Saturday, January 18
South West Peninsula League Premier East
HOLSWORTHY were left bemoaning a freak piece of luck as they lost 2-1 at a muddy Jenkins Park.
The Magpies, who were warming up for Tuesday night’s St Luke’s Devon Bowl quarter-final tie at Bovey Tracey, fell behind inside 12 minutes. A long-ball down the left found Rikki Shepherd, who manage to cut inside the edge of the box, before his lob found the right-hand corner, leaving keeper Ryan Walter hapless.
The village side dominated the ball but made no real headway against a Holsworthy side who saw Lee Gardiner head over.
Holsworthy improved after and went within inches of a superb leveller. A cross from the left found Nathan Bonney whose left-footed volley cannoned back off the crossbar.
With 25 minutes to go, Holsworthy were in the game, however disaster struck when centre-half James Mayne went to passback to Walter. However, as he kicked it, it bobbled, meaning the passback evaded his keeper and found the back of the net.
Gardiner was then put up front by manager Liam Dart and almost scored, but his shot was saved by Chris Wearing.
The hosts missed a golden chance to wrap up the points on 83 minutes following a Ryan Lee foul. But Shepherd saw his high penalty tipped over the bar by a diving Walter.
Wes Pugh then set up a grandstand finish with five minutes to go as he fired in from 25 yards after the ball was cleared out of the box.
Holsworthy continued to press with Mayne and recent signing Metherell seeing efforts go within inches of the target, but Millbrook held on for the three points.