CORNWALL SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL AT ST BLAZEY AFC (WEDNESDAY)

Falmouth Town 4 Newquay 2

NEWQUAY’S hopes of reaching the Cornwall Senior Cup final in May are over after losing a thrilling semi-final against one-league higher Falmouth Town at St Blazey.

The Peppermints are enjoying a good first season under new boss Shaun Middleton and sit third in SWPL Premier West, but started as firm underdogs against Town who were due to be in play-off action at home to Barnstaple Town last night.

Blaise Park was blessed with glorious spring evening sunshine although both sides were missing key players.

Newquay were without influential midfielder Cam Turner and defender Matt Sanders amongst others, while Town were without cup-tied strikers Rubin Wilson and Oscar Massey.

After an even start, Falmouth took the lead when good play down the left between Jacob Grange and Bradley Leivers ended with the latter’s cross being flicked in at the near post by Luke Barner.

Newquay responded as the dangerous Louis Price saw his header well saved by Morgan Coxhead.

The next chance fell to Barner in the 23rd minute as he ran on to a ball and beat the keeper to his right but could only find the foot of the post.

The game was end to end and in the 26th minute, Price picked the ball up just inside the Falmouth half. He cut inside and played a one-two with a Newquay midfielder and then unleashed a powerful shot from outside of the area which beat Coxhead to make it 1-1.

A few minutes later and Newquay nearly added to their score after a break. Alex Cole showed great pace but his effort was saved well by Coxhead.

There were no more goals until Falmouth made it 2-1 at a crucial stage of the game in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Again the threat came down the left with Jacob Grange tormenting the Newquay full-back before crossing low and hard to find Luke Barner again at the near post who scored from a back-heel.

That late goal proved to have a big effect on the proceedings with Falmouth coming out for the second half playing at an increased tempo with particularly Barner creating chances from wide on the right.

It was from a right-sided corner that Falmouth scored their third goal. It was cleared out to Andreas Calleja-Stayne, who again had a great game disrupting the Newquay midfield, and he played in Barner who found Grange in the 6-yard box who converted from another flick past Cole.

Despite Famouth’s dominance, the game was not yet over.

Another powerful run down the right by Price resulted in him pulling the ball back to Alex Cole on the edge of the box to make it 3-2.

In the 82nd minute, the game was won for Falmouth by an effort that was well worthy of the occasion. Substitute Kian Thomas ran at the defence down the left and rode three challenges, finding himself at the corner of the area, the ball bobbled invitingly up and he hit a powerful half-volley right into the top far corner.

The remainder of the game passed off without much incident as Falmouth reached their third final in five years.

FALMOUTH TOWN: Morgan Coxhead; James Swan (capt), Bradley Leivers, James Ward, Tom Annear; Andreas Calleja-Stayne; Jared Sims, Andy Elcock, Luke Barner, Luke Brabyn; Jacob Grange. Subs: Cam Hutchison, Max Everall, Charlie Edney, Tom Fisher, Kian Thomas, Jack Webber.

NEWQUAY: Brodie Cole; Callum Edlin, Josh Evans, Scott Flanningan, Harry Downing, Rudi Sharp, Tom Shepherd, Ross Fallens, Phil Lowry, Louis Price, Alex Cole. Subs: Harrie Tilston, Ryan Beer, Lucas Preston, Jay Davie, Coen Briggs.