Bude Town 1 Liskeard Athletic 3

Liskeard took another step towards clinching the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League division one west title with a hard-earned three points at Broadclose Park on Saturday.

A stunning 25-yard strike from Joe Discombe broke the deadlock in the 28th minute and skipper Jack Podmore’s goal in the 59th minute put the Blues in control.

The icing on the cake came six minutes from time when Sam Rogers brilliantly set up James Lorenz for his 48th goal of the season.

Bude, who never gave up, scored a consolation on the stroke of full time.

With six games to go, Liskeard moved four points clear at the top after second-placed Porthleven, who have played two games more, were held to a 1-1 draw.

Mousehole remain in contention after a 6-0 win over Wadebridge but with games running out, they stay six points adrift of Liskeard.

As well as the goals, the match at Bude will be remembered for a bizarre contribution by referee Martin Sanders, who sent Liskeard joint managers Richard Woods and Martin Hodge from the dugout, for alleged dissent, in the 53rd minute.

This left Liskeard without a first aid man – a role carried out by Hodge – as well as nobody to manage from the sidelines. So Liskeard secretary Lianne Williams had to step in, with club chairman Roger Williams also providing support.

As early as the sixth minute, Podmore had been booked for dissent, which set the tone for an extraordinary refereeing performance, with players from both sides the subject of angry outbursts from the official.

Liskeard: J Gilbert, A King, S Gilbert (R Cleveland 72), J Podmore (M Lindsay 83), D Peel, J Discombe, L Johnson, J Lorenz, S Rogers, J Woods, B Collins.