NEWQUAY boss Shaun Middleton offered no excuses as the SWPL Premier West leaders were brought back down to earth with a 1-0 defeat by Dobwalls at Mount Wise.

The majority of a season’s best crowd of 403 came hoping to see the Peppermints continue their surge towards Western League football, but Josh Johnson’s goal just before the break ensured the Dingos remain in the hunt themselves.

Newquay huffed and puffed after the turnaround, but the visitors held on comfortably, helped by sub Alex Cole’s sending-off for two bookable offences four minutes before the end.

Alex Cole red card.
Newquay's Alex Cole (hunched over behind 12) receives a red card four minutes before the end. Picture: Paul Williams (Paul Williams)

Middleton offered no excuses, saying: “It was a scrappy game in which we didn’t seem to get going. Dobwalls were more up for it and resilient.

“They beat us to all second balls and seemed more up for the fight, which was uncharacteristic. When we seemed to put some pressure together we were reduced to 10 and then the game was gone.

“It was a scrappy goal to concede and other than that I didn’t feel they caused us any real problems but they did a job on us, so fair play to Dobwalls.

“Our boys will need to react now and see what sort of steel they have.”

Newquay welcome Wadebridge Town on Saturday (3pm).