Out of form Torpoint knocked out of FA Cup

TORPOINT Athletic’s worrying start to the season continued at Erme Valley on Saturday when they crashed out of the FA Cup and had another player sent off.

This was Point’s fourth successive defeat, including three in the Western League, and the evidence suggests they are finding it hard after last season’s tough end to the season where they failed to secure promotion with it right in their grasp.

Callum O’Brien saw red in the 87th minute, a week after full-back Dave Barker was given his marching orders at Buckland Athletic.

The Ivies scored twice in each half, including a brace from former Dobwalls striker Josh Johnson, to secure their passage through to the preliminary round where they will face Southern League outfit Tiverton Town at Ladysmead on August 22.

Torpoint started the brightest with good possession and some good half chances, but just before the 10th minute the hosts took the lead. A break down the right wing found Johnson to fire home from an acute angle past visiting keeper James Morley.

Five minutes later, good build-up play found Torpoint’s Liam Higgins, who had an effort from a tight angle which went just wide of the near post.

Halfway through the half a corner by Torpoint’s James Rowe found O’Brien in the area, but his effort was well saved by home keeper Kane Gregory.

Moments later Higgins – dual-registered with SWPL Premier West side Camelford – got the ball through to Joe Rapson, and his effort clipped the post before somehow Gregory grabbed the ball.

Ivybridge doubled their lead on the half-hour when Owen Howard got hold of a loose ball in the penalty area and slotted home.

On the hour mark, former Torpoint player Josh Pope had a shot from distance which was well saved by Morley.

But the hosts extended their lead in the 65th minute as winger CJ Pritchard beat a defender in the penalty area to slot past Morley with a simple tap-in.

Minutes later a Torpoint free-kick into the area found O’Brien, who rattled the underside of the bar from an acute angle.

With a quarter-hour remaining the hosts got their fourth goal and ended the cup tie as a contest. Johnson got the ball, ran clear of the defence, and curled the ball around the keeper in sublime fashion, to make it 4-0.

Three minutes from time the afternoon went from bad to worse for Torpoint when O’Brien received a second yellow card.

The Cornishmen now have a week to regroup before hosting South West Peninsula League Premier East outfit Bishops Lydeard at home on Saturday in the FA Vase First Qualifying Round (3pm).

IVYBRIDGE TOWN: Kane Gregory; Jake Lane (Chris Harvey, 75), Joe Rutherford (Billy Spurway, 83), Celestin Salop, Ryan Geach, Jacob Pickavant (Connor McAuley, 46), Josh Pope, Jack Rider (Lucas Robson, 87), Owen Howard (Ogwu Kenechukwu, 66), Colin Pritchard, Josh Johnson. Subs not used: Oscar Larrieu, Alfie Slough.

TORPOINT ATHLETIC: James Morley; Jack Tupper (Gary Hird, 54), Sam Hepworth, Shaun Cleary (TomPayne, 54), Callum O’Brien, Elliott Crawford (capt), James Rowe (Tom Hensman, 64), Sam Pearson (SamMorgan, 76), Curtis Damerell, Joe Rapson (Josh Jansen, 76), Liam Higgins. Sub not used: Darren Hicks.

Referee: Nathan Beech.

Attendance: 173.

Man-of-the-match: Josh Johnson (Ivybridge).