Match Report: Wadebridge Town 2 v 0 Callington Town

Much better from us, especially out of possession. I thought we managed the game well, although I must confess I had no idea what to do when they went down to 8 for a few minutes!!

We now need to do something we are yet to achieve this season, get back to back wins at the weekend.

WADEBRIDGE   (1)  2         Lloyd 4’   Strike 66’

CALLINGTON  (0)  0

ATT:  103

Wadebridge got their uncharacteristically flat performance in the Vase at the weekend out of their system as early as the 4th minute when Jack Rapsey robbed the ball off Lee Rundle to slip in Matt Lloyd and as he was being fouled he managed to keep his balance and cleverly toe poke the ball past the wrong footed Paul Thompson in the away goal.

The hosts almost doubled their lead in the 28th minute when a good run from Jacob Smale saw him cross to the far post for new signing Tom Harris to head over from 4 yards.

A Callington corner in the 37th minute almost brought an equaliser but after a great near post run Lewis Phillips could only divert the ball wide.

A couple of minutes later saw a sharp shot on the turn by Jack Tribble beaten away by home keeper Rob Rosevear.

Five minutes before the break Smale broke free on the left but his low shot was kept out by the foot of Thompson.

Bentley Alcantara  shot over for the visitors from a decent position after 53’ and at the other end Lloyd lofted a cross come shot back into the area which came back off the far post.

The 59th minute saw Morgan Vallejo play Rapsey through but he was dragged down by the shirt by Sam Rutter for a penalty. Rapsey got up to take the pen himself but went for power instead of placement and Thompson dived to his right to make a great save with his legs.

6 minutes later the Bridgers did go 2 up when a Vallejo corner was headed back across goal by centre half Jack Carron and as Thompson went for the punch he was out jumped by Rapsey who got enough on the ball to see it drop to busy captain Tom Strike who blasted the ball home from 6 yards.

The game capitulated for the visitors in the 70th minute when they had 2 players sin binned for dissent towards the referee but withstood the home pressure, as Vallejo volleyed wide and Rapsey’s near post flick after good work by Lloyd was saved by the busy Thompson. Another sin bin 7 minutes later again for dissent presumably saw Cally actually reduced to 8 men for about 3 minutes in which remarkably Alcantara managed to get a shot on target easily gathered by Rosevear.

Nobody can question Callys commitment but maybe slightly over zealous on occasions which saw substitute Liam Parnell sent off in the 89th minute by referee Mr Shaun Edge who was having a busy last 20 minutes.

The game probably ended at the right time with it reaching boiling point by now and Cally assistant manager and my old Cornwall team mate Paul Edwards (what a rolls Royce right back by the way) keeping his players out on the pitch at the final whistle expressing his disappointment at his players late lack of discipline costing them any chance of getting back into the match. I think that was what Eddie was saying anyway!? I didn’t want to be too nosey! 🤥

Pretty sure Callington are in a false league position this evening down in 13th, watched them draw at Liskeard on the seasons opening night, and looking the better side at Dobwalls last week drawing 2-2 and on top before 2 red cards saw them lose 2-3 in the end. Better times to come I think for them.

As for the Bridgers this win takes them up to 4th which is where they and many other teams want to be, with on paper a better run of fixtures to come after a really difficult start to the season which has seen them do well to take 12 pts from a possible 18 with trips to Blazey, Liskeard and St.Austell all out of the way already.