Town clean up against Bath (From This is The West Country)

Town clean up against Bath

9:27am Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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FALMOUTH TOWN 5 TEAM BATH 2 With only two players retained from last season, the Falmouth team that took to the field in the first pre-season friendly against Team Bath, didn't even include those two - Andy Bowker and Glen Squires - who were both away on holiday, leaving Wayne Hewitt in charge.

It was an entirely new team, comprising of new faces and several reserve team players.

Before the match there was a minute's silence in memory of Phil Smith, a regular in the Falmouth team of 2005-06 who was tragically killed in an army training exercise during the pre-season.

In their two previous visits, the university side had triumphed on both occasions, winning 2-0 and 3-0 but this game was a totally different affair.

Town took the lead as early as the second minute when a good cross saw Frazer Cadman arrive and score with a superb, bullet-like header from six yards.

Sami El-Abd forced a great save from Chris Symons with a fine strike from 25 yards as the home side survived heavy pressure.

The visitors equalised in the 26th minute when Josh Llewellyn scored with a backwards glancing header.

Parity lasted barely a minute as Town's Matt Drummond beat 'keeper Jake Meredith to the ball and set up Mike Body to tap home.

Ten minutes later Town increased their lead to 3-1. Bryant's shot was blocked by a defender and Sam Hunter walloped the ball into the net from 10 yards.

A minute after the interval, Team Bath pulled a goal back from a goalmouth scramble following a corner and on the hour, but in the 64th minute the two-goal advantage was restored. Meredith came out of his area to clear the ball but completely miscued and under heavy pressure from Drummond conceded possession leaving the new Town forward an empty net in which to shoot.

The visitors continued to raid Town's goal but stout defending and poor finishing kept the scores level. Bath made several changes but it made no change to the scoreline.

The only change came in the 86th minute. Good play from Mike Body and a perfect pass across goal saw Drummond claim his second of the game with a shot which Meredith got a hand to but couldn't stop entering the net.

In the dying moments, under heavy pressure from a defender, Body executed a superb lob which unfortunately rebounded into the grateful arms of Meredith.

Dave Rawlings showed up well at the back for Town with Cadman tenacious in midfield.

Mousehole are the visitors to Falmouth on Saturday.

Town: C. Symons, A. Trudgian, T. Hunter, D. Mulready, D. Rawlings, M. Moore (S. Halford 59m), S. Hunter (S. Hawke 58m), F. Cadman (C. Peck 59m), M. Body, M. Drummond, B. Bryant. Sub (unused): W. Hewitt.

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