Wednesday 21st October 2015: Newquay Tretherras Seconds v Bodmin College Academy Seconds

Jamie Lowry took two teams on his away trip to Newquay Tretherras with Grant Russell being in charge of the second team. Only Jacob Franks and Jonty Colman featured in the second team, from the side that beat Callington 4-2 a week before. 

Russell's side featured predominantly players in their first of year of playing for Bodmin's academy in this game with only Colman and Aaron Worth featuring out of the Year 13 players.

Xavier Blackler started in goal for with Ashley Edwards, Jacob Franks and Archie Manning featured as the three centre backs. Ryan Baker started at right wing back and Harry Darrock started on the left side. The midfield trio consisted of Callum Kirk and the two experienced players in the side Colman and Worth. Josh Phillips played up front alongside Tom Rollings. Ronan Cummings and Jamie Broad started on the bench. 

Colman captained the reserve side in this match.

The home side consisted of a lot of natural rugby players and their physical presence proved from the start. Captain Colman and Phillips both became accustomed to a series of strong slide tackles.

Bodmin's first chance came from a long shot from the skipper after a few minutes, however his well struck shot failed to really test the keeper.

Worth thought he had put the visitors ahead after a through ball from Colman put him one on one with the keeper, Worth chipped the keeper but the ball took an unlucky bounce and his effort went just wide.

Worth and Darrock both made a lot of good runs and chances through the left but were often caught offside.

The hosts broke the deadlock after 20 minutes. A free kick was whipped in from the left had been met at the back post. Edwards has lost his man leaving the Tretherras midfielder with a tap in to put the Newquay based college a goal ahead.

A few minutes later Bodmin got a well deserved equaliser. A quickly taken thrown in by Ryan Baker went to the feet of Colman. His first time cross picked out Harry Darrock at back post and his close range volley took a deflection an opposing defender before going into the back of the net.

The hosts retook the lead shortly before the interval. A short goal kick Blackler found the feet of an opposition forward. His quick reactions sent him past defender Manning who was caught napping,  and his shot fired straight past Blackler putting the Tretherras 2-1 up.

Interim boss Russell made two changes at half time. Cummings came on up front in place of Phillips and Broad slotted in at right wing back in place of Baker. 

Russell encouraged the visitors with his half time team talk but also urged his team to get the ball to Colman, Worth and Darrock when possible.

Shortly into the start of the second half Bodmin equalised for the second time in the game. 

A Newquay goal kick found the chest of Colman on the halfway line who bought the ball down onto his knee, let the ball bounce and then struck a half volley which dipped and swerved over the goal keeper and found its way into the roof of the net giving the visitors a much needed confidence boost.

With Colman's confidence given a sudden boost, he again tested the keeper from 30 yards out two minutes later, his shot was parried by the keeper straight to one of his centre backs who despite having no pressure from a Bodmin player turned the ball straight passed his own keeper putting the visitors 3-2 ahead.

The game started to turn feisty with several players from both sides being talked to by the referee. The man in black was then bundled over by midfielder Worth after a confusion in the centre of the pitch. The referee claimed that Worth didn't have to go for the ball but at the same time Worth protested otherwise. 

Despite the hilarity of the incident both referee and player needed Bodmin skipped Colman to separate the two apart.

Seconds after the incident the hosts made it 3-3. A corner taken from the left hand side was met with a very feeble touch at the back post after Manning had lost his man, Blackler however could have done better being beaten at his near side.

Worth then turned from Villain to hero soon after. A long range pass from Colman found his midfield partner down the left flank, Worth went clear on goal me clinically finished his chance to put Bodmin 4-3 up. 

With Russell wanting to sure up the result, he made two changes Phillips came back on in place of Rollings up front and defender Edwards was replaced by Baker. This led to a defensive re-shuffle which moved Darrock to central midfield, Baker to left wing back and Colman moving to centre half.

Bodmin's tempers then flared which saw Phillips clatter into the goalkeeper and he was very fortunate not too be booked. Worth was not so lucky and his temper got the better of him resulting in a booking.

Newquay made it 4-4 late on. A Kirk pass was intercepted and a shot from just inside the area was not the best of strikes but was enough to beat Blackler.

With seconds to go, the home side got the winner. A driven free kick from distance hit the crossbar the rebound fell to one of the forwards. Franks and Manning were both ball watching leaving the striker with no real pressure and an easy finish from the edge of the box.

The game finished 5-4 to Newquay Tretherras. A game which could've easily gone either way, Bodmin will certainly feel that on another day they would've come out as comfortable winners. There were some very strong performances from Bodmin College Academy Reserves, 

Ashley Edwards made a lot of crucial challenges at the back and was unlucky not to get 90 minutes. 

Harry Darrock had a good performance out wide and constantly tormented the oppositions defence. 

Aaron Worth had a good game in midfield and could've come away with a couple more goals, however he needs to learn to keep a level head

Bodmin's strongest player was the captain Jonty Colman. Ending the game with two assists, a hand in another goal and a spectacular strike from the halfway line certainly helped the visitors. Grant Russell claimed him to be "our playmaker". He helped the team to stay positive throughout the game even when emotions ran high.

A couple of performances for ex Plymouth Argyle midfielder Jamie Lowry to consider when selecting his 15 man squad when his side kickstart their league campaign in a few weeks time against Callington.