The weather played another huge part in the game that took place at Polstain Road on Saturday. After snow had fallen overnight it seemed that yet again the Reserves would be postponed due to the good old British weather, however, after some valiant work by the "Gaffer" and several members of the team including supporters, on Saturday morning the game against St Ives Mariners was able too kick off as scheduled. Buoyant by their win two weeks previous, Threemilestone felt that they had a chance of taking all three points against a St Ives Mariners team who had, had a mixed season so far.

It was apparent from the kick off that the game was going to be played in less than perfect conditions with the pitch being pretty boggy due to the thawing snow, despite this both teams tried to play football without resorting to lumping the ball from one end to another. It was the away side who scored first when a shot from outside the box beat the dive of the home side's keeper, into the far corner. Threemilestone did not seem daunted by this and went on the offensive from the kick off, this soon brought a dividend when Jolly latched onto a through ball from the midfield to find the top corner with a first time shot. The Stones seemed to be spurred on by this and within five minutes had taken the lead when young Counter fired in a low drive from twenty yards which seemed to catch the visitors keeper by surprise with the shot going straight through him and into the back of the net. Could the Stones hold out until half time? Well they certainly tried some staunch defending, with a hint of desperation at times it looked as though TMS would have the advantage going into the second half, unfortunately, with the clock ticking down the Mariners managed to breach the home sides' defence with an almost identical goal to their first. Half time came with both teams locked at two a piece, and looking pretty bedraggled with the amount of slush they had to play through.

The second half began as the first had with both teams trying to capitalise on the weather conditions, by exploiting any slip by their opposite number, yet again luck deserted the Stones and it was the away side who saw a clearance from the home side, which would have normally flew up the pitch, just fly across the eighteen yard box falling perfectly for the oncoming forward, who volleyed it into the top left hand corner of the goal, giving keeper Carlyon absolutely no chance. With the ground deteriorating and the players becoming tired due to the heavy conditions, TMS had a huge mountain to climb even though they were only one goal behind. It must be said that TMS never gave up and showed their battling qualities, which was reflected in the chances they created. Jolly saw a chance go wide of the post. Substitute Moore saw his close range shot hit the side netting. Luff had one effort which went a yard past the far right hand post, and then he saw his header from a corner hit the cross bar with the away sides keeper routed to the goal line. It was obvious to all those who were watching and to those slogging it out over the marshes of Threemilestone that this was not going to be the home sides day, and this was confirmed when two minutes from time a counter attack caught the Reserves with too few defenders at the back and the score reflected this when St Ives made it four, which sent the Stones down to another defeat even though they had played extremely well for the conditions.

The Reserves are at home again on the weekend against Spice of Life.

Richard Luff