Bid to move cup tie fails

10:58am Wednesday 27th February 2008

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FALMOUTH Town manager Steve Massey has failed in his attempt to get his side's plum Westinsure Cornwall Senior Cup tie with Truro City moved to a different venue, writes Leon Prynn.

Unhappy that his team had to travel to Porthleven for the semi-final, Massey has made strenuous efforts to get the game moved to a venue nearer the middle of the county in order that his Devon-based players could arrive at the ground in good time.

He suggested playing the game at Truro, but that, of course, would put the county in breech of their own rules and the county's standpoint is that the proposed venue is within easy travelling distance of both clubs' home ground.

Massey also suggested that if the game could not be switched then the kick off could be delayed until 8.15 pm, but many clubs in the county have conditions attached to grounds that floodlights in residential areas must not be used after a specified time, normally 10 pm.

In an interview after the game at Plymouth Parkway on Saturday, Massey said that he didn't fancy his chances of winning the tie against Truro City even with a full squad.

"Let's be realistic," he said. "If Truro play to their strengths with what they've got they'll have too much for us and although it is a spectacle that all Cornwall should be very excited about, for me it has really been soured (by the choice of ground) and we are in still in the position of do we still actually take the team there'.

"In this day and age I just think a little consideration could have been given to both sides and it's not just a whim. I didn't think - I'll move it with 48 hours to go - but within an hour of having the tie confirmed on Friday at 10 o'clock, I had phoned the county about it.

"Barry Cudmore (county secretary) was not available, but I said that I had reservations about the game being played there (Porthleven). I can get my players there, I can get my players there for 7.30, but it is not the way to go into a game.

"We were quite happy to move it to Truro, but the county turned that down because they thought it would favour Truro, but we were more than happy. It's a great surface, Truro are well equipped to deal with what we consider would be the biggest crowd of the season for a Cornish game between two Cornish sides.

"If it is going to be a neutral ground, so be it, let's go to St Blazey. It's nearer to Truro than Falmouth, but we were happy to do that. It's a premiership ground and arguably we are going to play the most awaited game in Cornwall this year at a division one West ground. Porthleven's facilities are fine, but why take us all the way down there.

"I rang the county again and spoke to Barry Cudmore to put the suggestion about why can't we move it. It was put to the cup committee, but they turned down the suggestion because it has to be at a neutral venue.

"Falmouth Town will be there as a club, but whether I bring in some of the reserve players or whatever, I haven't really yet thought about."