Local fans were left hopping mad not by the efforts of their own team but by the disgraceful antics of a number of Cullompton players at Bickland Park on Saturday. A hotly contested clash from the word go it was a very physical Cullompton team who made all of the early running as Town were bumped and battered all around the park.
The deadlock was broken in the fifteenth minute by former Town player Lloyd Gardner who hit a great shot past Town keeper Jason Chapman.
Seemingly stung into action Town then started to play and took the game to Cullompton. In front of an increasingly impatient crowd the Cullompton keeper played a blinder to keep Town at bay until the 3 minutes before half time when Duckewnski rugby tackled Ian Hodges in the penalty area (the rugby was to turn to boxing in the second half!).
Town captain Mark Vercesi stepped up to put the ball away and level the game. Town had a couple more attacks before the ref blew his whistle which the Cullompton keeper did well to keep out.
I don’t know what was said in the Cullompton dressing room at half time but they came out for the second half apparently in a rage.
Within five minutes Drummond was brought down in the penalty area and Town had their second penalty of the afternoon. Captain Vercesi again stepped up and thumped it by the hapless Cullompton keeper – 2-1 Town.
Now with the bit between their teeth Town turned up the heat on Cullompton who were becoming more and more physical as the game went on. A third penalty was awarded to Town in the 58th minute when Hodges was again brought down in the penalty area. This time by the Cullompton keeper who was lucky not to be sent off.
Once again it was Verseci who stepped up to make it 3-1 to Town – his second hat trick within a week! Following the penalty, as the players made their way away from the Cullompton goal the visitor’s number 5 suddenly lashed out at Town’s Dan Green felling him with a single punch. Unfortunately none of the officials saw the incident and the player in question was allowed to continue. If that wasn’t bad enough he then mocked the Falmouth faithful literally sticking two fingers up at the crowd as they yelled “you are a disgrace number 5!!” Even the Cullompton goalkeeper was seen to shake his head in disbelief…
Fortunately although the Cullompton number 5 did not get what he deserved, Matt Drummond did in the 62nd minute when he made it 4-1 Town!
Game over and eleven wins in a row for the mighty Town!!
If Cullompton had come to play in the same spirit as Town then they might have gone home with a draw and a little bit of dignity. As it was they left with nothing.
Next game is away to Dartmouth on Saturday, then an eagerly awaited crunch game when high-flying Bodmin Town come to Bickland Park on Tuesday 15th November – Kick off 7.30pm. Bring all of your friends!
Come on Town!!