TWO goals in the opening 13 minutes set up St Austell to continue their love story with the FA Vase as they recorded an impressive victory over Cadbury Heath at Poltair, writes Kevin Marriott.

The first 15 minutes were in stark contrast to the opening against Ivybridge three days earlier in a league game where the visitors battered their hosts.

Manager Chris Knight said: “It was a complete reversal of Wednesday night really in that we started the game like a train, played some lovely football with two early goals and as is always the case when that happens you lose a bit of intensity without any jeopardy in the game.

“Fair play to them, they could have crumbled but didn’t, but the result was never in doubt and was nice to use some of the squad when we could.

“Second half was a bit of a non event really as we wanted to avoid any injuries but I thought we used the width well and the lads once again put in a good shift.

“I thought George Marris had his best game for some time and looked a threat all the time. The only thing that matters in the Vase is being in that draw on a Monday and we’ve done just that.”

This is Liam Eddy’s goal in the first half
Liam Eddy’s goal in the first half (Picture: Paul Williams)

Tom Whipp was in the right place to finish off a Neil Slateford corner in the eighth minute, the central defender’s first goal of the season.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 with a typical finish from top scorer Liam Eddy with his eighth goal of the campaign.

The Lillywhites, Vase semi-finalists in 2015, went on to dominate the half but they had to wait until the 63rd minute for the killer goal when the influential Matt Searle was on hand to make it 3-0.

But Heath were not down and out. They pulled a goal back immediately with a superb volley from Miles Scott and dominated possession for the rest of the tie, having two confident penalty shouts rejected.

A second Heath goal would have made the finale interesting but St Austell survived late pressure to progress to the second round proper.

St Austell: A Collings, J Rogers, M Duff, T Whipp, O Brokenshire, C Wilson, N Slateford, M Searle, L Eddy, G Marris, J Bowker.

Subs: J Shaw, H Wilson, J Gilbert, H Hann, D Mulready.

Goals: T Whipp (8), L Eddy (13), M Searle (63).Yellow card: O Brokenshire (44).

Cadbury Heath: A Kendall, M Binding, S Dunning (M Huxley 79), M Isaacs (B Dack 57), D Winstone, M Hashewi (J Littlewood 57), T Withers, H Hussein, M Scott, L Holden, T Lane.

Goal: M Scott (65).

Yellow card: D Winstone (60).