Clarets fall short after tough encounter against high-flyers Sticker

LAUNCESTON suffered another heavy defeat on Saturday against Sticker at Burngullow Park.

However, the loss at Sticker was a much closer affair than the score suggested, with the Clarets competing well but being undone by individual errors.

Things started to go wrong for Simon Minett’s young side before the game even started. Key central defender Jude Jago pulled up during the warm-up with a back problem, necessitating a defensive reshuffle.

Nevertheless, Launceston started brightly and were slightly the better in the early exchanges. It was marginally against the run of play when Sam Eccleston rounded Howie Evans and found the empty net to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Eli Evans soon doubled the lead and the Clarets were, once again, facing an uphill task. Lee Robinson headed a corner against the near post for the Clarets but Cam Bidgood’s 38th minute goal looked to have sealed the points.

Robinson headed home a 47th minute Kian Berry cross to provide hope of a comeback, but when Eccleston scored again, the game was effectively up.

Substitute George Davey hit the crossbar from distance but this wasn’t to be Launceston’s day. Dan Hocking then completed the scoring with a late effort to make it 5-1 to the Burngullow Park outfit.

Sticker are clearly much improved this season, having won eight of their opening nine league games. They look likely to remain competitive near the top of the table as Launceston continue to battle away.

This Saturday’s trip to struggling Mousehole could provide a more realistic opportunity for the Clarets to add to their account.

Launceston: Howie Evans, Ryan Dawe, Dylan Rangecroft, Tom Manuel, George Bills, James Simmons, Tom Bullock, Luke Gibbons, Lee Robinson, Louis Taylor, Kian Berry.

Substitutes: George Davey, Kaiet Rasche, James Simmons jnr.