St Columb Major 5 - 2 Godolphin Atlantic (Duchy Division 1)
Andy Bicknell's St Columb Major put two very difficult seasons behind them with an emphatic home win against local rivals Godolphin Atlantic at the Recreation Ground.
Having marginally missed out on three points in the opening week of the season, St Columb were pleased to have former Godolphin player David Rabone returning to lead the forward line with Dom Roberts, with Godolphin seeking to build upon their opening day win. St Columb made a bright start to the game and it wasn't long before both strikers had made their mark. With just ten minutes on the clock, Shaun Lawrence found Tom Hunter with a smart pass; as Hunter sought to carve open an opportunity, Dom Roberts collected the ball on the left of the area and cut into the box, driving home an emphatic finish past goalkeeper Berry and into the far corner. St Columb almost added a second when Adam Weller's long run from defence was halted, only for the central defender to pressure the last defender, striking the loose ball goalwards only to be denied by Berry's smart stop.
St Columb continued to pressure the Godolphin defence and found themselves two goals up within twenty minutes when Shaun Lawrence crafted a fine pass with the outside of his boot to find David Rabone in acres of space to slot the ball past Berry from fifteen yards. Godolphin had made a sluggish start to the match and found themselves back in the contest when St Columb failed to clear; Ryan Martin capitalised on the loose ball and his strike from the edge of the area deflected off the unfortunate Martin Atkinson and over Anton Lake to reduce arrears with twenty first half minutes remaining. The home side appeared to lose their momentum and Godolphin upped the tempo late in the second half and had Lake to thank for a fine point blank save from a header when Godolphin pressure was mounting. With the first half drawing to a conclusion, the away team had Ryan Martin booked for dissent and with the Godolphin defence caught short, Roberts collected the ball in his own half and hammered a long-range strike marginally over Berry's goal with the goalkeeper looking on. Roberts had the final say in first half stoppage time, rounding Berry to slot home to extend the lead after another fine pass from Bicknell had carved open the away defence.
St Columb should have added a fourth goal early in the second half when Alex Bicknell looped a header over the bar after excellent work on the left from Roberts, however, ten minutes into the second period Godolphin were gifted another opportunity to get back into the game when Lawrence was adjudged to have pushed his opponent in the box. Martin stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty into the bottom left hand corner despite the dispairing dive of the goalkeeper. Lawrence collected a booking for his comments to the referee after the goal and in frustration hammered a shot from the half-way line that Berry watched uncomfortably as the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
With just under an hour on the clock, Rabone collected a throw on the edge of the Godolphin area, finding himself on the end of a clumsy challenge as he turned his marker just inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the penalty spot for a second time in ten minutes and Dom Roberts placed the ball on the spot and struck the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner for a fine hat-trick.
Shaun Lawrence had the final say in the last five minutes when Tom Hunter's forward run was halted twenty-five yards from goal. Lawrence curled a stunning free-kick over the wall and beyond the dive of Berry to the delight of the home team and supporters.
Congratulations to everyone at St Columb Major Football Club and good luck to Godolphin Atlantic for the coming season.
Man of the Match - Martin Atkinson; another fantastic defensive performance just edged out another fine goalscoring effort by Roberts.
Having marginally missed out on three points in the opening week of the season, St Columb were pleased to have former Godolphin player David Rabone returning to lead the forward line with Dom Roberts, with Godolphin seeking to build upon their opening day win. St Columb made a bright start to the game and it wasn't long before both strikers had made their mark. With just ten minutes on the clock, Shaun Lawrence found Tom Hunter with a smart pass; as Hunter sought to carve open an opportunity, Dom Roberts collected the ball on the left of the area and cut into the box, driving home an emphatic finish past goalkeeper Berry and into the far corner. St Columb almost added a second when Adam Weller's long run from defence was halted, only for the central defender to pressure the last defender, striking the loose ball goalwards only to be denied by Berry's smart stop.
St Columb continued to pressure the Godolphin defence and found themselves two goals up within twenty minutes when Shaun Lawrence crafted a fine pass with the outside of his boot to find David Rabone in acres of space to slot the ball past Berry from fifteen yards. Godolphin had made a sluggish start to the match and found themselves back in the contest when St Columb failed to clear; Ryan Martin capitalised on the loose ball and his strike from the edge of the area deflected off the unfortunate Martin Atkinson and over Anton Lake to reduce arrears with twenty first half minutes remaining. The home side appeared to lose their momentum and Godolphin upped the tempo late in the second half and had Lake to thank for a fine point blank save from a header when Godolphin pressure was mounting. With the first half drawing to a conclusion, the away team had Ryan Martin booked for dissent and with the Godolphin defence caught short, Roberts collected the ball in his own half and hammered a long-range strike marginally over Berry's goal with the goalkeeper looking on. Roberts had the final say in first half stoppage time, rounding Berry to slot home to extend the lead after another fine pass from Bicknell had carved open the away defence.
St Columb should have added a fourth goal early in the second half when Alex Bicknell looped a header over the bar after excellent work on the left from Roberts, however, ten minutes into the second period Godolphin were gifted another opportunity to get back into the game when Lawrence was adjudged to have pushed his opponent in the box. Martin stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty into the bottom left hand corner despite the dispairing dive of the goalkeeper. Lawrence collected a booking for his comments to the referee after the goal and in frustration hammered a shot from the half-way line that Berry watched uncomfortably as the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
With just under an hour on the clock, Rabone collected a throw on the edge of the Godolphin area, finding himself on the end of a clumsy challenge as he turned his marker just inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the penalty spot for a second time in ten minutes and Dom Roberts placed the ball on the spot and struck the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner for a fine hat-trick.
Shaun Lawrence had the final say in the last five minutes when Tom Hunter's forward run was halted twenty-five yards from goal. Lawrence curled a stunning free-kick over the wall and beyond the dive of Berry to the delight of the home team and supporters.
Congratulations to everyone at St Columb Major Football Club and good luck to Godolphin Atlantic for the coming season.
Man of the Match - Martin Atkinson; another fantastic defensive performance just edged out another fine goalscoring effort by Roberts.
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