PREMIER DIVISION Launceston 5 Liskeard Ath 2 ANOTHER week, another crisis, for the Blues as they conceded five more goals, dropped to third-from- bottom of the league table, and parted company with caretaker-manager Robbie Herrera into the bargain. Herrera, fellow Torquay-based goalkeeper Grant Fisher and defender Nick Skinner were informed their services were no longer required, leaving Liskeard chairman Chris Burchell and coach Paul Goodwin in charge for the game at Pennygillam. Things initially appeared to be going well for the Blues as there were no goals in a dire first half. Unfortunately, there are times when you do not want half-time to come along and break the momentum (or lack of it) in a game. Three minutes into the second half, Matt Andrew fired the Clarets in front and the carnage seemed about to begin. No-one told Liskeard though, and Dominic Richardson brought the Blues back into the game four minutes later when he fired home from six yards. Back came Launceston, and the home side regained the lead when Richard Hope drove the ball home in the 57th minute, only for Ben Wood to restore parity for the second time with an excellent individual goal 13 minutes later. The writing started to appear on the Liskeard wall in the 75th minute when Andrew scored his second of the game – past Blues' returning goalkeeper Simon Zinn. How the Lux Park outfit have missed his experience. Five minutes later, Andrew completed his hat-trick with a neat back-heel from close range, and now it was beginning to be a question of not whether the Blues could salvage a point, but how many goals they would concede. The answer was only one more – Darren Garner scoring almost on the final whistle with a sublime chip to extend Liskeard's run to seven games without a win. All of which means the appointment, as soon as possible, of a new manager is an absolute priority. The South West football rumour-mill has already gone into overdrive, and if the Blues are to avoid one of the most ignominious seasons they have had for years, then actions will speak louder than words. Holsworthy 1 Saltash 2 ASHES manager Kevin Hendy and striker Marc Thorne enjoyed their return to Upcott Field, but the same could not be said of the Magpies' supporters, who were once their admirers. Thorne opened Ashes' account in a victory masterminded by manager Hendy as Saltash recorded their tenth win on the bounce to move into fourth spot in the table. There are times that style has to be thrown out of the window to be replaced by sheer hard work, and Hendy admitted this was one of those games. 'The pitch was tight and the surface bumpy and that did not suit our normal style of play, but credit to the side, who ground out the win,' said Hendy. The Ashes even had the bonus of facing a part-time goalkeeper in Dean Chidley, a full-back pressed into service as Holsworthy had lost their usual goalkeeper, Tom Blackler, to Peninsula League leaders Plymouth Parkway. Although they dominated first-half proceedings, Saltash took until the 40th minute to make the breakthrough. Much to the undoubted chagrin of the home crowd, their former favourite Thorne turned out to be the villain of the piece when he headed home Mark Chapman's free-kick. Even that advantage failed to last long as Holsworthy levelled on the stroke of the interval, with Marc Bettis firing home from the edge of the penalty box past a previously underworked Saltash goalkeeper Chris Wearing. The second half saw Saltash in control once more, but again they only scored one goal, but this time it proved to be decisive. Defender Tony Bouch, who has made so much difference since he achieved full fitness and returned to the Ashes' back four, visited the home penalty box for a corner and promptly nodded home on the hour. To be fair to Holsworthy, they did try and mount a second comeback, but this time the Ashes' rearguard stood firm. 'In reality, I felt this was a comfortable win, but if I have a criticism it would be that we failed to kill Holsworthy off in the first half and that kept them in the game. 'I am, however, pleased that, on this occasion, both our goals came from set-pieces as this reflects the hard work we have been putting in on the training ground. 'At the end of the day we have come to a difficult place to get a result and succeeded in getting the win we came for,' concluded Hendy. Ivybridge 4 St Blazey 0 IT would not be understating the case to say this was not one of St Blazey's better days. From the moment that the assorted inhabitants of the visiting dugout discovered that their seating had been painted, and was still wet, before the game, it was clear that the fates were conspiring against the Green and Blacks. Watching that paint dry was probably preferable for the visiting faithful as St Blazey failed abysmally to rise to the challenge set by Ivybridge. St Blazey manager Dave Philp admitted he could not understand how his side were as bad against Town as Liskeard had been against St Blazey the previous week. 'How players can go from last week's performance to this week's efforts is beyond me – it was a total disgrace,' raged Philp afterwards. Philp had done his best to keep the scoreline blank before the interval, twice denying home striker Carlton Farnham with one-on-one saves as his side dithered and dallied in front of him. If Philp was hoping that the first half was a temporary aberration, he was to be sadly mistaken. Farnham proceeded to atone for his earlier misses by notching a second-half hat-trick with efforts in the 48th, 60th and 76th minutes, all of which came from St Blazey's inability to defend crosses, as did Jamie Middleton's last-minute strike. On the credit side, new signing Matt Drummond had a promising debut with some nice touches, but overall Philp knows he has plenty of work to do on his team before their next game. 'There was only one change made to the team and they produced a diabolical, unacceptable performance. 'If players think that one good result sets up the season, they are sadly mistaken and I will be letting them know that in no uncertain fashion,' concluded a clearly angry Philp.