Lorenz's late winner earns dominant Blues victory

THEY say the sign of a good team is how they react to a defeat – if that’s the case then Liskeard put themselves in that bracket on Saturday.

Only four days after a 4-3 defeat at Ivybridge when they conceded three goals in the last eight minutes, the Blues earned their first clean sheet of the season to move up to sixth in the table.

And the real bonus came five minutes from time when James Lorenz was perfectly placed to fire in Bailey Mabin’s cross to secure all three points.

The performance and result was the perfect response from Liskeard after the manner of their defeat at Ivybridge left players and management stunned.

Liskeard’s cause on Saturday was helped after Brislington played the last hour with 10 men following a straight red card for Oaklan Buck after a reckless challenge on Toby Haley in the 28th minute.

But the Blues had already been the better side with chances for George Newton and man-of-the-match Mabin, whose 26th minute shot from 25 yards brought out the best in home keeper George Dorrington.

Liskeard also had the better of the second half with Max Gilbert seeing a speculative shot from the halfway line just kept out, while a Lorenz effort in the 73rd minute was ruled out for offside.

But there was nothing wrong with his 85th minute strike, which turned out to be the winner. Mabin almost rounded off a brilliant individual performance with a goal in injury-time but Dorrington made another fine save.

The Blues are back in action tonight for a local derby against Torpoint Athletic at Lux Park (7.30pm).

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Collins, Josh Robins, Harry Jeffery, Josh McCabe (capt), Matt Andrew, Max Gilbert, James Lorenz, George Newton, Bailey Mabin, Toby Haley. Subs: Harry Probyn, Kai Gilbert, Harvey Mullis, Scott Sanders, George Marris.

Liskeard Athletic man-of-the-match: Bailey Mabin.