Mullion were not going to present Falmouth Town with their toughest test of the season, but was still plenty for Andrew Westgarth’s men to learn and to benefit from in their latest pre-season outing at Clifden Parc on Monday night.

Two goals for each of Matt Buchan and Jack Bowyer, one for Luke Johnson and another fine showing from youngster Reuben Talbot in defence were three such positives from Monday night’s game.

Falmouth were without new trio Olly Walker, Luke Barner and Ben Oliver, as well as regular first-teamers Luke Brabyn and Tim Nixon, who both scored in the 3-0 win over Peterborough United last weekend.

That gave Westgarth the chance to rotate his squad, with Buchan and Bowyer making their pre-season bow, while 16-year-old Talbot played 90 minutes at centre-half.

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Matt Buchan opened the scoring for Town in the first half

Buchan was one of few to look lively in a pedestrian first half and he was rewarded with the opening goal midway through, cutting in from the left and curling into the corner.

Talbot was another to earn worthy credit with a fine performance at the back alongside Joe Cooper and later Ryan Martt – indeed I was stunned to hear he was only 16 after the game.

Westgarth has promised a clean slate for all squad members, so it will be interesting to see if the talented teen can keep his shirt when the South West Peninsula League kicks off.

Westgarth admitted after the game that he wasn’t entirely happy at half-time, but he saw an instant reaction with Buchan providing a delightful lob from the edge of the box to double the score within two minutes of the restart.

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Reuben Talbot (left) played much of the second half alongside Ryan Martt (right) in central defence

I had barely started typing my goal update on our live blog before Johnson added a third to kill the game as a contest.

The winger had a good game, much like he did against Peterborough, and his performance was deserving of a goal.

If the hosts weren’t already shellshocked then they were six minutes later, with Bowyer finishing off a move involving Westgarth, on as a sub, and Buchan by firing in a fourth from close range.

Despite being four down all of a sudden, Mullion never gave up and kept the intensity high, for which credit must certainly be given.

They had their chances to get a consolation but will rue a fluffed effort from six yards, with a good save from Ryan Barnes and a decent overhead kick attempt thrown in for good measure.

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Ryan Barnes makes a good save to keep his clean sheet intact on Monday night

However a fifth seemed inevitable and it duly arrived in farcical fashion. Mullion’s ‘keeper failed to connect with a simple backpass and Bowyer nipped in to score the ultimate unmissable goal.

There could have been a sixth, which was ruled out in almost as farcical circumstances.

Martyn Duff fell to the floor under a challenge as he appeared to roll the ball in from six yards. Westgarth claimed the ball had crossed the line, while others were shouting for a penalty. In the end, the referee awarded a goal kick.

Not that it was ever going to make a difference, with Town taking their pre-season aggregate to 8-0 over their two games.

Town’s pre-season schedule takes a step up with a trip to Millbrook – to whom Town lost 1-0 last season – on Friday night, before taking on a Truro City side that beat Plymouth Argyle last week.

Wins don’t matter in pre-season, but four out of four would be a fantastic return.

Falmouth: R Barnes, D Blizzard, O Moody, J Webber, J Cooper, R Talbot, L Johnson, D Broglino, M Buchan, J Bowyer, S Pickup. Subs: R Hull, R Martt, M Duff, A Westgarth.