By Kevin Marriott 

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (SATURDAY)

Welton Rovers 0 St Austell 2

ST AUSTELL ticked off a few ‘firsts’ on Saturday as they saw off rock bottom Welton with an impressive performance which should have brought a more emphatic margin of victory.

It was the Lillywhites’ first away win of the season after six straight defeats on their travels and the first time they have put together two successive victories following their promotion.

They achieved it without a recognised striker, with the prolific Liam Eddy suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, Adam Carter still injured and Curtis Damerell having moved on to Liskeard Athletic.

But in a mini crisis St Austell can always count on  skipper Neil Slateford to conjure something, although few Lillywhites followers would have bet on him scoring with his head, as he did to put his side 1-0 up after 15 minutes.

“The fifth headed goal of my career,” Slateford boasted on social media after the game.

Man of the match Matt Searle added a second goal 10 minutes into the second half and there could have been several more.

For Welton this was their 15th consecutive league defeat.

St Austell boss Chris Knight said: “It was great to keep a clean sheet on the afternoon in a game that should have been five or six but we will take a win.

“We know they have troubled good teams at home, they pushed Buckland and Nailsea recently so we were under no illusions it wouldn’t be a walkover, but to their credit the lads dug in and dominated the game. 

“It wasn’t an ideal situation with no Eddy, who picked up his fifth yellow last week and Carts is still a few weeks away so we essentially had no striker.

“It’s testament to the lads that we found a way around it and there isn’t much more I can say about Searly that hasn’t already been said.

“He played as a false nine and looked like he’d done it his whole life; fantastic.

“My skipper (Slateford) again is really back to form. He scored a goal and assist which is what we need from him.

“And a special mention to (central defender) Tom Whipp, outstanding with his calmness and distribution for us on the day.

“Three and a half hours in a car is a long old way if you don’t get a result, so we headed back in good spirits and onto another big week.”

St Austell have a home double this week with Ivybridge Town the visitors to Poltair on Wednesday in the league and Cadbury Heath in town on Saturday for an FA Vase tie.

Knight confirmed that midfield man Max Gilbert has returned to Liskeard.

He said: “Max does remain registered with us but he’s decided due to his work situation changing he wants to play more locally and we have to accept that.

“We wish him well and move forward with the great lads we have at the club.”

Added to the group is St Blazey midfielder Ryan Downing, who will have to wait for his chance because he is suspended on Wednesday and cup tied for the Vase game.

ST AUSTELL: Andy Collings, Jake Shaw, Jason Rogers (Liam Dingle 80), Henry Wilson (Joe Munday 80), Ollie Brokenshire, Callum Watson, Neil Slateford (capt), Matt Searle, Martyn Duff, Tom Whipp, George Marris (Jamie Gilbert 46). Sub not used: Luke Perkes.

There were defeats for the two other Cornish sides in action on Saturday.

Saltash United were beaten 3-0 by visiting Barnstaple Town, while Torpoint Athletic’s five-match winning run in all competitions came to an end at Bridgwater United, losing 1-0.