‘They’re too good for us’

DAVE Kilmurray must have wondered what sport he was playing on Saturday when he was hauled to the ground by the Truro goalkeeper after 12 minutes.

The Biddestone striker was poised to give the hosts a shock lead when Daniel Stevenson, winner of the Safe Hands award for October, did his best impression of a rugby tackle on the goal-line.

As the ball spiralled out of play, Kilmurray raised his arms to appeal for a penalty, but to his dismay saw the official point for a corner kick instead.

Kilmurray said: "The goal was gaping and the goalkeeper pulled me down without trying to make it look too deliberate.

"It would have been a totally different game if we had scored and the 'keeper was sent off, though I'm not sure we would have won.

"Truro were by far the best side we have faced so far this season, and that includes Bideford, who we played in the cup."

Biddestone boss Graham Learmonth was adamant his side should have been awarded a penalty, but he had no complaints about the result.

Learmonth said: "The rugby tackle on Dave should have resulted in a penalty and a sending off.

"If the incident had happened at the other end I'm sure a penalty would have been given.

"In fairness to Truro they probably had another couple of gears. I'm sure they would have won with ten men and no goalkeeper.

"We were not totally outclassed and the lads were actually feeling quite upbeat after the game. It was a great experience for them to play a side of Truro's quality."

The visitors from Cornwall started the game at a brisk pace but should have gone behind when Stevenson brought down Kilmurray.

The goalkeeper misjudged a back-pass which looped over his head and the Biddestone striker was only second to the ball in the eyes of the referee.

Shane Tolley broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when Biddestone failed to clear a corner from the right.

Another curling flag kick caused panic in the home defence and Stewart Yetton climbed highest to head home a second.

Kilmurray pulled a goal back for the hosts after 25 minutes with a close range header from Dan Lardner's free-kick.

But Tolley struck again on the stroke of half-time with a neat side-foot finish from 10 yards out.

The Truro striker completed his hat-trick four minutes into the second half when he raced onto a lobbed through-ball and finished confidently passed Luke Purnell.

Backwell United 1, Biddestone 1

GRAHAM Learmonth must be wondering what his side have to do to win another game after this one-sided clash in Somerset.

Biddestone hit the woodwork three times in the second half but failed to find the killer touch against battling Backwell.

Kris Beasley rounded off a flowing team move to put the visitors ahead early on, only for Backwell to hit back immediately.

Biddestone set up camp in the Backwell half after the break but the hosts hung on for a point.

"I'm pretty sure it would still be 1-1 even if we played another 90 minutes," said Learmonth after Tuesday's stalemate.

"We were so dominant in the second half but we lacked a cutting edge. We didn't make enough of our chances in front of goal.

"We also lost Dan Harvey to what looks like a serious knee injury so it was a frustrating night all round."