Blues miss chance to go top of the Western League following late Bovey defeat

LISKEARD conceded a goal in the fifth minute of time added on at Lux Park on Tuesday to suffer a defeat which prevented them overtaking Bridgwater at the top of the table.

A draw would have been sufficient to see the Blues go top on goal difference after three successive wins and three clean sheets, but they were denied even that by Louie Roberts’ dramatic late, late winner.

With referee Luke Dennis indicating there was only one minute to play, Bovey launched a long throw from the left into a crowded penalty area and Roberts jumped above everybody at the near post to send a glancing header into an unguarded net at the far post.

As the visitors celebrated wildly, the Liskeard inquest had already started into how Roberts found the space and why there seemed to be nobody guarding the far post.

All of which left the home side empty-handed from a pulsating match they had played a full part in – a great watch for the neutral if not for the coaches.

Bovey almost scored after 20 seconds but Liskeard keeper Ollie Chenoweth dived at full stretch to tip Ollie Aplin’s shot around the post.

That warning was not heeded because three minutes later Bovey did take the lead, with a defensive lapse leaving Rudi McKinnon unmarked 15 yards out to send a low shot past Chenoweth.

Liskeard woke from their slumbers quickly and a great run and cross from the left by George Newton in the 14th minute deserved better than drifting across the six-yard box with nobody there for a tap-in.

Two minutes later there was a better chance as James Lorenz delivered a pinpoint cross from the left to the far post, but Harry Probyn’s header finished the wrong side of the post.

Bovey were then desperately unlucky not to make it 2-0 in the 20th minute when Roberts fired past Chenoweth, only to see his shot hit the inside of the post and roll along the line before Josh McCabe cleared.

Within two minutes Liskeard were level. Max Gilbert, who was being tightly marked, managed to wriggle clear of a couple of defenders to fire in a superb right foot shot with gave Andy Collings no chance.

The rest of the half was played like a cup tie with both sides attacking at every opportunity, but there were no further goals before the break.

Probyn had worked hard for the team but just before the hour Liskeard decided to replace him with a more direct striker in Bailey Mabin, who didn’t take long to make his mark.

After Bovey had spurned two good chances, play switched quickly from back to front in the 73rd minute as McCabe’s long ball over the top was brought under control in the air by Mabin with a sublime first touch before he fired low past Collings to make it 2-1.

That might have finished some teams but Bovey were level four minutes later when a cross from the right was allowed to drift to the far post where the unmarked Aplin had a tap-in.

Mabin spurned a chance to put Liskeard ahead again in the 87th minute, and two minutes later former Blues striker Stuart Bowker was left holding his head in his hands after directing a header inches wide.

But Bovey continued to press and eventually got their reward with Roberts’ winner in the fifth of six minutes of stoppage-time.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Cross, Josh Robins, Harry Jeffery, Josh McCabe (capt), Harvey Mullis, Max Gilbert (Ben Collins, 88), James Lorenz (Kai Gilbert, 88), George Newton, Toby Haley, Harry Probyn (Bailey Mabin, 58). Sub not used: Scott Sanders.

Goals: Max Gilbert (22), Bailey Mabin (73).

Yellow card: Josh Robins (90+3).

BOVEY TRACEY: Andy Collings; Josh Searle (Charlie Stephens, 72), Finn Roberts, Owen Stockton, Harvey Coggins, Owen Hanks (Charlie Castlehouse, 88), Rudi McKinnon, Cieran Bridger, Ollie Aplin (Stuart Bowker 80), Louie Roberts, Josh Webber. Sub not used: Cal Leech.

Goals: Rudi McKinnon (4), Ollie Aplin (77), Louie Roberts (90+5).

Attendance: 138.

Men-of-the-match: Liskeard – James Lorenz; Bovey Tracey – Owen Hanks.