Red card costs Torpoint dear as Buckland run riot in the second half

TORPOINT’S recent marked improvement in performances and results came to a shuddering halt at The Mill on Tuesday night – but there were extenuating circumstances.

With the game goalless after 25 minutes and Torpoint on top, goalkeeper Ty Rowe inexplicably handled just outside his penalty area and was shown a red card.

Initially Rowe’s dismissal didn’t have much of an effect as Torpoint’s 10 men, with central defender Freddie Chapman donning the keeper’s jersey, saw it through to half-time without further dramas.

But once Buckland skipper Jordan Pearce broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half, the visitors ran away with the game, adding further goals from Jack Baxter (2) and substitute Josiah McKayle.

Sam Pearson’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time was merely a consolation, although Buckland keeper Mike Searle reacted angrily about surrendering a clean sheet.

Torpoint boss Dean Cardew said: “Last night was a difficult game to summarise really.

“I thought we started the game really well, putting lots of pressure on, forcing their goalkeeper into some good saves and creating other opportunities which we perhaps could have done a little better with.

“Then going down to 10 men after 20 minutes was a real blow and completely changed the game. To play a Western League game for 70 minutes with a man less is a huge ask and we just weren’t up to it.

“We have to suck it up and try and bounce back on Saturday away to Ivybridge.”

The game got off to a dramatic start when a clash of heads after 10 seconds left Torpoint’s Sam Morgan and Buckland’s Coby White requiring treatment.

White appeared to be worse off and eventually had to be substituted, replaced by Baga Mariko, who was himself replaced at half-time having been yellow carded just before the break.

Torpoint thought they had taken a third minute lead when Gary Hird’s excellent cross from the right was smashed towards the net by James Rowe only for Searle to make a great save on the line.

Buckland responded with a couple of shots on goal which were superbly blocked by Elliott Crawford and Sam Hepworth.

But a well-contested game was turned on its head when Ty Rowe, in attempting to retrieve the ball from just outside the penalty area, handled the ball and the referee, having seen the incident, sent the keeper packing.

Chapman settled in well between the sticks and there was still little to choose after an eventful first 45 minutes. The second half was in complete contrast.

The breakthrough came when Buckland surprised the home side by taking a free-kick out on the left quickly rather than the anticipated cross into the box.

The ball was taken to the byline before crossing low and hard across the six-yard box for the unmarked Pearce to finish off at the far post.

Torpoint might have equalised within two minutes as Morgan produced a powerful shot from 25 yards which brought the best out of Searle, who tipped it over the bar.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0 as Baxter turned on the edge of the penalty area and fired an unstoppable left foot shot into the far side of the net.

Baxter struck again in the 69th minute with a 20-yard shot which deceived Chapman, and the visitors completed their scoring nine minutes from time with a close-range drive from McKayle.

Ethan Wright, on loan from Plymouth Parkway, looked a class act on a difficult night for Torpoint and created their goal with an excellent run and cross which Pearson converted.

TORPOINT ATHLETIC: Ty Rowe; Dave Barker, Sam Hepworth, Sam Morgan (Darren Hicks, 73), Freddie Chapman, Elliott Crawford (capt), James Rowe (Josh Jansen, 78), Sam Pearson, Gary Hird (Joe Rapson, 66), Tom Payne (Lewis Flowers, 63), Ethan Wright. Sub not used: Curtis Damerell.

Torpoint Athletic man-of-the-match: Sam Pearson.