Falmouth pay the penalty

Falmouth Town 0, Cullompton Rangers 2

FALMOUTH Town’s failure to convert a second half penalty proved to be a turning point during the 2-0 defeat to Cullompton Rangers in the SWPL Premier on Saturday.

In a closely fought encounter, it took goals from Tom Beddow and Ollie Aplin to ensure that the Devon-based club left Bickland Park with all three points.

Cullompton enjoyed the better start, but it was Town who came closest to taking the lead when Jordan Annear’s header hit the side netting in the 21st minute.

However it was the visitors that broke the deadlock just two minutes later, when Aplin delivered a low cross that found Beddow, who slotted home from close range.

Town nearly found an equaliser before half-time, when James Ward’s cross was headed goalwards by Annear, but the visiting goalkeeper managed to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The hosts were given an even better opportunity to level the scores five minutes after half-time, when a penalty was awarded after Annear was brought down in the box.

It was Annear who stepped up to take the resultant spot-kick, but he sent the ball over the crossbar, much to the relief of the visiting side.

That miss proved crucial as Cullompton doubled their lead 12 minutes later, when a free-kick was met by Aplin, who guided the ball into the far corner with a delightful looping header.

The goal knocked the wind out of Falmouth’s sails, but they pushed hard to get back into the game, and nearly did so when Annear’s shot was cleared off the line.

Town had one final chance to score in added time when Max Everard was presented with an opportunity just outside the area, but he fired his shot over the crossbar.

Falmouth: R Barnes, J Ward, E Timmons, T Whipp, J Cooper, R Pope (M Everard 89), D Richardson, H Clarke (O Walker 33), R Wearne, J Annear, M Jones (M Vanes 64).

Falmouth’s next match is an away game against Exmouth Town in the SWPL Premier a week on Saturday.