Small’s Bovey pass first test against Premier opposition

PENINSULA LEAGUE

Bovey Tracey will be hoping to cause another Walter C Parson Peninsula League Cup upset next month after they were drawn at home to Premier Division Launceston.

The Division One East high-flyers booked their place in the second round on Saturday after knocking out another top flight side, Millbrook, thanks to goals from Owen Stockton and Jamie Orchard.

Bovey manager Will Small said: “Launceston will be another tough test for us, but it’s always good to test ourselves against a higher level.

“We have home advantage, and on our day we can give anyone a game. The Premier Division is where we want to be so this is a good opportunity for the players to show us what they can do.

“We’re capable of beating them but it’s all about which team turns up on the day. We’ll be up for it and hopefully we can cause another upset.

“On Saturday we were missing nine players so in that respect it was a very good result. You need a big squad, and we had to call three up to the squad. But they did a great job. Luke Cole (ex-Bideford midfielder) came in and did very well.

“We went 1-0 up, missed a few chances and they equalised.

“We soaked up the pressure and with about 15 minutes to go we scored the winner and it was pretty comfortable from there.”

Small’s men will host the Clarets on Saturday October 20.

In heavy winds, Millbrook enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges but they were hit on the counter attack as Stockton gave Bovey the lead.

Millbrook drew level in the 62nd minute when Curtis Damerell headed home for the visitors.

But Bovey made sure of their place in the next round and a memorable cup scalp when Orchard struck a dramatic late winner.

Third-placed Bovey return to league action this weekend when they travel to the University of Exeter as they look to close the six-point gap on leaders Elmore.

The students have struggled in the opening weeks of the season with a thread-bare group of players. But now that many have returned to university, they will be significantly stronger this weekend.

Small admitted: “The stu- dents are back at university now so I think it will be a different story on Saturday.

“Other teams have been fortunate to play them in the opening weeks of the season when they’ve had no players.

“It’s typical that the week they have everyone back they play us.

“But we have all our players back as well this weekend so we’ll be far stronger.

“We did well to come back from two down to draw 3-3 at Sidmouth in midweek. It was a tricky one but they boys did really well to come back the way they did.

“We didn’t make it easy for ourselves and if we want to be challenging for the league then we have to cut out these goals.”

Bovey will be without Cliff Walters this weekend, though Josh Moore is available after joining from Ashburton.