Probyn's brace helps Liskeard down leaders Bridgwater at Lux Park

HARRY Probyn scored two excellent second half goals as Liskeard deservedly beat leaders Bridgwater United at Lux Park on Saturday to close the gap on the Somerset side to four points.

After almost an hour of defences dominating a tight affair, the Blues broke along the right with Jack Crago delivering a ball back to Probyn, whose clever left foot shot deceived keeper Ollie Saunders and flew into the empty net.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0 as substitute Max Gilbert burst from midfield to play in Probyn, and although keeper Saunders came out to narrow the angle, the Liskeard striker confidently fired the ball past him.

It wouldn’t be the Blues if they didn’t concede a late goal, but Miles Quick’s effort two minutes into time added on came too late for the visitors to salvage anything.

Joint manager Darren Gilbert said: “We deserved to win – we weren’t very good in the first half but we were much better in the second and worked incredibly hard.

“I know they weren’t at full strength today but we weren’t either, we had George Newton and Bailey Mabin unavailable. But we did the business against a very good side.”

The absence of those two strikers meant a start for Probyn, and Gilbert said: “He stepped up brilliantly today, but we know what Harry can do. He took his goals very well. I said to the boys before our last three games that I wanted nine points from them – and we got them.”

Bridgwater boss Dave Pearse said: “It was always going to be tough because they’re on the crest of a wave at the moment and we were down to the bare bones. It was probably one game too many for us after a hectic run of fixtures and travelling, and the first goal killed us.

“After that we looked tired, lost some of our discipline and conceded a second. Liskeard are a good side with good management. Things just didn’t go our way today.”

A much-anticipated fixture failed to deliver many thrills in an almost featureless first half but Liskeard, who looked edgy and gave possession away too cheaply, at least didn’t concede which gave them a platform to build on.

The influential Max Gilbert had not started after running in the Lisbon Marathon in midweek, but his introduction four minutes after the break, proved the turning point. His 53rd minute cross set up Crago, but his close-range effort was blocked by the keeper, who then kept out James Lorenz’s follow-up shot.

But it was a sign of things to come because six minutes later Probyn broke the deadlock and soon afterwards doubled Liskeard’s advantage.

Bridgwater did their best to find a way back, but they found the Liskeard defence, with skipper Josh McCabe and Josh Robins outstanding, in determined mood.

At the other end, with the game opening up, the Blues had chances to add to their lead, but Gilbert, Lorenz and Crago were all denied by some last-ditch defending.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC: Ollie Chenoweth; Ben Cross, Josh Robins, Toby Haley (Harvey Mullis, 81), Josh McCabe (capt), George Marris (Kai Gilbert, 81), Ben Collins (Max Gilbert, 49), James Lorenz, Harry Probyn (Harry Jeffery, 86), Matt Andrew, Jack Crago. Sub not used: Scott Sanders.

Liskeard Athletic man-of-the-match: Harry Probyn.