Clarets downed

LAUNCESTON 1

WHEN it came to a knock-out punch, James Miller carried far too much weight for Launceston as he delivered some devastating knockout blows for Porthleven in the first round of the Carlsberg SWL Cup at Gala Parc on Saturday.

The Clarets tried to come up with their own knockout blow when Paul Luscombe took a swing at Miller early in the second half. It may not have been much of a blow, but it left Luscombe out for the count after he was show the red card by referee Alan Hoon.

What made it worse for the visitors was that Porthleven scored from the free kick to wrap the game up at 4-1 and from that moment Launceston capitulated under the Fishermen's wave of attacks.

For the first 30 minutes the thought of eight goals could not have been further from either set of supporters' minds as a scrappy half developed with neither side making much headway.

The Fishermen had the lion's share of possession, but their finishing was not very effective.

Richard Triggs somehow got forward to fire in a good shot and after 15 minutes Luke Hodge missed badly with a header from Craig Swiggs' cross.

A minute late Jamie Morrison-Hill went on another of his dizzy forays and found Matt Shiels. He teed the ball up for Adrian Bleasedale whose intended wildly-hit shot was of no threat whatsoever.

On the half hour Porthleven broke the deadlock when a throw-in from Roberts found James Miller who hit a tantalising cross into the box for Luke Hodge to power a bullet-like header past Paul Hider.

Nine minutes later Porthleven extended their lead when the ball broke loose in the box. Dave Sweet tried to get it under control but couldn't and in a flash Miller pounced to blast a shot past the 'keeper.

Launceston never looked too threatening, but three minutes before half-time James Turner had the ball out on the flank and tried a hopeful chip shot. Gary Penhaligon watched and hoped as he stayed rooted to his line, but the ball hit the bar and bounced down for Alan Yendle to drill the ball into the net past a stranded 'keeper.

Porthleven had quite clearly been given the ideal half-time pep talk because they began the second half all to business and with just 83 seconds on the clock made it 3-1. Miller sold Andy Roberts a dummy and crossed into the box and although it was cleared it fell to Bleasedale who slipped the ball back into the path of Miller who gave Hider no chance.

For Launceston, Miller was just too hot to handle as he taunted them with his pace and close ball control. They had no answer to him as every time he got the ball danger lurked with every touch of the ball.

Luscombe received his marching orders after 58 minutes and from the resultant free kick Hodge headed another classic goal from Bleasedale's cross.

The floodgates had opened and Porthleven weren't about to let the opposition off the hook. Twenty minutes into the half Morrison-Hill picked up a throw from Penhaligon and broke at pace and raced the entire length of the pitch before crossing for Shiels to head in the fourth.

Two minutes later it was 5-1 when Nick Medlyn tucked away Hodge's cross and then Hodge completed his hat-trick.

with seven minutes to go a determined run by Nick Medlyn saw him slip a pass out to Richard Triggs, in unfamiliar territory, who held his nerve to thump the ball into the net for a popular goal.

Porthleven continued to create chances, but at the end of a match played in perfect autumnal conditions, seven goals was quite a haul against what is generally regarded as a very good, young Launceston side.

On Saturday Porthleven are away to Saltash United, now managed by former Scotland and Aston Villa midfielder Alan Evans.

Porthleven: G Penhaligon, J Morrison-Hill, A Roberts, R Triggs, D Sweet, C Swiggs, M Shiels, J Miller, L Hodge, A Bleasedale, N Medlyn. Subs: J Herbert, N Thwaites, C Strike, P Waters.