Carlsberg South Western League Liskeard Athletic 2 Callington Town 1 It was the result that mattered and not the performance as Liskeard fought their way to a victory at Lux Park on Wednesday night that sent them to the top of the Carlsberg South Western League. This was not a vintage performance from Allan Evans' Blues, but that was not wholly their fault as a young Callington side chased, harried, challenged and then broke swiftly throughout the 90 minutes. The game was generally very scrappy, but that was not totally the blame of the players as referee Stephen Paul was too eager to blow his whistle and brandish yellow cards, which meant the game was never able to flow. The players' frustration at the constant shrill of Paul's whistle was mirrored by the comments coming from both benches and the spectators of Callington and Liskeard alike. Goalmouth action was at a premium in the first half, although the diminutive Sam Matthews was denied by visiting goalkeeper Dan Johnson before appeals for a penalty were ignored after the Blues winger had gone down in the box. Liskeard finally made the breakthrough after 39 minutes when Jon Morris sent the ball into the area, where Lee Harvey's shimmy left Paul Baker free at the far post to lash a low shot past Johnson. Callington came more into the game after the break, and Dan Murdoch missed a good chance to equalise before Johnson somehow deflected Matthews' close-range drive on to the post. And the visitors were level 20 minutes from time. After Kevin Robinson had cleared Jake Benney's header off the line, Murdoch retrieved the situation by returning the ball back into the danger area, and Chris Sully bravely headed past the lunging Simon Zinn. Callington's efforts were to go unrewarded, however, as Morris's drive came back off the bar, only for Baker to score with a low drive that took a deflection off Jake Benney, with only five minutes remaining. Saltash United 3 Penryn Athletic 1 AS the season starts to enter its final phase, Saltash United may well look back upon this win over Penryn at Kimberley Stadium as a seminal moment in their quest for qualification to next season's Peninsula League Premier Division. 'At this time of the season it is the result that counts,' admitted Ashes boss Tim Halford. 'We couldn't afford to lose this game against a team that was just below us – and we got the best of both worlds with this result; the win keeps us right up there in the table while it also knocks back one of our rivals.' True enough, this match was not the best of adverts for the 'beautiful game' but, nevertheless, the three points earned by Saltash have put daylight between themselves and the teams below them. 'We tried to play our normal passing game, but it proved very difficult on a heavy pitch against a strong Penryn side.' 'That said, though, I thought the whole squad battled admirably to achieve the win,' said Halford. Saltash began the game with a flourish and took the lead through a Marc Thorne goal in the eighth minute. The burly striker advanced on the Penryn goal before curling the ball home from the edge of the penalty box. Although Saltash were in charge at this point, they failed to press home their advantage, allowing Penryn to reorganise and eventually level in the 24th minute. The Ashes' rearguard failed to clear a ball, which resulted in Dale Band being impeded by Stuart Clark, and Steve Rowson slotted home the resulting penalty. It says something about the current Saltash run of form that this was the first League goal the Ashes have conceded in 2007. Back came Saltash, and Thorne was unlucky when he saw his backheader cleared off the line in the 40th minute as the Ashes tried to finish the half on a high. And Mark Chapman ensured they did when he finished off a neat one-two with Daley Simpson with an angled drive three minutes before the break. The second half was a real curate's egg as Saltash tried to overcomplicate things on a terrible pitch, resulting in a great deal of frustration. Too often for Halford's liking, his side failed to get a real threat on the visiting goal, and this just about kept a tiring Penryn team in the game, so much so that Saltash goalkeeper Lee Carew had to pull off a couple of fine saves to keep his side's lead intact. Eventually, the Ashes secured the points eight minutes from time when Danny Lewis fired home from eight yards following a Carl Pender set-up. To put the icing on the Saltash cake, long-term absentee Gavin Coulton made his long-awaited comeback with an 11-minute cameo appearance from the bench at the end of the game, something else for Halford to be pleased about. 'It was nice to see Gavin (Coulton) get on the pitch. He has been out with injuries and suspension since way before Christmas – he's only played 25 minutes in four months – so it's like signing a new player,' enthused Halford. A glance at the remaining Saltash League fixtures until the end of the season shows they have home advantage in eight out of their 13 games. If Halford's side can show the same sort of resolve and determination as they did against a stubborn Penryn side, then the 'Promised Land' in the shape of the Peninsula League Premier Division is definitely within their grasp. Plymouth Argyle 2 Callington Town 1 CALLINGTON manager Geoff Battams was rightly proud of his youngsters, despite them missing an ideal opportunity to deny League leaders Argyle victory at Bolitho Park. 'I think the players need a little bit of reward for their efforts as I cannot fault their commitment to the cause and I am always saying how proud I am of them, but that is the truth,' said Battams. 'Hopefully, a little bit of luck will come their way and that will give them the confidence needed to gain the results their efforts deserve. 'If we can keep this young side together, then next season they will older and wiser and will be that much better,' he added. Argyle coach Chris Souness also had praise for Callington and said: 'To be fair to Callington, they competed valiantly and, from their point of view, the goal was an exquisite finish but, from our point of view, we were playing in bad areas.' Souness was not happy with the way his young side had started the match, saying: 'I was disappointed with our first-half performance and it is fair to say we had some strong words at half-time. 'We were looking for a response from the players and, to a large extent, I think we got one as we definitely moved the ball about more in the second half and caused them (Callington) a few more problems.' Argyle also took the opportunity to play several of their 15-year-olds, which must have pleased new new Pilgrims' youth manager Gordon Bennett, who watched the whole game from the terraces. 'We finished the game with four schoolboys on the pitch and they certainly did themselves justice. I was pleased that Josh Grant scored what I would call two poacher's goals,' praised Souness. It was Souness's decision to introduce Grant into the action, early in the second half, that proved to be the catalyst for victory as he scored both his side's goals, but it could have been an entirely different scenario. Callington were awarded a penalty six minutes from time after striker Matt Wright had been penalised for holding Gareth Jones in the area. Chris Sully stepped up to fire his spot-kick towards the far corner, only for Lloyd Saxton to launch himself to his left and turn the ball around the post. 'It was not as if it was a bad penalty by Chris – it was just a very fine save by their 'keeper,' admitted Battams. Callington had given themselves a lifeline minutes before the penalty award when substitute Richard Daley's great pass put in Danny Zalick, and the young striker sublimely lifted the ball over the on- rushing Saxton from the edge of the box. After a goalless first half, Argyle were also given the chance to score from a penalty after Wright had beaten impressive goalkeeper Dan Johnson from Tom King's precise pass. Johnson duly took the 15-year-old striker out, leaving the referee with no other option but to point to the spot, but Martin Watts fired his low effort wide of the right-hand post. However, that miss was forgotten as Grant scored twice in a two-minute spell, with the first coming 20 minutes from time. King provided another good cross which was met first-time by Mark Petnehazi for Grant to deflect his drive past Johnson from three yards. Callington were still reeling as Karl Byrne fired the ball over and, once again, it was met by Petnehazi, but this time the Hungarian's effort produced a fine one-handed save from Johnson. Unfortunately for the Cally 'keeper, the ball ran loose and Grant showed his predatory talents by reacting the fastest and shooting home at the far post. To their credit, Callington did not let their heads drop and came back at the hosts, who were left hanging on to their slender lead at the final whistle, largely thanks to Saxton's agility and anticipation.