Cornwall Senior Cup third round

Saltash Utd 7 Dobwalls 0

Dobwalls' joint-manager Martin Hodge was a forlorn figure after the severity of this defeat at Kimberley Stadium which saw Saltash claim a quarter-final tie at home to Cornwall Combination high-flyers Perranwell.

Hodge was understandably shocked by the size of the defeat,

admitting that the day had gone wrong before a ball had even been kicked.

'Stuart Dunn was left limping in the warm-up and had to go on the bench and our top-scorer, Martyn Hake, failed a late fitness test on his hamstring – that was not the best of preparations for a game against a quality side like Saltash,' admitted Hodge.

'They (Saltash) fully deserved their victory as they are a good side, but one or two decisions went against us in the first 25 minutes and then you find yourself 3-0 down and chasing the game.' Hodge's opposite number, Ashes boss Kevin Hendy, was understandably upbeat after such a comprehensive victory in a game that was being billed as a 'potential banana skin'.

'I am absolutely delighted with the victory and especially the manner in which it was achieved,' said Hendy.

'We have not played for several weeks, but that performance showed that we are a good training club as you would not have witnessed one bit of rustiness.

'In fact, the break had an adverse effect in that it re-fueled our hunger for the game.'

It was Dobwalls who created the first chance on eight minutes, when Steve Tapper picked up Steve Sargison's clearance to spot Kenny Griffiths out of his goal.

The Dobwalls midfielder wasted no time in sending in a lob that cleared the Ashes 'keeper but found Dave Smith producing a fine goal-line clearance as he headed the ball over the bar.

Not much was seen of the Dobwalls'

attack after that early scare as three goals in a six-minute spell put Saltash well in command.

They opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Carlton Farnham squared the ball to Marc Thorne but, as the Ashes' striker made his way into the box, he was scythed down from behind by Andrew Davey.

Thorne promptly picked himself up to fire his spot-kick low into the bottom left-hand corner of the Ellis Glassup's goal.

Two minutes later Danny Lewis found room on the right wing before firing over a precise cross that found an unmarked Glen Palmer to head home.

Dobwalls were not happy with the referee's interpretation of Tapper's challenge on Thorne when the Ashes striker was going for a right-wing corner.

Once all the protestations had

subsided, Thorne once again coolly despatched the penalty.

The Ashes had a great chance to add to their tally in first-half stoppage time when Lewis released Palmer, only for the burly striker to shoot straight at the advancing Glassup.

Saltash continued to dominate after the break, but it was the visitors who almost pulled a goal back on the hour. Dan Tapper's 25-yard free-kick took a deflection off the Saltash defensive wall to loop just over Griffiths' bar.

There were just 15 minutes left on the clock when Saltash finally added to their tally when substitute Paul Edwards regained possession with a good tackle.

The experienced full-back then threaded the ball through to Farnham, whose pace took him past his marker before he fired under the diving Glassup from 12 yards.

This goal signalled the end to Dobwalls' resistance as they capitulated, conceding three goals in the last nine minutes.

Substitute Gavin Coulton's run down the right flank saw him square the ball to Stuart Clark, who interchanged passes with Farnham before rounding the 'keeper and finding the back of the net, despite the attentions of a defender.

Dobwalls almost replied, but Dan Tapper's 20-yard free-kick was well saved by Griffiths, diving full-length to push the ball around his post.

Saltash replied with a great chance falling to Shaun Manley, after fine work from Madden, but the midfielder only managed to find Glassup.

He made amends a minute later when Farnham reached the byline before pulling the ball back for Manley to get in front of his marker and steer the ball home from close range.

The game was in the last minute of normal time when Paul Madden rode a challenge on the left flank and picked out the onrushing Sargison, who shot past Glassup from eight yards.

There was still enough time for Dobwalls' afternoon to deteriorate further as Jeff Dillon was sent off after receiving his second caution of the game.