Dobwalls closed to within six points of second-placed Liskeard with two games in hand following a five-star victory over Wadebridge at Lantoom Park on Tuesday evening. At the same time, they improved their goal difference significantly to take them only one behind the Blues as they continued their almost unnoticed quest to catch leaders Newquay, who are eight points away.
The goals were spread around in this match. After CJ Pritchard gave them an eighth-minute lead with a fantastic finish, Dobwalls struggled to turn possession into any more clear-cut chances, and the score remained 1-0 at half-time. Despite Dobwalls piling on the pressure, Wadebridge were still in the game as it entered its last 20 minutes but then the visitors fell apart as they conceded four more goals and had Louis Taylor sent off.
Nathan Lang made it 2-0 in the 71st minute, and a minute after Taylor saw red, James Forrest extended the lead to 3-0. Josh Johnson, who had been a constant threat, joined the scorers’ list nine minutes from time, and winger Kaycee Ogwu completed the rout in the first minute of added time.
Dobwalls now have a chance to make further inroads into the top two’s lead over them when they travel to Sticker on Saturday, March 22. Liskeard and Newquay, who remain at the top of the league, will not be in action this weekend.
Meanwhile, in other league news, Pershore Town delivered an impressive performance against Mangotsfield United, winning 5-2 in a thrilling encounter on Saturday, March 15. The Plums faced the in-form team with the second-best defensive record in the Hellenic League Premier Division but emerged victorious despite suffering from a hefty injury list and limited player availability.
Harlie Price kicked off the scoring for the Plums in the first half, heading in from a Bailey Fuller corner kick. Despite Mangotsfield's quick response through Kyrese Morrison, who skillfully turned and finished into the bottom corner, Pershore's resolve was unshaken.
James Baldwin restored their lead with a volley early in the second half, followed by a setup from Sean Cooke that allowed Fuller to double Pershore's lead. Although Mangotsfield did manage a second goal via Mircea Ilea, Fuller responded magnificently with a superb free-kick that beat the wall and keeper.
Baldwin capped off his brace with a stunning individual goal, showcasing his speed and control as he darted into the box and tucked home from a narrow angle. With this win, Pershore became just the second team to score more than twice against the Mangos in all competitions this season.
Manager Danny Janes remarked, "It was a really good day for us in terms of performance levels and the result. To go to Mangotsfield with the injuries we had and to produce those levels was simply outstanding. I was really pleased with the balance of our play." He went further to express satisfaction with his squad’s performance, highlighting that they had taken their chances efficiently in the final moments of the game.
However, Janes acknowledged the ongoing challenge of maintaining consistency, stating, "When we have the amount of players that we did who were bang at it, then results and performances of that manner will happen. Unfortunately for us, the consistency of those performances has meant we are where we are in the league. We now have to take this and build on that performance to ensure we finish as strong as we can."
The league table remains tight as teams aim for promotion. With Dobwalls showing significant improvement and Pershore reaffirming their competitive edge, both teams will be looking to build on their momentum in the upcoming fixtures.
