Dobwalls 0 Liskeard Athletic 3

Liskeard Athletic were crowned champions of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League division one west on Wednesday night after a comprehensive win at Lantoom Park, writes Kevin Marriott.

The Blues required only a point to secure the title in their penultimate fixture but did it in style with goals from the two Bens, Collins and Waters (two).

It is the first time since 1988 that Liskeard have won a trophy – and this success was achieved with a squad of mostly home town players who have been together for several seasons.

A proud chairman, Roger Williams, said afterwards: ‘This is the result of five years of hard work.’

Under the management of Martin Hodge and Richard Woods, Liskeard, who play an attractive passing game, have lost only once in the league all season, and finished their home campaign unbeaten at Lux Park.

Wednesday night was all about getting the job done and nerves were eased when Collins gave Liskeard a ninth minute lead with a superb right foot shot from 20 yards.

Collins went on to be one of the Blues’ best players as Liskeard poured forward looking for a second goal, which arrived 10 minutes before half-time when a shot by James Lorenz was blocked inside the six yard box, only for Waters’ follow-up to be deflected into the net.

Liskeard could have made life even more comfortable 10 minutes into the second half with a superb passing move which led to the excellent Jarrad Woods and Waters setting up Macauley Thorp, who drove a shot inches wide.

The game then developed into a feisty affair with a few tasty challenges flying in but referee Jack Borlase, who had a superb game, kept tempers under control.

Liskeard finally put the game to bed eight minutes from time when Rob Cleveland’s perfectly weighted pass sent Lorenz clear and he dinked the ball over Dobwalls keeper Toby Chapman for Waters to tap into the net.

There was even time, in the last minute, for Liskeard substitute Sam Rogers to have an opportunity to make it 4-0. He did all the hard work, running around Chapman, but his miscued shot allowed the keeper to recover and cling onto the ball near the line.

It was a bad miss. But it just didn’t matter.

Liskeard: J Gilbert, A King, S Gilbert, J Podmore, D Peel, M Thorp (J Liscombe 80), B Waters (S Rogers 83), J Lorenz, R Cleveland (M Pascoe 85), J Woods, B Collins.