Bodmin Town 2, Falmouth Town 2

SUCH is the brilliantly unpredictable nature of football, Falmouth would have been disappointed not

to take all three points from the champions-elect of the SWPL Premier on Saturday.

Despite Town’s poor form away from home and the fact that Bodmin had not lost a single league game this season,

the visitors led 2-0 at one stage and were only denied the victory by a late equaliser.

Falmouth’s player-manager Andrew Westgarth scored his 100th SWPL goal to rock the hosts after quarter of an hour when he stabbed home from six yards following a goalmouth scramble from Ed Timmons’ free kick.

Five minutes prior to that, Town felt aggrieved to have not been awarded a penalty when Glen Squires appeared to be felled by keeper Kevin Miller, but the referee remained unmoved.

The lively Steve Bowker shot into the side netting as Bodmin tried to gain a foothold in the game, before Westgarth’s shot on the turn from 15 yards flew just wide of the post.

Seven minutes before the break Carter headed over the bar from a corner before the outstanding

Joe Cooper, at the heart of Town’s defence, made an important clearance when keeper Ryan Barnes

was stranded.

In the dying moments of the half Rob Wearne, another who had a fine match for the visitors, fed Westgarth and he played in Squires, whose shot was saved by Miller.

Town extended their lead five minutes into the second period when good work by Dan Richardson found Westgarth and he slipped the ball to Mike Vanes, who burst through to score a rare goal when he slotted past Miller from 10 yards out.

Vanes and Bowker then exchanged shots – both saved by the respective keepers – before Dan Greet’s rash challenge in the penalty area resulted in a penalty which Carter smashed home with 20 minutes remaining.

Bodmin levelled matters with ten minutes to go when Barnes’ palmed clearance from a left wing cross fell to half time substitute Dan Jennings, who shot through a sea of legs to set up a thrilling finish.

The hosts threw everything at Falmouth in the dying moments but Westgarth’s men held on for a memorable and thoroughly deserved draw.

Bodmin: K.Miller, S.Hillson, L.Bevan (D.Jennings h/t), L.Bailey, S.Simmonds (capt), S.Krac, N.Hurst, R.Allen, A.Carter, S.Bowker, S.Jewell. Unused subs: J.Podmore, C.Brown, D.Gilbert.

Falmouth: R.Barnes, D.Richardson, E.Timmons, T.Whipp, J.Cooper (capt), R.Pope, D.Greet, M.Vanes (S.Retchford 72m), G.Squires, A.Westgarth (S.Hunter 75m), R Wearne. Unused subs: Adam Williams, L.Tripconey, E.Fearn (gk)

Referee Neil Hunnisett (Launceston)