St Austell 0 Liskeard Ath 10

Liskeard Athletic manager Dave Leonard was a very happy man as he reflected on life after his side's demolition job at Poltair last Saturday. Leonard has been gradually building this young side and with the experience of striker Lee Harvey and gnarled midfielder Harry Richardson raising the average of the squad past voting age the side has potentially many good seasons to come. While most pundits, fans and rivals will doubtlesss have eyebrows raised at a double-figure score, it should not escape people's that the Blues are now the Carlsberg South Western League's highest goalscorers, have the meanest defence and the best goal difference. 'These statistics prove we are serious about trying to win the league,' says Leonard. 'Yes, people see this result and look at the goals scored but it's goals cenceeded that wins you matches and leagues. It's what people don't see on the training ground that leads to results and performances like this one,' added Leonard. Last Saturday's performance amidst the wind, rain and mud at Poltair was one for the purists who follow football and a reward for the loyal band of Blues supporters who turn up week in, week out. Liskeard had already beaten St Austell 8-1 at Lux Park in the reverse league fixture ealier this season so maybe the struggling Lillywhites were fearing the worse before the game started. Sam Matthews led the carnage, opening the scoring in the 22nd minute and by the 39th minute the diminutive wing-back had completed a hat trick before Jimmy Kiely completed the first-half scoring. The second half was virtually one-way traffic with Blues goalkeeper Simon Zinn a lonely and rather cold virtual spectator as almost everything Liskeard tried turned to goals. Brinton Nute netted twice while Kiely, Paul Baker and Matthews, with a real peach of a drive, all scored after the break. Perhaps a key moment in Liskeard's present and future plans occurred in the 69th minute. New signing Dan Bulley was introduced for his Blues debut and summed up the game nicely by scoring within 10 seconds of stepping on to the pitch, putting broad smiles on the faces in the Liskeard camp. 'We are working hard as a team and recouping the benefits by scoring goals from all over the team. 'You never stop working on your game individually or as a team though, but results like this show we are going in the right direction,' concluded Leonard.