Throgmorton Cup first round

Liskeard Ath 4

Truro City 4

(Liskeard won 3-1 on pens)

Liskeard manager Leigh Cooper had every right to be proud of his squad after this marathon effort at Lux Park against a Truro outfit who included five of their first-team squad in their starting line-up.

Goalkeeper Dan Stevenson, who played in the Vase Final at Wembley, defender Graeme Power, midfielder Matt Bye, along with strikers Shane Tolley and Chris Reski, faced Cooper's side.

Understandably, Truro looked the more decisive outfit during the 120 minutes, but in the determination and effort stakes there was only one winner as the Blues had to come from behind on three occasions before finally holding their nerve in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Liskeard started brightly, with young wing-back Reece Small causing the Truro defence problems with his runs down the left flank.

Small saw his angled drive deflected for a corner on six minutes before another fine run ended with his driven cross just eluding Jason King and Adie Walton as the pair flew in at the far post.

Truro came back strongly with Matt Bye's 20-yard free-kick flying just wide of the near post before Reski's thunderous drive brought a fine response from goalkeeper Dan Johnson as he tipped around the far post.

Former Argyle apprentice Reski then fired the ball across, but Sam Cooper deflected the ball wide at full-stretch, while Stevenson was called into action at the other end when saving King's 25-yarder.

Johnson, who was deputising for the working Ian Baker, was the busier of the two 'keepers, making another fine save from Tolley before a mad eight-minute spell saw four goals fly in.

Truro were the first to score, on 33 minutes, when Dan Ellis fired the ball over from the left wing to find Christian Lett stretching, at the far post, to volley the ball home.

Liskeard restored parity straight from the restart, as new signing Matt Godfree sent Jason King down the right and his cross found Adie Walton firing the ball into the roof of the Truro net from close-range.

Walton struck again five minutes later when Bradley Richardson picked him out at the far post to steer his shot past Dan Stevenson and into the net.

The first-half scoring was completed when Chris Reski cut in from the left to hit a fine shot that flashed across goalkeeper Dan Johnson to send the sides in level at the break.

Truro caught the home defence cold after just five minutes of the second period as Reski turned provider with Josh Sims firing home his cross.

Liskeard found themselves on the back foot as Truro looked the more likely to add to their score – and it was only a fantastic one-handed save from Johnson that somehow kept out Lett's close-range volley ten minutes from the end of normal time.

Just as it appeared the visitors were going to earn a home tie against either Wendron or Penzance, Liskeard once again showed their fighting spirit.

The tie was in the second minute of stoppage time when Neal Kinsman hit a screamer, from the angle of the area, that flew pass substitute goalkeeper Jason Peters to send the tie into extra-time.

Once again it was Truro who took the lead, with Sims firing home via the underside o the crossbar in the second period – but with three minutes left Jason King's 20-yard effort ensured the dreaded spot-kick lottery.

It was Liskeard who held their nerve – with Adie Walton, Joe Davey and Chris Sully all converting their spot-kicks as the Blues triumphed 3-1, and if the second round tie is as exciting then we are all in for a real treat.