Liskeard Athletic 3 St Austell 2

In an entertaining end-to-end game the Blues managed to hold their nerve against a useful Lillywhites side to gain a welcome three points. The game started at a blistering pace with chances coming thick and fast at both ends but it was Liskeard who were to open the scoring after 15 minutes. St Austell lost possession in the middle of the park allowing Karl Curtis to play the ball over the top of the visitors defence to Dominic Richardson, who looked set to score until a last ditch tackle from Bradley Ralph sent the ball out for a corner. The relief on the visitors defence was only momentary as from the resulting corner Sam Matthews fired over a perfect delivery for Harry Richardson to outjump the St Austell defence and power a header past Gary Penhaligon. Liskeard could have gone further ahead five minutes later when the Lillywhites failed to clear a Curtis free-kick for the ball to fall to Jamie Morrison-Hill but his rasping drive was deflected wide. Liskeard's lead was short lived as St Austell, who were always lively, opened up the Liskeard left with Tom Sundercombe to whip in a cross that evaded the back-pedalling Blues defence for Gary Whielden to slide the ball past the exposed Simon Zinn. Back came Liskeard and they had restored their lead within five minutes when a long kick from Simon Zinn completely evaded the visitors defence to leave Paul Baker in the clear to calmly slot the ball past Penhaligon. St Austell refused to lie down and with Nathan Perrott always influential came back at their hosts to level the scores seven minutes before the break. A seemingly innocuous ball into the home area skipped off the surface and was handled by Harry Richardson for Sundercombe to confidently convert the the spot-kick. There was still enough of the half left for both sides to spurn chances with one great run from Dan Lean only halted by a smart save by Zinn. At the other end Morrison-Hill was a source of constant problems for the visitors with several of his crosses just requiring a final touch. The second half saw St Austell raise their game and come at the Blues who were defending up the slope and although putting their hosts under constant pressure the only time Zinn was seriously troubled was in the 55th minute when Sundercombe slipped the offisde trap but when clean in on goal he was denied by the feet of Zinn. With Liskeard looking dangerous on the break the winner came in the 63rd minute when slick passing took them through the middle of the visitor's defence for Matt Penry to bear down on goal and win his challenge with Penhaligon the ball ran for a corner. Once again the big St Austell defence was undone by a set piece as they failed to clear Morrison-Hills' inswinging corner and as the ball bobbled loose it fell to Matt Hawke who smashed it home from 12 yards. St Austell continued to press but it was Liskeard that looked the more likely to score as the Blues held on for the three points.