CALLINGTON failed to close the gap to third-placed Penzance as a disastrous end to the first half cost them dear in Plymouth on Tuesday night.

With Calum Courts and Harry Southcott available, the starting 11 reverted to the same side that took the field the previous midweek against Bovey Tracey, with a youthful bench to call upon.

For the first 40 minutes, chances were at a premium as Cally looked to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat at Holsworthy on Saturday.

The home side had the better of the play, but in terms of shots on goal these were limited. Cally’s best opportunity came from a break, but Henry Wilson did superbly to get back and prevent Alex Jacob from crossing to Fin Harrison.

Then came the match-deciding five minutes before the break. On 43 minutes, James Hamson’s cross from the right evaded everyone and found its way into the corner to give the home side the lead. Two more goals followed before half-time, both from close range from Blake Colton, as Villa ruthlessly capitalised on mistakes made in the Cally backline.

After the break saw Cally put the home side under some pressure in terms of territory and set pieces, but the game was put firmly out of reach on 57 minutes when a break down the left saw the winger draw a foul, and the resulting penalty was converted by Colton for his hat-trick.

With both sides making a number of changes and the home side in control of the scoreline, Elburton added a fifth 20 minutes from time with another break, the resulting cross clinically finished by Connor Rush.

Late claims for a penalty for Cally were waved away, and with that went any chance of a consolation goal.

Assistant boss Simon Riddle said: “They say a week is a long time in football, and it has certainly proved true for this Cally team—a joyous evening a week ago followed by back-to-back league defeats.

“No time to dwell, though, as it’s a Good Friday derby with Launceston (11am) as we enter the final month of the campaign.”