FA VASE FIRST ROUND Launceston 2 Liskeard Ath 1 TO say Blues manager Dave Leonard was not a happy man after Liskeard's capitulation against Launceston is probably an understatement. While Leonard was unhappy with his side's performance, he was also none-too-pleased with some of the tackling on the pitch, especially a third-minute cruncher on his full back Andy Jones. 'The first tackle of the game on Andy (Jones) set the tempo – it was ex-rated – and we never got over it,' said the Blues boss. 'We never competed in a game that lasted 90 minutes – and that is what disappointed me,' added Leonard. Whether Launceston intended to physically intimidate Liskeard or not, when Dan Tilley did not even get so much as a ticking off for leaving Jones writhing on the ground for some minutes, the effect on Liskeard was evident and they visibly shrunk in comparison to the home players. They seemed a beaten side as they stood off challenges and this is something that Leonard will have to sort out as he tries to build an honours- winning team. It is a problem that Leonard knows only too well – when he selects himself, the team is so much better – but there seems to be no-one capable of filling the void when he's missing and, on this occasion, Leonard was watching, injured, from the sidelines – and it showed. Already on the back foot, the last thing Liskeard needed to concede was an early goal. Unfortunately Dan Tilley cemented a fine home start when he headed home in the 15th minute following hesitation in the Blues' defence. That Liskeard did not go further behind before the break was due both to good goalkeeping from Simon Zinn and poor finishing by the home side. Only 1-0 down at the interval, there must still have been some hope for Liskeard in the dressing room. However, Sam Matthews was a victim of another scything tackle three minutes after the break by James, and it is to the credit of both sides that the game did not degenerate into a clogging match. Chances came and went at both ends – though, more often than not, at the Liskeard end. When central defender Jamie Ahearne headed powerfully home in the 57th minute to double the home lead, the writing could have really been on the wall. Leonard can, however, take some heart from the way his side commenced a fightback which culminated in a 70th-minute penalty award for a Tom Barwell foul on Paul Baker, which Baker duly dispatched into the home net. An equaliser was not forthcoming though, and Liskeard now find themselves concentrating on Carlsberg South Western League matters closer to home. q q q SOUTH WESTERN LGE Newquay 2 Saltash United 1 AFTER gaining an excellent away win at Plymouth Parkway, the Ashes' inconsistencies resurfaced and they went down to Newquay at Mount Wise. If the Ashes have pretensions to get into the top flight of the proposed South West Peninsula set-up, then they have to start getting something out of matches like this. A victory over Newquay would have taken them to fourth place, but now, for the moment, they remain in a whole pack of mid-table teams and that could spell a very nervy last few matches this season. Things initially did not go too badly for the Ashes at Newquay as both sides adopted a defensive attitude. The nearest Saltash came to scoring in the first half came when Ashes' influential midfielder Gavin Coulton saw his thunderous drive tipped over his own crossbar by home goalkeeper Scott Palmer. Five minutes before half-time the Ashes breathed a sigh of relief when Dave Rabone's shot beat Lee Carew but rebounded off a post and then to safety. It was Coulton, who is having a fine season, that gave his side the lead in the 55th minute, dribbling through the home defence and beating Palmer from 12 yards. Unfortunately, Saltash then shot themselves in the foot with an own goal of spectacular proportions. Dave Smith hit a back pass from 15 yards towards Carew, but could then only watch in horror as the ball flew past the advancing Saltash goalkeeper before ending up in the visitors' net. That said, Saltash then looked as if they could hang on to at least a point – but that hope seemed to disappear in the 78th minute when Ashley Bradshaw scored from close range for Newquay. Seven minutes from time Glenn Palmer was brought down in the home penalty box but Coulton then saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Palmer. It was one of those days. q q q Plymouth Argyle 2 Millbrook 0 MILLBROOK boss Mark Jones had every right to feel that his young and improving side deserved something from this entertaining game at Bolitho Park. Millbrook were enjoying the better of the first half when Argyle scored their opening goal and still had chances to level before the young Greens added a second four minutes before the break. This was a game for young, fit legs – the average age of the two teams was probably less than 19, with Millbrook's impressive Matt Galpin the old man on the pitch at the ripe old age of 24. Galpin was outstanding in the middle of the Millbrook defence and it was often his ability to find his own players that started their moves forward. 