SWPL League Cup round-up – Saturday, October 12

CALLINGTON Town, Camelford and Bude Town all saw their SWPL League Cup dreams end for another year on Saturday, with the first two in particular suffering late heartache.

Cally pushed holders Okehampton Argyle all the way at the Ginsters Marsh on Saturday, writes Kevin Marriott.

For double cup winners Argyle, who haven’t lost in the competition since 2021 when St Blazey beat them 3-O in the quarter-finals, it was a relief because they weren’t at their best.

Neither were Callington to be fair, although their incredible team togetherness almost got them over the line.

This was the second penalty shootout misery for the home side, who went out of the FA Vase at Buckland Athletic three weeks ago in similar fashion.

Callington were on the back foot for most of the first half after Dan Koita put the visitors in front in the 20th minute but a string of missed opportunities kept the tie within reach of Cally, who equalised just before the break with a fine solo finish from Kieran Prescott.

And the home side were much improved in the second half although they couldn’t find a winner in normal time, which led to 30 minutes of extra time.

As often happens in the extra period, a goal arrived almost immediately as Cally defender Harvey Barrett rose to head in Kieran Ryall’s corner from the left.

Okehampton were level on the stroke of half-time from the best move of the match as Josh Coles finished off at the near post after an excellent jinking run along the left.

The second 15 minutes were more cagey, with the best chance falling to Callington with three minutes left but Okehampton keeper Jack Arthur bravely claimed the ball at his feet as Will Elliott was poised to fire home.

The penalty shootout turned out to be a damp squib for the home side, with skipper Harry Southcott and striker Kev McCallion having their spot kicks saved by Arthur after Prescott had scored their first.

By contrast, Okehampton scored all of theirs which meant Callington were denied the chance to take their fourth and fifth penalties.

By David Sillifant

CAMELFORD were beaten 3-2 by Bishops Lydeard in extra-time.

Camelford started brightly and took the lead seven minutes in as right-back Josh Smith marauded down flank before his cross saw striker Mark Gusterson take a touch and fire into the far corner.

Camels keeper Josh Colwill was booked on 32 minutes for handling outside of the area, and 11 minutes later he was heading for an early shower as he brought down Will Collins inside the box, who made no mistake against Sam Watts, put in goal from midfield.

The Taunton-based visitors were the better side in the second half, but fell behind 20 minutes from time when sub Cam Bidgood’s cross was knocked back across goal by Gusterson for the returning Charlie Hambly to flick in with his ankle.

Camelford kept up their attacking intent with a 4-3-2 formation, but they were pegged back on 85 minutes when a corner was knocked down and headed in by Mason Raymond.

Extra-time was relatively dull although the hosts were understandably tired, but just as it looked like penalties, a ball in was superbly headed home from eight yards by Jake Dennis.

Bude Town had one of the toughest takes possible when they visited a star-studded Liskeard Athletic side, and were beaten 6-0 at Lux Park.

The hosts led 4-0 at the break through Ben Collins, James Lorenz, Curtis Damerell and Josh McCabe, before Lorenz and Max Gilbert completed the scoring.