Club XI - Cornwall Pre-Season Tournament

Duchy Win Thrilling Final to Lift Pre-Season Trophy

Duchy came from a goal down to beat Caradon 2-1 in the final and claim their first CHA Pre-Season Tournament title.

A 2-0 victory over Truro in the first match of the day set Duchy on their way to the final, with Richard Swann opening the scoring within a minute before Alfie Budge made it 2-0 mid-way through the 25-minute match - both goals coming after flowwing passing moves from the side in black-and white. 

Duchy's second match was an acrimoneous affair against Bodmin, in which Duchy dominated but failed to score. Bodmin were reduced to ten players when goalkeeper Robin Craig was sin-binned for an appauling two-footed tackle on Richard Swann, however stand-in 'keeper Niall Parkinson did well to save Ben Flint's penalty stroke; and the Bodmin goal survived unscathed until Craig returned to the field. Duchy were breifly reduced to nine men when Fordham and Barbery were both shown green, however remained in the ascendency; yet were still unable to breach the Bodmin lines - the best chance falling to Stu Richardson moments from full time, who deflected a cross straight at Craig. 

By the mid-way points of the competition, both Duchy and Caradon looked odds-on to reach the final; and Duchy secured their spot with a 3-0 victory over Penzance in their third fixture. Virgis Sedvydis led the line with two goals - again a result of quick-fire Duchy passing - before Budge capitalised on a loose ball in the Penzance circle to sweep in a third. 

With Caradon hammering Truro 5-1 in the subsequent match, the line up for the final was set, leaving an odd scenario which saw Duchy and Caradon contest a dead-rubber; before taking to the field against one another again for the final. First blood went to Caradon, who won the final group game 2-0 with Duchy clearly focussing on the knockout match to come. 

The final proved to be an end to end affair, with Duchy taking an early lead through Budge who slammed home a Tom Marmoy cross from the right, however Caradon quickly equalised with a venemous penalty corner for 1-1. With ten minutes remaining, captain, Ben Flint slammed a shot into the roof of the net for 2-1 to Duchy before missing a gilt-edged change to wrap up the match - hitting the upright from three yards out. The final exchanges saw Caradon lay seige to the Duchy goal, but a fine save from Toby Walker in goal, followed by a last ditch tackle from Ben Moran saw Duchy cling on to claim the title. 

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Results | Group Stage

2-0 v Truro (Swann, Budge)

0-0 v Bodmin

3-0 v Penzance (Sedvydis 2, Budge)

0-2 v Caradon

Table | Group Stage

1st | Caradon | 12pts

2nd | Duchy | 7pts

3rd | Bodmin | 5pts

4th | Penzane | 3pts

5th | Truro | 1pt

Result | Final

2-1 v Caradon (Swann, Flint)