Premier Division Saltash 3 Torpoint 0 (Tuesday) TORPOINT'S generosity in agreeing to this league game at such short notice was not reciprocated by the Ashes, who served up a professional display to move within three points of league leaders Plymouth Parkway with two games in hand. Saltash needed the game to enable them to get striker Glen Palmer and midfielder Gavin Coulton clear of suspension in time for Monday's Cornwall Senior Cup Final and were grateful to Torpoint for agreeing to play. 'I must thank Torpoint manager Ian Stephens, who worked hard in contacting his players to allow this game to go ahead at such short notice,' said Ashes boss Kevin Hendy, but that was where the pleasantries ended. Saltash began slowly in the first quarter, but then proceeded to take the first-half honours, with Carl Pender sending a far-post header back across Joey Syndercombe's goal and wide of the far post on 16 minutes. Syndercombe was kept busy, as Saltash hit a purple patch, turning Marc Thorne's drive, after he had latched onto a weak headed back-pass, around a post for a corner. Pender then forced his way into the box, only to see the Torpoint 'keeper push his rising drive onto the woodwork. Torpoint's cause was not helped when they lost central defender Tony Biddle to injury on 25 minutes, and his pace was sorely missed by the visitors. Thorne raced clear on to Mark Chapman's pass, only for Syndercombe to pull out a great save before recovering to drop on the loose ball as the Ashes striker closed in for a possible second chance. Saltash finally made the breakthrough on 42 minutes when a great pass from Danny Lewis sent Pender racing in from the right-hand angle of the area to supply a clever finish with the outside of his left boot that flew low across Syndercombe and inside the far post. Although Torpoint improved after the break, it was still the home side who created the scoring opportunities, and only a fine interception from Chris Todd prevented Thorne snapping up the loose ball after Pender had fired across Syndercombe. The second goal finally arrived on 63 minutes when Lewis sent Chapman racing into the box to crash his shot across Syndercombe and inside the opposite post. It should have been 3-0 two minutes later, as Syndercombe pulled down Daley Simpson, but Chapman not only fired his spot-kick over the bar but also out of Kimberley Stadium. Saltash were awarded a second penalty 12 minutes later when Jamie Evans brought down Thorne in the box, and the Ashes striker picked himself up to send Syndercombe the wrong way from the spot. Lewis, who had a fine game out wide on the left, was unlucky not to crown his performance with a goal as his 25-yard chip sailed over Syndercombe but came back off the post.
