By Kevin Marriott

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (SATURDAY)

St Austell 1 Bridgwater United 2

ST AUSTELL manager Chris Knight is taking responsibility for his team’s continuing struggle to turn performances into victories after another frustrating afternoon on Saturday.

The Lillywhites found themselves 2-0 down inside 20 minutes and although Max Gilbert’s 56th minute penalty led to a much-improved second half, they left themselves with too much to do.

It’s now eight defeats in 11 since St Austell started their first Western League campaign – and as far as Knight is concerned, there’s no hiding place.

He said: “Unfortunately it’s another case of too little too late and another Saturday evening of scratching my head as to how we don’t win.

“The truth is we were abysmal in the first half and I’ve no idea where it came from as we’ve been excellent lately.

“In the end I’ve got to look at myself, as clearly the players weren’t ready, we’ve given ourselves an uphill battle and it doesn’t matter how well we played second half, it’s too late.

“I’m sick of getting home to loads of messages saying ‘unlucky’ and ‘you were the best team by miles’.

“The fact is we can’t be, we lost the game. You can say all you want about referees and decisions and 90% possession and 20 shots on goal, it’s irrelevant; they scored two and we scored one, that’s all that matters.

“You can have all the pats on the back In the clubhouse after and hard luck messages, it’s a waste of time; you have to get results and that’s on me, nobody else.

“I back these players and I back myself 100%, but it’s very hard to take at the moment, that’s for sure.

“I’ve said before we’ve got to learn from it and I hope I’ll see a reaction this week, we need one.”

St Austell were away at Ivybridge on Tuesday evening (7.30pm) and are on the road again on Saturday when they go to high-flying Barnstaple Town (3pm).

Before they had time to get out of first gear on Saturday, the Lillywhites conceded an eighth minute penalty which Josh Wadham fired past Andy Collings.

Things got worse for the home side 10 minutes later when Fin Koppa doubled Bridgwater’s lead and for the remainder of the half the visitors were well in control.

Gilbert’s third goal in three games – this one from the penalty spot – 11 minutes into the second half should have been the springboard for a comeback, but although they dominated the rest of the game, were unable to force an equaliser.

ST AUSTELL: Andy Collings, Jake Shaw, Martyn Duff, Tom Whipp, Ollie Brokenshire, Callum Watson, Henry Wilson, Matt Searle, Liam Eddy, Max Gilbert, George Marris.Subs: Harvey Hann, Neil Slateford, Tom Guest, Jamie Gilbert.

By David Sillifant

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (TUESDAY)

Ilfracombe Town 2 St Blazey 2

THE Green and Blacks earned an important point from their long trip into deepest North Devon.

St Blazey to Ilfracombe is a two-hour plus trip each way, but Brad Richardson and Andrew Moon’s men dug in to make the trip worthwhile.

Blazey were without goalkeeper Shaun Semmens and skipper Will Tinsley, but welcomed back midfielder Charlie Hambly and included Holsworthy’s Blake Shapland on the bench.

A tight first half ended with Combe going in front through Sam Townsend, and the same man doubled the lead not long after the break.

But Blazey’s attacking firepower is much improved this term, and pulled one back on 73 minutes through Jayden Gilbert.

And just as injury-time was approaching, former Launceston attacker Alfie Fothergill beat Dom Aplin to earn his side a point.