan (Richards) comes at a good time and I thought he was lively and will only get better.”

ST AUSTELL: Jack Clarke; Jake White, Alfie Flack (Callum Bassett, 46), Martyn Duff, Aaron Dilley, James Ward, Neil Slateford (capt), Callum McGhee (Jake Warman, 80), Liam Eddy (Haiden Chapman, 65), Mark Goldsworthy (Josh Bragg, 65), Ryan Richards. Sub not used: Olly Brokenshire.

MOUSEHOLE: Matt Stephens; Joe Davies, Asa Donaldson, Gareth Ireson, Steffan Van Blerk, Jordan Daniel, Kam Collins, Kian Obayan, Victor Mullalay, Innocent Kasonde, Jobie Breslaw. Subs: Ed Varcoe, Isaac Jory, Brad Andiego, Tom Hands, Ousman Sayang.

St Austell man-of-the-match: Neil Slateford.