By Steve Rich at Mount Wise

SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)

Newquay 1 Wadebridge Town 0

TOM SHEPHERD grabbed a second half winner as Newquay continued their title push with a battling 1-0 derby victory over Wadebridge Town at Mount Wise.

On a chilly afternoon with the pitch still not having fully recovered from the previous week’s defeat to Dobwalls, it was never going to be a freeflowing type of game with players from both sides having to really focus when controlling the ball.

The Peppermints also had to do without a number of key players including Cam Turner, Callam McOnie and Jack Bray-Evans as boss Shaun Middleton utilised his squad.

But in front of a very healthy crowd of 271, both sets set the pace from the first whistle.

Newquay, playing on their home turf, started strong, pressing Wadebridge hard and controlling possession. Midfielders Josh Evans and Ross Fallens were a force to be reckoned with, orchestrating play from the centre of the park, while winger Tom Shepherd together with Tom Moxham playing wing-back on the left, soon troubled the Wadebridge defence.

Newquay’s pressure on the Wadebridge defence was relentless and although the Bridgers did make a number of breaks into the home half, when the ball came to their striker, both opportunities he had to test Brodie Cole in goal were put the ball over the clubhouse roof.

Jamie Edlin and Jacob Grange were combining well down the right side for the hosts, resulting in two Wadebridge players being booked for fouls against Grange.

Despite all of the pressure that Newquay put on the Wadebridge defence, they soaked up the pressure as the first half ended goalless.

The second half began with both teams showing no signs of fatigue, despite the cold and the heavy pitch conditions.

Wadebridge manager Paul Rowe had obviously had words in the break as they came out with more intensity and began to press more.

Newquay came close to taking the lead when the ball came out from a corner kick to Jamie Edlin who volleyed it towards the Wadebridge goal, only to see it strike one of his own players.

The deadlock was finally broken when Newquay's relentless pressure paid off. A throw-in over in the far corner saw Shepherd lay the ball off to Phil Lowry who turned the defender allowing him to play a nice short pass back to Shepherd who had run between the defenders into the box and he finished the move off with a fine low shot into the right bottom corner of the Wadebridge net, sending the Newquay fans into raptures.

In an effort to increase their lead, Newquay boss Middleton gave a debut appearance to 16-year-old Owen Johnson who came on mid-way through the second half and showed what a talent he is for now and the future.

The game became increasingly tense as both teams pushed forward, Newquay for the second goal and Wadebridge for an equaliser.

But despite both teams having efforts on goal, neither were able to capitalise and the game ended with Newquay taking all three points.

NEWQUAY: Brodie Cole; Jamie Edlin, Harry Downing (capt), Aaron Dilley, Tom Moxham; Ross Fallens, Josh Evans, Tom Shepherd; Jacob Grange, Phil Lowry, Coen Briggs. Subs: Owen Johnson, Ollie Butterworth, Johan Allen, Jared Morgan, Cody Hill (gk).

Newquay man of the match: Josh Evans.