By Kevin Marriott

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (SATURDAY)

Shepton Mallet 1 St Austell 2

MIDFIELD maestro Matt Searle struck three minutes from time to clinch victory with what manager Chris Knight described as the Lillywhites’ best away performance of the season.

Searle scored his ninth goal of the campaign to complete St Austell’s comeback after going 1-0 down to a Nathan Legge goal seven minutes before the break.

The outstanding Ryan Downing equalised three minutes into the second half and the visitors went on to dominate.

The home side’s hopes were hit 10 minutes before the end when Paul Braithwaite was sent off and seven minutes later Searle made sure the Lillywhites travelled home with all three points.

Knight said: “There have been more eye-catching results this season maybe, but for me that’s the best performance by a long way, the perfect away win.

“Shepton Mallet are a very good team and have a fantastic set-up so it felt like a real Western League game, which is why we worked so hard last season to get to it.

“Even at 1-0 down I fancied us massively at half-time and the lads didn’t let me down.

“Every player played his part, my back four including a lad making his debut in Josh Penrose, stood up to everything and we looked so dangerous on the break.”

He added: “A special mention to Ryan Downing. I think because he’s had so many clubs people assume he’s older but he’s a 20 year old lad making his way and he’s been great for us.

“He was dispossessed to give the goal away and any other young lad could easily have hid away but he’s got a bit about him.

“He scores the equaliser and was a real menace in the second half when we go on to get our winner in the last minute from that man Searly.

“I’ve said it all season and I’ll say it again, there is nobody better in that position than him. Absolutely brilliant.”

ST AUSTELL: Andy Collings, Josh Penrose (River Allen, 90+1), Martyn Duff, Henry Wilson, Tom Whipp, CallumWatson, Neil Slateford (capt), Matt Searle, Ryan Downing, Adam Carter, Kieron Bishop. Sub not used: OllyBrokenshire.

Buckland Athletic 5 St Blazey 1

Jared Lewington bagged a hat-trick at Homers Heath on Saturday as fifth-placed Buckland saw off second bottom St Blazey 5-1.

Sam Morcom (13 minutes) and Lewington (34) appeared to put the home side in control but Charlie Hambly’s superb strike two minutes before the break set up an entertaining second half.

Second from bottom Blazey gave as good as they got for almost 25 minutes and had a chance to equalise, but a 68th minute penalty award for handball allowed Lewington to make it 3-1 from the spot.

Lewington completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time and young substitute Will Hughes, only on the pitch for a minute on his debut, made it 5-1 four minutes later.

Saturday’s squad included four players from the club’s reserves, who were without a game. Jack Hicks replaced the injured Shaun Semmens in goal while Aidan Jeffreys, Isaac Rider and Charlie Menear were all introduced from the bench at different stages.

While the club continue their search for a manager to replace Lee Denton, who apparently left by mutual consent last week, the team was again led by Blazey’s Under 18 coaches Matt Parsons and Mark Carter.

ST BLAZEY: Jack Hicks; Will Tinsley (capt, Aidan Jeffreys 85), Tom Strike, Charlie Hambly, Tom Crowe (Isaac Rider, 21), Ben Rowe, Tom Hensman (Charlie Menear 78), Sam Clifton, Alfie Fothergill (Preston Russon, 85), George Newton, Mark Wilson (Dan Carne, 63).