THE Magpies warmed up for Thursday night’s Torridge Cup final with a 1-0 defeat at Wendron United in their final league game of the season.

The Devonians made the long trip west looking to guarantee seventh ahead of Wadebridge Town, but boss Ryan Hall decided to rest goalkeeper Ryan Chadwick with talented teenager Noah Vaughan getting the nod.

With the likes of Aiden Slade, Elis Aldrich, Craig Penberthy and Sam Jago all missing, Hall was one of three men named on the bench alongside Chadwick and teenager Ben Grech.

Within three minutes the Magpies had a golden chance to take the lead.

After a long ball forward was miscontrolled by a defender, striker Todd Peschke advanced into the 18-yard box with only keeper Zach Telling to beat.

He looked to lift the ball over Telling, but he stayed big to keep the ball out.

Holsworthy continued to enjoy themselves and Gavin Carter, playing in an unusual midfield role, shoot over from 25 yards after taking a pass from Jay Thomas.

The Dron have the third best attack in the league and knew that a victory would keep them in the hunt for fourth ahead of Callington Town.

On 27 minutes it required a fine block from Holsworthy wing-back Callum Martyn to keep out Ryan Reeve’s goal-bound effort.

And the attacker – one of the best in the division – then saw a long-range effort well tipped over by Vaughan as they sensed blood against a side that had conceded just two league goals in eight previous outings.

Holsworthy had a couple of chances just before half-time.

First, the impressive Dean Hutchings couldn’t divert Max McDonald’s driven effort in from close range, before Carter was denied by Telling’s shoulder from a tight angle.

The second half was a far different affair as Wendron came out rejuvenated.

That said, Mike O’Neill’s side failed to create any chances, that was until the 88th minute when they won a penalty as sub Rio Watson went down under a challenge from Carter.

Up stepped Reeve to send a powerful shot past Vaughan and Holsworthy failed to muster a response.

That said, Holsworthy could finish no lower than eighth, the highest finish they’ve ever achieved in a South West Peninsula League division.

Reflecting on the game, assistant boss Richard Haydon said: “In the end it was a disappointing, frustrating result in a game which we deserved at least a point.

“We played really well in the first half and although Wendron dominated possession after the break, they created very little.”

Attention quickly turns to Thursday night when they take on Torridgeside at Torrington (7.30pm), and Haydon expects a tough test against their SWPL Premier East counterparts.

He said: “We know it’ll be a difficult game, like us they’ve had a pretty good year.

“We’ll treat them with respect, but with the way we’ve been playing since the turn of the year, we’ll go there full of confidence.

“If we can win the final it’d put the icing on the cake as to how the club’s progressed over the course of the season.”

HOLSWORTHY: Noah Vaughan; Jedd Peschke (capt), Sam Hill, Ollie Moores; Callum Martyn, Gavin Carter, Jay Thomas, Max McDonald, Kieran Jollow; Dean Hutchings, Todd Peschke. Subs: Ben Grech, Ryan Chadwick, Ryan Hall.

Magpies’ man-of-the-match: Dean Hutchings.