Slateford's brace gives St Austell opening day win

IT SEEMED fitting that the long-awaited return to league action for AFC St Austell was capped by captain Neil Slateford bagging both goals in a hard-earned three points at Holsworthy on Saturday.

Slateford had been all set to play in the Southern League Division One South for Barnstaple Town this season, but a change in personal circumstances allowed the Lillywhites to swoop for the popular midfield man.

And he wasted no time in enjoying putting on the shirt again, showing his quality with a masterful skipper’s performance where the icing on the cake was the two goals.

It took a long time for St Austell to break down a stubborn and hard-working Holsworthy side who were indebted to a brilliant goalkeeping performance from Ryan Chadwick.

But when the breakthrough came in the 68th minute, Slateford was the one standing on the edge of the penalty area to hammer a shot in off the bar after sustained pressure from the visitors.

Holsworthy pressed hard for an equaliser and were camped in the St Austell half in what was the 10th minute of time added on when the ball was cleared, setting substitute Haiden Chapman powering clear along the left.

It might have been tempting to take the ball to the corner, but Chapman was aware of two team-mates sprinting through the middle and his pass found one of them, Slateford, who finished the game off and guaranteed maximum points with another quality finish.

St Austell might have been ahead as early as the second minute when former Falmouth Town striker Rubin Wilson found himself in space in the penalty area, but he sliced his shot badly and Kieron Bishop couldn’t quite stretch to get to the ball.

Wilson came close again after 11 minutes with a glancing header from Freddie Kemp’s right wing cross – this time his effort drifted inches wide.

The early onslaught continued with a goal-bound Slateford shot taking a deflection off a defender to just clear the post, while Olly Brokenshire’s header from a Callum McGhee corner was well saved by Chadwick.

The keeper was kept busy and had to make more saves in the opening half-hour to deny McGhee and Slateford, while the same pair had opportunities right on half-time, but both couldn’t find a strong finish.

Wilson should have broken the deadlock immediately after the break when he had time and space in the penalty area, but he couldn’t control the ball and the chance was gone, while 10 minutes later Slateford’s overhead kick from 10 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar.

But Holsworthy’s resistance was ended with Slateford’s 68th minute strike, and it was then a case of whether the home side could find a way back. They pushed hard but rarely tested St Austell keeper Morgan Coxhead.

Then, with virtually every Holsworthy player committed inside the St Austell half, they were hit by the sucker punch breakway second goal.

AFC ST AUSTELL: Morgan Coxhead; Kyle Marks, Martyn Duff, Noah Teagle, Olly Brokenshire, James Ward, Neil Slateford (capt), Freddie Kemp, Rubin Wilson (Haiden Chapman, 90+1), Callum McGhee, Kieron Bishop. Subs: Josh Bragg, Aaron Dilley, Callum Bassett.

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