By Kevin Marriott

WESTERN LEAGUEPREMIER DIVISION (SATURDAY)

Nailsea and Tickenham 0 St Austell 3

ST AUSTELL scored twice in the opening seven minutes to set them on their way to what manager Chris Knight described as ‘the perfect away performance’.

The Lillywhites scored in the opening minute through Kieron Bishop and doubled their advantage with a sublime strike from Ryan Downing, another former St Blazey player.

Skipper Neil Slateford made it 3-0 just before the half-hour to put the Lillywhites in firm control and they cruised to only their second away win of the season.

Knight’s side have won four of the last five league games, with only one defeat in nine in all competitions since the beginning of October when losing summer signings Curtis Damerell and Max Gilbert to Liskeard Athletic.

The departures appear to have galvanised St Austell, with the club reverting to the tried and trusted.

Of Saturday’s game, Knight said: “It was the perfect away performance and something I’ll be honest I didn’t expect.

“We’ve been strong at home but away we’ve struggled at times but right from the opening five minutes when we scored we totally dominated the game from start to finish.

“I thought Kieron Bishop was electric, they just could not deal with him and with him and Ryan Downing giving us an outlet it meant we always looked a threat.

“And the whole team were calm and clever with the ball, one of those afternoons when you make the long drive back really happy to be the manager of that group of lads; they were magnificent.”

ST AUSTELL: Andy Collings, Jake Shaw, Martyn Duff, Tom Whipp, Damon Mulready; Henry Wilson, Neil Slateford (capt), Matt Searle; Kieron Bishop, Adam Carter, Ryan Downing. Subs: Liam Eddy, George Marris, Kaden Stephens, Riley Allen.

St Austell man of the match: Kieron Bishop.