SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE PREMIER WEST

AFC St Austell 2 Dobwalls 0

IT WAS a case of home sweet home for everybody associated with AFC St Austell on Saturday as they collected three points to go top of the table for the first time this season.

In the first senior game played at Poltair Park since November 22 last year, the Lillywhites rewarded a crowd of 190 with victory courtesy of first half goals from Callum McGhee and Liam Eddy.

Eddy, in particular, revelled in the occasion having rejoined the club in midweek. Apart from scoring, the Lillywhites’ living legend ran his socks off with a performance which rolled back the years.

All of which left joint manager Chris Knight purring. He said: “It was the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people yesterday and I thought first half we rewarded the supporters for their patience with a great performance.

“We played some nice stuff and a great goal by Cal McGhee was a fitting one for our first game back.

“It was perhaps also fitting that Ed’s got the second; he’s scored so many goals at the ground and I thought he was sharper than I’ve seen him for years yesterday, a real throwback.

“It was nice to see him and Golds (Mark Goldsworthy) at Poltair again, and I thought they both did well and will only get better as they get fitter.

“The second half was a non-event really. We had a lot of chances with Callum Bassett lively on the right side, but it just wouldn’t go in. But it’s another clean sheet, we will regroup this week and see who is able to play next Saturday!”

The only blot on the day was an injury to Freddie Kemp, who joins Kyle Marks and Rubin Wilson on the long-term casualty list with a bad hip injury which led to him being carried off in the 26th minute.

Knight said: “The trend continues with injuries I’m afraid. Freddie looks another bad one, it’s getting ridiculous now but that’s football, we will keep going.”

On an afternoon when a strong wind and squally showers made conditions difficult, it took a brilliant save from Freddy Harvey-Larmar in the fifth minute to deny Eddy.

Dobwalls were struggling to get out of their half and they found themselves 1-0 down in the 21st minute when McGhee, given too much space as he approached the penalty area, let fly with a stunning shot which gave Harvey-Larmar no chance.

Eddy almost made it 2-0 five minutes later with a close-range chip over the keeper, but his effort was cleared off the line.

But the striker couldn’t be denied for long and was on hand to double the lead in the 38th minute when he finished off a good passing move which featured Martyn Duff.

Chances were few and far between in a yawn-inducing second half, but Dobwalls never threatened to get back into the game.

St Austell are at home again on Saturday when they welcome Mousehole (3pm).

AFC ST AUSTELL: Morgan Coxhead, Freddie Kemp (Alfie Flack, 26), Jude Tripconey, Tom Whipp, Josh Bragg, James Ward, Callum McGhee, Martyn Duff, Liam Eddy (Haiden Chapman 85). Mark Goldsworthy (Jake Warman, 77), Callum Bassett. Subs not used: Aaron Dilley, Ed Timmons.

St Austell man-of-the-match: Liam Eddy.