Saturday 31st October 2015 ko 14.00

East Cornwall Premier League Cup 2nd Round

PADSTOW UNITED 1 (Riddle 53p)

BODMIN TOWN RESERVES 1 (Carhart 60) Thompson sent off 75 (violent conduct)

AET Bodmin won 4-2 on penalties

Att 15

Entry FREE

No Programme

For many the Cornish fishing village is best known for being the home of celebrity chef Rick Stein and there’s no lack of establishments bearing his name. Those with a interest in history may point out that Padstow is a corruption of the name of its saint, St. Petroc, and in the church bearing his name is buried a Dr Henry Frederick Marley. He was a close friend of Charles Dickens who borrowed his surname for the character in the novel “A Christmas Carol.” But truth be told, if you visit the local football club’s home, Jury Park, you don’t actually see the village itself, but you do get to visit Wayne’s World.

The ground is situated on top of the hill as you reach Padstow with a fine view of Camelford Bay and the Queen Victoria Obelisk, erected to celebrate the queen’s jubilee in 1887. The first person you’ll meet is manager Wayne Sellwood. Every amateur club needs a focal point, someone who everyone else takes their cue from, and the ebullient Wayne certainly does it for Padstow. He’s just returned to the dugout after a few months out; he led the team to the Duchy League title last season but stepped down fearing he’d nothing left to give. Two short-lived and unsuccessful managers at the club he loves proved to him that he did, so there he was welcoming everyone to the club, and generally being a fine ambassador for the Cornish game.

His team were part of an excellent afternoon’s entertainment, one of those games where you really couldn’t predict the outcome of the game until the final kick. Bodmin moved the ball better, but couldn’t finish. Padstow took the lead through Riddle’s penalty but Leighton Carhart’s header from Crowe’s free kick squirmed through Wood’s hands for the equaliser. The visitors’ Derek Thompson saw red for kicking out at Padstow’s Elliott, but as is usually the case extra time saw no change to the stalemate, and the real controversy came in the penalty shoot out.

Both sides missed their first kicks, but the the next 4 were converted. Poole saw his effort saved for Padstow so Stiff needed to convert Bodmin’s 5th kick to win the tie. His kick was saved by Wood, but referee Richard Butter ordered a retake, as he hadn’t whistled, but did anyone hear him whistle for the others? I certainly didn’t, and Stiff didn’t spurn his second chance to put Bodmin though.

The Padstow players were furious, but it was good to see Wayne gather his players around him before quietly speaking to referee Butter on his own. It was an act of great leadership, and one that does both him and his club great credit. Others may still think of Padstow as being Rick Stein’s fiefdom, but every time I see Padstow I’ll always think of Wayne and his team.