SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)

St Day 3 Holsworthy 1

BLAKE Shapland’s first half equaliser wasn’t enough as Holsworthy fell to a disappointing defeat at promoted St Day on Saturday.

Holsworthy were looking to build on their 1-0 victory over Bodmin Town in midweek which came via Shapland’s deflected winner after 72 minutes, and were able to welcome back Jay Thomas in midfield and Gavin Carter on the right of the front three as Lewis Haxell and Josh Reynolds dropped down to the bench.

But within 90 seconds of kick-off the Devonians found themselves behind. A corner was whipped in and after a couple of mistakes in the back-line, centre-half Joe Cooper powered home a header from six yards.

Holsworthy responded well as a stretching Gavin Carter was denied from six yards by Salmon, before Shapland put a shot narrowly wide.

But they levelled on 20 minutes. The ball was won after a home player tried to play out from the back, and from close range, Shapland made no mistake.

Thomas nearly wrapped up the goal of the season when he narrowly volleyed over from 20 yards after a ball was cleared, but the game’s decisive moment came on 52 minutes.

A home player went down under slight contact from Thomas in the box and Kyle Marks did the rest.

Holsworthy battled away but were far from their best in the second 45, and 12 minutes from time a fine team move was swept in superbly by Kyle Cooke to leave Holsworthy rueing their lack of killer instinct in front of goal.

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Callum Martyn, Jedd Peschke (capt), Ollie Moores, Max McDonald; Aidan Slade, Sam Hill, Jay Thomas; Gavin Carter, Blake Shapland, Sam Jago. Subs: Cory Sargent, Jacob Nosworthy, Josh Reynolds, Lewis Haxell.

Holsworthy man of the match: Jay Thomas.