'Even Stuart Gibson commented on Matt's performance, which was a compliment indeed,' said Jones. Gibson also praised his opponents saying: 'I complimented Mark Jones after the game as he has a bunch of young lads that are working hard for each other.' Millbrook had the best of the early chances with Jon Harris hitting one superb angled-volley across Argyle goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe – but it scraped the outside of the far post. The young Pilgims opened their account on 20 minutes when Toby Davis found space on the right flank, after outpacing his marker, before picking out Mark Petnehazi, who meet the low cross first time with power and accuracy for the ball to fly past the exposed Painter. Martin Watts went close to doubling the lead with a 30-yard free-kick that flew narrowly wide of the visitor's far post before he had better luck four minutes before the break. Dan Smith swung over a corner that was sliced up into the area by a Millbrook defender and, as the ball dropped over Watts right shoulder, he swivelled and hit a spectacular waist-high volley over Painter and into the top corner of the net from the angle of the box. Millbrook replied with Harris sending a corner over for young defender James Boon to beat Paul Kendall to the ball – but his powerful header flew just over. That was about the only time in the match that Argyle's impressive central defender was beaten. 'I was very pleased with the lads fitness levels as Argyle train every day whereas our lads train on Wednesday evenings,' revealed Jones. Argyle's best spell was possibly in the last 10 minutes when they did have three or four efforts at Dave Painters goal but that was as a result of Millbrook pushing forward in numbers and not tired legs. q q q S WEST PENINSULA APPLICATIONS LISKEARD Athletic are one of 15 Carlsberg South Western League clubs that have officially applied for the Premier Division of the new South West Peninsula League. Saltash United, St Blazey and Torpoint Athletic have also revealed their intentions but Callington Town and Millbrook will be playing in Division One West next season as they have not applied. With possibly only eight places available to South Western League clubs, competition for a high finish in the League will be intense and will certainly make for an interesting season which could go right to the wire. The South West Peninsula Working Party have released the names of 29 clubs that have applied for membership and the 10 clubs that have not applied are guaranteed a place in either Divisions One East or West. The myths that have been bandied around the circuit that the League will not take off have certainly been dispelled and it is expected that there will be another huge response for clubs that will be applying for membership in the first divisions. All 29 clubs will be inspected by officers of both leagues during this month to ensure that they conform with the new FA Ground Standard for Step Six. The clubs that have applied for Step Six status are as follows - Carlsberg South Western League: Bodmin Town, Falmouth Town, Launceston, Liskeard Athletic, Newquay, Penryn Athletic, Penzance, Plymouth Argyle, Plymouth Parkway, Porthleven, Saltash United, St Blazey, Tavistock, Torpoint Ath, Wadebridge Town. Axworthys' Devon League: Alphington, Buckland Athletic, Budleigh Salterton, Crediton United, Cullompton Rangers, Dartmouth, Elburton Villa, Holsworthy, Ivybridge Town, Newton Abbot, Newton Abbot Spurs, Ottery St Mary, Plymstock United, Vospers Oak Villa. q q q FA VASE SECOND ROUND DRAW ST Blazey were handed a tough task in the second round of the FA Vase when the followed Truro City out of the hat. Blazey, who have been exempt until this stage, will travel to Treyew Road to take on the Toolstation First Divison pacesetters on Saturday, November 18. 'It's a major disappointment as this is the third time, in two national cup competitions, that we have come up against a Cornish club,' bemoaned Saints boss Trevor Mewton. 'They (Truro) are the second favourites to win the competition and when the time comes we will be going there as rank outsiders,' he added. The tie will also see Blazey meeting up with their old favourite Glynn Hooper who now leads the Truro front line. 'I spoke to Glynn immediately after the draw and we both agreed that we would not have to do any homework on each other prior to the game,' quipped Mewton.