Rowe's late goal denies St Austell comeback victory at Wadebridge Town

JACOB Rowe rescued a point for Wadebridge with a late goal to deny leaders AFC St Austell a fifth successive win in a thriller at Bodieve Park on Tuesday night.

The Bridgers had led 2-0 by the 27th minute courtesy of goals by ‘Jaffa’ Rowe with a superb strike (two minutes) and Joe Munday, before the Lillywhites stormed back with three goals in nine minutes to lead at half-time.

Skipper Neil Slateford started the visitors’ fightback with a 34th minute goal from good work by Liam Eddy, who then set up Ryan Richards to equalise two minutes later before getting himself on the scoresheet himself two minutes before the break.

In the second half AFC St Austell dominated the play, but their failure to put the game to bed proved costly when Rowe scored his second goal of the night, and his eighth of the season, to make it 3-3 in the dying minutes.

Wadebridge manager Paul Rowe said: “I was so pleased with us in the first half hour, we were really aggressive in our bid to turn the ball over in the right areas. We got a couple of goals and had many more good situations where we’d have opened them right up if we had got the final ball right.

“We then, for whatever reason, possibly with half-time in sight, became passive out of possession. “Henry Wilson and Slates started to dictate things, our plan of stopping them getting on the ball had deserted us, and those boys can hurt you and we found ourselves 3-2 down in the blink of an eye!

“Half-time was about instilling belief that we could turn it around by taking more chances out of possession. We did that and although we rode our luck at times – they have top players everywhere – we started to threaten again and Jaff brought us level at the death.

“Another step in the right direction. Plenty to work on but you can see a bit of belief coming into this new group.”

St Austell, unbeaten in nine games, are three points clear of Sticker, having played two games more, and the return of Wilson in midfield after his spell at Elburton Villa improves their squad significantly.

Joint manager Olly Brokenshire said: “It was a good game for the neutral; however, disappointing for us – after a horrendous start going 2-0 down we managed to raise the tempo and went into the break 3-2 up.

“I was disappointed we didn’t kill the game after starting the second half well, creating a lot of chances with no killer instinct. To then concede a soft goal in the last 10 through lack of concentration.

“We have to be patient as it’s a new team with lots of new relationships being formed on the pitch; however, if we want to compete this season we can’t really afford to drop many more points.”

A word for referee Alan Turner. Bridgers boss Paul Rowe described him as ‘the best we’ve had all season’.

WADEBRIDGE TOWN: Jamie Dudley; Igor Piewiszko, Brad Rowe, Jack Clarke, Sonny Cooper, Kieran Rowe, Dan O’Hara, Lee Orford, Jacob Rowe, Joe Munday, Tom Hensman. Subs used: James Baker, Ernie Rix, Ollie Allen, Sam Lang. Sub not used: Callum Buse.

AFC ST AUSTELL: Josh Clark, Jake White (Alfie Flack, 46), Jude Tripconey, James Ward, Olly Brokenshire (Aaron Dilley), Henry Wilson, Neil Slateford, Callum McGhee (Haiden Chapman), Liam Eddy, Martyn Duff, Ryan Richards. Subs not used: Jake Warman, Josh Bragg.

Referee: Alan Turner.

Men-of-the-match. Wadebridge Town – Jacob Rowe; AFC St Austell – Neil Slateford.