Match Report 4th April 2015: St Breward AFC vs St Merryn

Richard Brown was once again limited with his options for his team with 5 of the starting line-up that faced Grampound in their last match. Brown started the match with a 4-1-4-1 formation which has commonly been used by Breward this season. Lee Newton returned in goal in place of player manager Brown. There were 3 changes to the back 4 with only Dan Couch retaining his place in the starting line-up, Nathan Elliot slotted in at Right Back, Paul Dowson returned to the starting 11 and Brown was forced to play himself at Left Back. Martin Jago also returned to the side and slotted straight in at right midfield. With Wayne Davey serving the first of his three match suspension, Kelvyn Tootle started at Left Midfield. Josh Galvin made his first start for Breward in a Central Midfield partnership with Scott Burke and Ben French. Rob Marks also kept his spot in the side starting as the lone striker. Jonty Colman returned the Breward bench alongside Dave Ord.


St Breward's first real chance of the match was from a long range header from Ben French which bounced straight at the goalkeeper.

St Merryn's first chance with also poor after a shot from edge of box going straight at Lee Newton in goal.

Josh Galvin showed signs of adding some trickery to this side after a Brown throw-in picked out Galvin who beat a defender however his cross went straight out for a goal kick.

After 18 minutes, Breward tactically switched their side around with Galvin moving to Right Midfield, Rob Marks dropping back into midfield and Martin Jago playing as the lone striker.

2 minutes later, the away side could've gone 1 goal ahead after a cross whipped in to the edge of the box and was punched away by Lee Newton only as far as St Merryn forward Jack Bray whose well struck volley whistled just over.

St Merryn's main threat were coming from crosses and set pieces, however their free kick in the 25th minute was easily caught by Lee Newton.

In the 28th minute, the home side had a good set piece of their own after an in swinging corner by Martin Jago was unable to pick out Josh Galvin at the back post. From the the goal kick, the visitors went on the break with their final shot going miles wide.

A minute later, the visitors were at it again however the shot did not test Newton following a strong passing move.

The away side then went ahead in the 31st minute, a long free kick was delivered into the box and before Newton could claim it, it was headed into the goal to put St Merryn 1-0 ahead.

Ben French on the ball as the suspended and interim manager Wayne Davey watches on.

St Breward then equalised 2 minutes later. A good pass from Kelvyn Tootle picked out Rob Marks on the edge of the penalty area whose low driven shot went straight into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games.

Player manager Richard Brown thought he had scored in the 33rd minute after a long hapless shot only went just over the crossbar. 

In the 37th minute, Josh Galvin whipped in a great free kick from 40 yards out, which the visitors were forced to clear for a corner.

Within seconds of the second half, St Merryn had an acrobatic effort from the edge of the box being caught by Newton.


2 minutes later, Galvin continued to threat with his crosses in from the right, however his cross was caught by the keeper before Rob Marks could get there.

In the 50th minute, St Merryn had a glorious opportunity to go ahead however their free header from close range went over.

Galvin then had another free kick from distance however the keeper snapped it up easily.

In the 51st minute, St Breward were forced to make their first substitution after an injury sustained by player manager Brown forced him off with Dave Ord coming on in his place, Breward went to 4-4-2 with Dan Couch moving to left back, Captain for the day Scott Burke moving into Centre Back and Dave Ord playing with Martin Jago up front.

2 minutes later, some scrappy defending from the visitors put Jago through however he was bought down with nothing given by referee Gary Cornish play continued with Nathan Elliot's left foot shot testing the goalkeeper.

St Breward then had some shaky defending of their own after Paul Dowson losing the ball dangerously he was then able to clear without nearly beating his own 'keeper Newton.

In the 54th minute, Newton was put into action once again after a long ball went over Scott Burke with their half volley saved by Newton and cleared by Dowson.

Rob Marks then made 2 vital blocks in quick succession to keep Breward in the cup tie.

Dowson was also forced to prove his worth an important block of his own.

St Merryn were lacking a final finish after a great cross from Bray went straight through the Breward box.

Jack Bray had another chance soon after from a rebounded free kick conceded by Ben French however he certainly put his shot nowhere near the goal.

In the 68th minute, St Merryn had another free kick conceded by Rob Marks however the free kick really came to nothing.

Martin Jago's running and work-rate troubled the St Merryn defence throughout the match and in the 69th minute he won his side a corner following a well taken shot. Galvin then delivered the corner which was flicked on by Jago and Elliot's shot when just over.


In the 71st minute, St Merryn won a series of corners originally from the a Scott Burke clearance with the first two being dealt with by Marks. The third cause a real goal line scramble with the ball appearing two cross the line twice however no goal was awarded and cleared by Scott Burke.


St Breward then had a goal of their own disallowed after a great switch ball from Kelvyn Tootle picking out Galvin at the back post who simply passed the ball on the volley into the net however Galvin was in an offside position.

Galvin's trickery proved again in the 77th minute after a very nice nutmeg sent Breward on a good move with Galvin playing it to Ord who sent Jago in on goal however a timely intervention from the visiting defence kept them in the cup tie.

A good cross in from Tootle 2 minutes later couldn't pick out Dave Ord in the box.

St Merryn should've sealed the cup-tie in the 82nd minute however another free header went over.

Deep into stoppage time Galvin tried troubling St Merryn with another free kick however it was cleared meaning this epic cup quarter final would go into extra time.

Paul Dowson took one for the team 6 minutes into extra time after bringing down an opposing striker running on goal as the last man. St Merryn won a free kick in a dangerous area and Dowson was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. The free kick was thundering towards the top corner however an incredible save from Lee Newton denied it going in forcing a corner.

Scott Burke also took one for the team in the 105th minute as Josh Galvin lost the ball on the half way line the counter attack saw St Merryn's forward take it round keeper Newton and the shot punched off the line by Scott Burke conceding a penalty and being sent off in the process. St Merryn scored the penalty putting them 2-1 up on the edge of half time.

Dowson gave away another free kick a minute later however Newton carried on with his incredible performance denying the free kick from testing him.

In the 108th minute, St Breward went all out bringing Richard Brown back on for the injured Ben French and Jonty Colman making his long-awaited home debut in place of Dave Ord with Breward going to 3-3-3 with Brown, Jago and Colman as the three forwards.

Lee Newton made two world-class save late on with even the St Merryn players applauding his performance.

3 minutes from time an awkward Martin Jago cross tested the keeper however he denied it going into the back of the net.

Despite St Merryn being a division lower than St Breward, this match proved to be a classic with St Merryn taking the match with a 2-1 win progressing to the semi-final where they will face Boscastle. St Breward played very well with star performances coming from Paul Dowson being solid at the back throughout the match denying the visitors on several occasions, Rob Marks who played well both attacking and defending scoring Breward's goal and blocking several corners, Josh Galvin made a good home debut playing 120 minutes out of position and still proving to beat defenders down the wing and threatening with several set pieces. Martin Jago was Brewards main attacking threat and was unlucky not to score himself, Breward's man of the match was keeper Lee Newton who impressed everyone with a number of top quality saves throughout.