As Trevor Mewton, manager of St Blazey, said at the end of the game, the scoreline was not a true reflection of the game. Saltash must indeed rue the chances they missed, particularly after all the possession they had during the first half. It was always going to be a difficult introduction for Mike Doel to take charge of Saltash as manager.

Mat Latham missed a chance to put the Ashes in front in the fourth minute when his shot went just wide of the upright. At the other end Mark Rowe's free kick from long range was also wide of its target. In the 17th minute Chris Hawke's shot went right across goal no-one on hand to slot home. Charles West was called into action two minutes later when he was forced to block a shot from Glyn Hooper.

Lantham's right wing cross was saved by Dave Philp for St Blazey with 20 minutes gone. Leigh Underhay shot wide and then there was a terrific scramble in the penalty box before Philp was able to get his hands on the ball.

Richard Daly and Mike Southgate combined well in the 26th minutes but Daly's final shot went over the crossbar. With half an hour gone Southgate forced Philp to pull off a good save and Lantham's free kick was wide. Then against the run of play the ball fell to ex-Ashes player Darren Gilbert who beat the defence and volleyed home from some 20 yards out to put St Blazey ahead in the 35th minute. In the remaining minutes of the first half Jon Pidgen shot over the bar, Southgate headed just wide and an indirect free kick taken by Lantham was shot just over the crossbar by Mat Penry.

The second half started with more of the same from the Ashes. Southgate shot just wide as did Pidgen in the 57th minute. Southgate, Doel and Lantham passed the ball around well before Lantham shot just over the bar. Once again though, against the run of play, Gilbert found Gary Dyer and Dyer's shot beat West in the 68th minute for St Blazey's second goal, although many thought that two players had been caught offside.

Three minutes later the killer blow came for Saltash when st Blazey scored again through Glyn Hooper after the ball had bounced awkwardly in front of Charles West. Doel was replaced by new signing Kevin Walsh, Mark Penprase replace Jon Pidgen and Wayne Toon went on for Richard Daly. Despite the changes though it was too late for Saltash to make a come-back.