Premier Division

Liskeard Ath 0

Once again a lack of goalscoring power cost Liskeard dearly.

The Blues controlled long spells of this game at Pennygillam, only to come away empty-handed for the 13th consecutive match.

Liskeard paraded new signing Carl Pender in their forward line, but he had little chance to shine as the Blues have now gone around 400 minutes without scoring a goal.

'Again a decent performance but it's by no coincidence that we just lack a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch,' admitted Blues' assistant manager Tony Richardson.

'To be fair there were decent performances from most of the team, but to score goals the whole team has to take responsibility... not just the front two.

'Saltash (1-0), Torpoint (2-0) and this game at Launceston have all been decent performances, but if you don't score goals you don't win matches.'

The Blues' management team have spent most of their spare time searching for new blood, and are once again awaiting for two seven-day approaches to allow them to talk to potential targets.

'Leigh (Cooper) and I have to rectify that and keep searching for new blood to bring into the club, but strikers are not two a penny,' admitted Richardson.

Liskeard's record of just 13 goals in 16 League games highlights the problems at Lux Park but, by the same token, they have a defence that has conceded less than fourth-placed Ivybridge.

Holsworthy – who are one place, and six points, above Liskeard – have conceded 71 goals compared to the Blues' 38 and, ironically, it was the North Devon outfit who were the Blues' last success back on October 4.

The conditions certainly did not help either side, as it was almost impossible in a swirling wind to control the ball, which was not the ideal recipe for a game of flowing football.

Launceston were gifted a tenth-minute lead as Sam Scott fired his corner in to the six-yard-box where Joe Eke sliced his attempted clearance past goalkeeper Ian Baker for a bizarre own-goal.

Blues' heads did not drop and, despite facing a strong wind, they had more of the first half play without ever troubling Paul Hider in the home goal.

The prospect of having the wind at their backs would have given Liskeard renewed hope for the second period but, once again, they totally dominated proceedings, only to be caught on the break five minutes from time.

With numbers committed forward, Launceston's former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Darren Garner broke from deep before slipping the ball through to substitute Kevin Parker.

The former Torquay United striker – who had been lured back into football by Launceston boss Paul Smith – celebrated his debut by firing across Baker and inside the far post to ensure the points remained in Launceston.