SAINTS HELD AT WINDSWEPT TINTAGEL


St. Newlyn East failed to reproduce their scintillating form of the previous week at a blustery Tintagel and enjoyed a frustrating afternoon in difficult conditions and on a poor playing surface.

Tintagel kicked off with the wind in their backs and employed a long ball game that Newlyn’s defence seemed to be able to easily cope with. However with 15 minutes gone Tintagel's Adam Price found himself unmarked deep in the Saints’ half in a questionable offside position and another long ball from the hosts found him and he duly finished under Andy Scott to open the scoring for the home team.

Finally Newlyn found some rhythm and began to come to terms with the strong wind. A fine move saw Liam Dent chest the ball into Gary Standinger’s path but he shot agonisingly wide. Another move involving Steve Harris and Liam Richardson saw Dent again lay the ball back only for Ryan Saltern to flash a powerful shot inches over the bar with the keeper well beaten.

Newlyn’s equaliser came with 10 minutes remaining in the half. Shaun Pritchard found Ryan Saltern hugging the wing and his low cross was met at the far post by Steve Harris for his second goal in as many games.

As the wind grew stronger in the second half the game became disjointed and Newlyn pushed forward in search on their second goal. Following a goalmouth scramble Phil Pearson blasted over for Newlyn when well placed and two minutes later Martin O’Brien should have scored when the ball reached him whilst he was unmarked at the far post but his shot hit the side netting.

Newlyn were indebted to a fine save from Scott to keep them in the match when he dived low to his right to save a fierce drive but with the light by now also fading and the wind increasing neither side were able to capitalise further and the game became a very scrappy affair.

The match was brought to an end when a Tintagel player suffered an obvious serious leg injury that led to referee Allen rightly blowing his whistle for full time so the player could be treated. Newlyn were justifiably disappointed at the result and their general performance but still have the belief they are capable of raising their standards again and will undoubtedly play much better.

Fitness 4 U Man-of-the-Match: Shaun Pritchard

Referee: Barry Allen