3pm 12 March 2017
Cornwall Combination League Cup Semi-Final at Illogan Royal British Legion AFC
Carharrack 1 St Ives Town 3 (att 170)
Had it not been for late and unavoidable changes to the Carmarthenshire League's hop schedule I'd have spent Sunday morning at Pontlliw, but as their game was postponed I instead spent it driving into Cornwall.
Thankfully Premier Inn allowed me to swap my pre-paid and non-refundable hotel in Llanelli for an alternative in Somerset, and so it was a relatively straightforward drive to Oxland Parc in Illogan, just outside Redruth.
Illogan's first team play in the South West Peninsula League but their reserves are in the Cornwall Combination, and Oxland Parc was a fine venue to host the first of the Combination's League Cup semi-finals.
The ground is fully enclosed, with a seated stand on one side, a small amount of cover between the dugouts on the opposite touchline, and a smart clubhouse behind the goal.
With my journey home likely to take up to six hours I was keen for the tie to be settled in 90 minutes rather than be delayed by extra time and, potentially, penalties. Underdogs St Ives surprised the league leaders and cup holders by taking an early lead, but Carharrack were soon level.
St Ives went back in front with about 20 minutes left, and managed to hold out despite plenty of pressure from Carharrack, adding a third goal on the break in stoppage time. Not long after that the final whistle went, signalling celebrations among the St Ives contingent, and the start of a long drive back to Manchester for me.
Cornwall Combination League Cup Semi-Final at Illogan Royal British Legion AFC
Carharrack 1 St Ives Town 3 (att 170)
Had it not been for late and unavoidable changes to the Carmarthenshire League's hop schedule I'd have spent Sunday morning at Pontlliw, but as their game was postponed I instead spent it driving into Cornwall.
Thankfully Premier Inn allowed me to swap my pre-paid and non-refundable hotel in Llanelli for an alternative in Somerset, and so it was a relatively straightforward drive to Oxland Parc in Illogan, just outside Redruth.
Illogan's first team play in the South West Peninsula League but their reserves are in the Cornwall Combination, and Oxland Parc was a fine venue to host the first of the Combination's League Cup semi-finals.
The ground is fully enclosed, with a seated stand on one side, a small amount of cover between the dugouts on the opposite touchline, and a smart clubhouse behind the goal.
With my journey home likely to take up to six hours I was keen for the tie to be settled in 90 minutes rather than be delayed by extra time and, potentially, penalties. Underdogs St Ives surprised the league leaders and cup holders by taking an early lead, but Carharrack were soon level.
St Ives went back in front with about 20 minutes left, and managed to hold out despite plenty of pressure from Carharrack, adding a third goal on the break in stoppage time. Not long after that the final whistle went, signalling celebrations among the St Ives contingent, and the start of a long drive back to Manchester for me.
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