PREMIER DIVISION (BOXING DAY) Saltash United 3 Liskeard Athletic 1 LISKEARD gave a good acccount of themselves at Kimberley Stadium, where the lights went out 20 minutes from time, but even this was not enough to halt Saltash's charge for the title. Luckily, the light was sufficiently good enough for referee Marc Whaley to play the full 90 minutes, much to the relief of the home fans, as victory kept the Ashes at the top of the league. Saltash began like a side looking for their 15th straight victory, with midfielder Mark Chapman's low drive forcing a great diving save out of Simon Zinn. But it was Liskeard, who had won their previous four games, who were to have the better of the first -half exchanges. Jimmy Alexander fired just over the bar from the edge of the box, before Chris Wright's snap effort suffered the same fate. Liskeard continued to surprise the bumper crowd of 237 by continuing to fashion chances, and they could have easily made the breakthrough on 35 minutes. Alexander's corner was dummied by Wright for Lee Bradd to let fly with a 20-yard shot that carried too much power for Chris Wearing, but unfortunately for the Blues, James Miller hit the loose ball wide at the far post. Player-manager Lee Harvey was next to blaze wide at the back post as Liskeard ended the half on the offensive. The Ashes required only three minutes of the second period to break the deadlock as Chapman found himself in space in the area, but his mis-hit shot was turned into the net at the far post by Stuart Clark. Liskeard replied with the impressive Wright forcing a good save out of Wearing, before Blues' 'keeper Zinn denied Gavin Coulton. Saltash doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Toby Clark's speculative 20-yard lob somehow eluded everyone and sailed into the net via the inside of the far post. The visitors almost pulled a goal back four minutes later, but Wright was unlucky to see his effort come back off the crossbar. However, the former Exeter City professional had better luck on 71 minutes when he met Ben Woods' cross with a superb volley that flew into the home net. Saltash came back with Zinn pushing a Danny Lewis shot onto the post, before the points were assured a minute from time. Coulton's great ball into the danger area found substitute Glen Palmer firing across Zinn and inside the far post.
