By David Harrison at Pennygillam
SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)
Launceston 0 Holsworthy 0
THE second stanza of the season between the two clubs saw a controversial encounter as the home side played more than half the match with nine players before securing a priceless draw.
The Clarets returned to Pennygillam on Saturday for their first home league game since mid-September against a side they had drawn 1-1 at last month.
The largest crowd of the season was present to see what is always a keenly-contested fixture, but as has been the case all season, Price was forced to make several changes to his line-up.
Liam Hill took the goalkeeper’s jersey, with Declan Woodgate making a welcome reappearance. Influential midfielder Jaden Wood returned to the side, with the attacking threat coming primarily from Denham Guild, Mark Elvidge and Lucas Preston.
Holsworthy made two changes from the side beaten 2-1 at Truro, with Toby Martyn and Ollie Moores replacing Scott Bingham and Todd Peschke.
The first clear opportunity fell to Launceston with Josh Harris laying on a good chance for the lively Lucas Preston who narrowly failed to put the Clarets in front.
Jay Thomas replied for the visitors, firing a sharp left-foot volley just wide.
Clarets keeper Liam Hill did well to punch clear when under pressure but the tone of the game was set midway through the first half, when referee Joe Drew surprisingly dismissed Jaden Wood, seemingly for raising his hands at an opposing player.
This left the Clarets very much on the back foot with over an hour still to play.
Blake Shapland played in some dangerous left-wing crosses for the visitors but goalkeeper Hill and his fellow defenders coped well. A man down, Launceston were already up against it, but suffered a further blow when Woodgate limped off, to be replaced by Ryan Dawe.
Ollie Moores tried an ambitious long-range effort for the visitors but Hill, handling with increasing confidence, saved comfortably.
The Clarets were settling surprisingly well despite the numerical disparity but that changed again just before half-time.
Mr Drew took exception to a Josh Harris challenge on the galloping Shapland and, having summoned his assistant from 60 yards away to deliver a second opinion, showed the full-back a straight red card.
Before the dust settled, the Somerset official had ushered Preston towards the sin-bin. Manager Price, who remained outwardly calm throughout, spoke with the referee, only to become the latest recipient of Mr Drew’s red card.
With the crowd now fully engaged, the second half opened with Launceston needing to endure the remainder of Preston’s sin-bin penalty. This they achieved with few alarms.
The game settled into a new pattern as the 11 men of Holsworthy attempted to break down the Launceston nine.
The visitors did nothing wrong and used the full width of the pitch, but lacked the wit or subtlety to break down a brave and superbly disciplined Clarets side.
Jay Thomas looked to have broken the deadlock but was ruled offside despite some thinking otherwise, although Hill had little to do.
Five minutes were added by Mr Drew, with a fully committed home crowd roaring on their team, but in truth Holsworthy rarely looked like scoring.
LAUNCESTON: Liam Hill; Josh Harris, Jordan Stidson, Jude Jago, Declan Woodgate; Archie Wall, Jaden Wood, Mike Steele (capt), Lucas Preston, Denham Guild, Mark Elvidge. Subs: Jake Ham, Ryan Dawe, Aaron Hughes, Jack Japes, Alex Parnell.
HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick (capt); Callum Martyn, Cory Sargent, Sam Hill, Ollie Moores, Toby Martyn, Sam Jago, Jake Cartwright, Ben Sharpe, Jay Thomas, Blake Shapland. Subs: Lewis Haxell, Jonny Lang, Jacob Nosworthy.
Men of the match: Launceston - Whole Squad; Holsworthy - Sam Hill.