Men's 2nd XI Vs Bodmin A [League]

Duchy thrash Bodmin as Selby hits Century of Goals

Duchy A fired themselves straight to the top of South West 1 with a 9-0 thumping of Bodmin A on the opening day of the league season.

The victory was the largest away win for the Men's 2s since 2013 and came at a venue at which Duchy have traditionally struggled to pick up points; and even when Lee Selby opened the scoring after just four minutes to claim his 100th goal for the club, the visitors took nothing for granted. The initial exchanges were probably Bodmin's best period of the match, however Duchy were confident on the ball, retaining possession well to minimise the threat, and any thoughts of a Bodmin comeback were effectively extinguished by the fifteen-minute mark with two goals in four minutes taking the score to 3-0. It was Chris Pearce who doubled the lead, firing a shot into the pads of the Bodmin ‘keeper and then sliding home the rebound; before Justin Churchill – making his debut having joined Duchy from Bodmin over the summer – tapped home a Chris Pound pass to claim his first for the club.

Duchy maintained their early intensity through to half time and extended the lead to 6-0 by the interval. Selby doubled his tally from a penalty corner, tucking home a rebound from a Neil Bradford strike, Chuchill then bagged his second of the afternoon with a neat flick over the ‘keeper after good work from Simon Rafferty on the right win; and Chris Pound brought up the half-dozen three minutes before the break, smashing home a thunderbolt from the edge of the circle.

With the damage done in the first half, the second period was something of an anti-climax; with Bodmin simple looking to limit any further damage whilst Duchy – sensing blood in the water - lost some of their structure and patience in search of further goals.

With ten minutes of the half played, the advantage had been extended to seven, when Pearce lashed home a penalty corner, before a defensive error from Duchy presented Bodmin with a guilt edged chance for a consolation only for Kevin Welsh to make an outstanding save to preserve his clean sheet.

By mid-way through the second period, both Pearce and Selby had completed their hat-tricks with well worked goals to take the lead to 9-0; and a disjointed final ten minutes saw Duchy fail to hit double figures but ultimately record a hugely pleasing victory. 

Man of the Match was awarded to Chris Pound

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Bodmin A | 

Duchy A | Lee Selby 4f, 23pc, 54f; Chris Pearce 11f, 43pc, 51f; Justin Churchill 15f, 28f; Chris Pound 32f