Premier Division

Bodmin Tn 0

Torpoint Ath 2

Frowns turned to smiles

on the faces of the Torpoint faithful, who must have wondered if they were watching the same side deservedly beating the champions-elect on their patch last Saturday.

This came just a weekend after almost the same team had been trouping off of the Poltair pitch with heads hung low, after their humiliating 4-0 Senior Cup exit at the hands of West Division St Austell,

Torpoint even travelled to Priory Park minus central defender Gavin Woodward and midfielder Karl Curtis and full-back Gary Williams, but their starting line-up showed just two changes from the St Austell game.

'We have now beaten Bodmin, Buckland and Parkway – who are all in the mix at the top of the table – and it mystifies Stevo (Ian Stephens) and myself as to why the players cannot reproduce this form week in and week out,' exclaimed puzzled Torpoint assistant manager Gary Tiffany.

'If the players could add that consistency to their form, we would definitely be up there challenging for honours.'

Perhaps it is just in the League that Tiffany's team produce, as they have won their last four games and have not conceded a League goal since the 5-3 victory away at Saltash on November 29.

Bodmin finished game with nine men on the pitch and manager Darren Gilbert banished to the stands... but that did not have any bearing on the result as Torpoint were already coasting at 2-0 by that time.

Bodmin started brightly, with Craig Swiggs firing straight at Torpoint goalkeeper Martin Piper before Danny O'Hagan headed Karl Turner's cross over the crossbar from ten yards.

Torpoint came back at their hosts and it was no more than they deserved when they broke the deadlock on the half-hour.

A good move down the right-hand side of the pitch released full-back Gareth Jones, and he raced clear to slot a low drive past the advancing Kevin Miller.

Torpoint good chance to double their lead a minute after the break, but former professional 'keeper Miller made a great safe to keep out Ben Davies' low drive.

It was only a reprieve for the home side who found themselves two goals adrift on 59 minutes. Adam Carter found himself in space, just outside the Bodmin box, to slip the ball in to Davies and, although his low drive was blocked by Miller, the ball broke for Mike Roberts to slam into an empty net. Bodmin replied with Nick Campbell breaking into the Torpoint area, but he placed his shot wide of Piper's post before player-manager Gilbert received his marching orders from the dug-out for the fourth time since taking over the reigns at Priory Park.

Minutes later Bodmin were reduced to ten men when O'Hagan received his second caution of the match, and they were down to nine eight minutes from time.

Brinton Nute was sent off for his challenge on Piper in a one-on-one situation... but it was the former Saltash central defender who came off worse as he suffered a broken ankle and will be out at least six weeks.