NEWQUAY’S four-game winning run in all competitions was ended at Mount Wise on Wednesday night when an impressive Barnstaple knocked them out of the Les Phillips Cup.

In front of a crowd of 303, the Peppermints were always chasing the tie after conceding a third minute Luke Mortimore goal, although striker Rhys Simmonds hauled them level in the 31st minute.

Barnstaple started the second half strongly and restored their lead after 68 minutes when Neil Slateford’s excellent cross was finished off by Josh Parry.

Newquay, who had lost only one of their previous 12 matches, piled on the pressure in the dying minutes as they tried to force an equaliser, but Barum’s stand-in keeper Cory Harvey and his defence held out.

It had been a disruptive start to the evening for the visitors, with the players arriving late after the club minibus experienced problems on the way to Newquay.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes but once the action started the visitors got to work quickly and swept ahead when Mortimore reacted quickest to score after home keeper Ethan Elwell could only parry a shot.

Barnstaple had a half chance to double their lead in the 19th minute when a cross-cum-shot from the left by Parry had to be hacked clear from inside the six-yard box.

But Newquay were level just after the half-hour when a corner caused danger and Simmonds was there to force the ball over the line.

The remainder of the half was nip and tuck with the closest chance created by the visitors with Scott Piper’s fierce 20-yard shot flying just wide in the 41st minute.

Newquay keeper Elwell produced a fine save to stop Parry’s long-range shot in the 55th minute, but there was nothing he could do 13 minutes later.

Former St Austell favourite Slateford was found in space out on the right and his superb cross was fired home by Parry.

Mortimore came close to making it 3-1 in the 81st minute, but Elwell was equal to his shot and three minutes from time a Gabby Rogers effort was cleared off the line.

Newquay, who gave a debut off the bench to the talented Caleb Eguaoje, made last ditch attempts to find an equaliser and were desperately close in the first minute of time added on, but Piper made an excellent tackle to prevent a goal.

NEWQUAY: Ethan Elwell; Ollie Butterworth, Harry Downing (capt), Cam Turner, Tom Moxham; Lucas Potts, Jamie Lowry; Jacob Grange, Tom Shepherd, Rhys Simmonds; Jack Bray-Evans. Subs: Jamie Edlin, Ross Fallens, Louis Price, Caleb Eguaoje, Brodie Cole (gk).

BARNSTAPLE TOWN: Cory Harvey, Brodie Montague, Tommy Rogers, Neil Slateford, Adam Hill, Lee Gardiner, Luke Mortimore (Joe Grigg, 90), Scott Piper, Luke Alden (Ryan Keates, 50), Gabriel Rogers, Josh Parry (Oscar Knight, 76). Subs not used: Cohen Phillips, Riley Malin.