Liskeard back in the play-off places after Lux Park classic with St Blazey

LISKEARD Athletic replaced St Blazey in the promotion play-off zone on Tuesday night after a remarkable, breathtaking nine-goal Cornish derby at Lux Park.

The Blues, beaten 5-1 at Clevedon on Saturday, looked to be on the way to another heavy defeat when two penalties from Kai Burrell put in-form Blazey 2-0 ahead after 18 minutes.

But somehow the home side, inspired by a Jack Crago super show, dragged themselves out of the mire to lead 4-2 and 5-3 before Burrell completed his hat-trick in the sixth minute of time added on.

There was still time – the referee played a total of 10 extra minutes – for Blazey to come within inches of making it 5-5 as Liskeard skipper Josh McCabe scrambled the ball off the line in one last Blazey attack.

The Blues, beaten 4-0 at Blazey in the Les Phillips Cup a fortnight ago, understandably celebrated noisily after an astonishing, against all odds fightback.

It will be interesting to see how St Blazey respond after what was only their second league defeat of the season. They were uncharacteristically vulnerable at the back, particularly at set-pieces.

There was absolutely no sign of the drama to come when Burrell opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Olly Redd was tripped.

Blazey had started the game strongly and found themselves 2-0 to the good four minutes later when a clear trip on Tallan Mitchell led to a second penalty. This time Burrell’s spot-kick was kept out by Liskeard keeper Ollie Chenoweth, but the ball rolled back to the striker, who made no mistake from the rebound.

St Blazey looked comfortable with their lead and it took a superb save from Chenoweth to prevent skipper Jack Calver making it 3-0 from long-range in the 35th minute.

But within a minute Liskeard had reduced the lead when Crago, an increasing threat in attack, fired a low shot from 20 yards which beat Moore and squeezed inside the post and into the net.

Remarkably the home side could have been level before half-time with Crago producing the pass of the match to play in James Lorenz, but his goal-bound shot was somehow cleared off the line by Calver.

The action didn’t stop at the half-time whistle as players clashed near the changing rooms on the way off, but calm had been restored by the time the second half started.

Liskeard continued to be the better side and eventually equalised in the 66th minute with a bullet header by Matt Andrew from Max Gilbert’s pinpoint corner.

Within a minute Blazey could have been back in front when Mitchell and Burrell spurned opportunities in the six-yard box as Liskeard turned off after the restart.

But the home side settled again and swept ahead for the first time in the 78th minute when a cross from the right caused panic in the Blazey box and Jordan Powell was on hand to force the ball over the line.

And the game looked safe for Liskeard three minutes later when Crago made it 4-2 from the penalty spot after being bundled over.

It was almost 5-2 in the 87th minute when Gilbert’s free kick from the right saw a glancing header from Powell superbly tipped around the post by Moore.

But a minute later it was 4-3 as the outstanding Redd smashed home a left foot shot to suddenly set up a tense finale, especially when the referee indicated eight minutes of added time.

Liskeard won a corner on the right in the third minute and their bench was screaming to keep the ball in the corner to use up some time.

After initially doing just that, the ball was played by Gilbert to George Newton on the edge of the penalty area, whose backheel set up Gilbert to fire a superb swerving right foot shot past Moore to make it 5-3.

Surely now Liskeard could afford to celebrate? But no. As the home dugout ‘enquired’ to the referee about how long he was playing for, Blazey attacked again and Burrell was on hand to finish off from close range for his second hat-trick in the space of three days.

There was still at least two minutes left – in the end another four minutes were played – and in the last seconds Blazey came close to equalising as McCabe was forced to kick off the line.

Make a note in your diary – Saturday January 9. That’s when these two sides will reconvene for the return at Blaise Park.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Cross, Ben Collins, Jordan Powell, Josh McCabe (capt), Toby Haley (Harvey Mullis, 83), Max Gilbert, James Lorenz (George Newton, 74), Dane Hewings (Gene Price, 46), Matt Andrew, Jack Crago (George Marris, 90+4). Subs not used: Josh Robins.

ST BLAZEY: Kyle Moore; Reece Shanley, Jack Calver (capt - Harry Blows, 82), Charlie Hambly, Jordan Bentley, Aaron Bentley, Olly Redd, Sean Thomson (Ben Fowles, 74), Kai Burrell, Tallan Mitchell, Cam Hutchison (Teigan Rosenquest, 63). Subs not used: Will Tinsley, Sam Clifton.

Men-of-the-match. Liskeard Athletic – Jack Crago; St Blazey – Kyle Moore.