A GOAL in each half saw St Blazey come out on top against Newton Abbot Spurs in Friday night’s pre-season friendly at The Rec.

Mark Gustason nudged the Cornishmen in front on 17 minutes after Spurs keeper Kit Glanvill was unable to claim a cross into the area.

The home side enjoyed more than a fair share of the play and looked increasingly likely to find the net themselves as the second half wore on.

But Glanvill’s misjudgement of a through ball would allow Cal Kenny to complete the simplest of tasks and double his side’s advantage.

The introduction of Nick and Frazer Rudge had an immediate impact for the hosts – the former spraying a delightful ball to the right flank which was cut back for the latter to fire just wide.

Ultimately the team from Peninsula Premier West would leave with their clean sheet intact – but Spurs assistant manager and chairman Ross Bellotti was pleased with what he saw.

‘I said to the lads before the game that I felt it was a good test,’ he explained. ‘If they were in our league I think they’d be hoping to win it.

‘But actually I felt that we were the better side. I thought we had more of the play and tried to play football.

‘My overall feeling after the game is one of frustration – not because of the result, but the fact that I think we could’ve popped it around a little bit better.

‘They [St Blazey] didn’t trouble us, they weren’t as big a challenge as I thought they’d be and I think they’ve gone away thinking we were probably more of a challenge than they expected.’

Bellotti was calling the shots from the dugout himself on the night after manager Marc Revell tested positive for Covid last week.

‘Revs has a way of playing which is definitely starting to come with the players,’ Bellotti explained.

‘Tonight I haven’t had to say a lot. The lads have picked up what Revs is telling them and it’s starting to work.

‘I wasn’t buzzing about taking it on my own, but but I didn’t have to do or say a lot. It’s been absolutely fine.

‘The keeper’s disappointed but I’ve been there myself – if anyone’s not going to blame the keeper it’s going to be me!

‘The lads are frustrated with the result but I think we’ve played well on a difficult pitch against a side who huffed and puffed and worked hard.

‘As I said to the lads, there are much more positives to take away from that than negatives.’

The Spurs’ final pre-season fixture is scheduled for Friday night, when they are set to welcome neighbours Teignmouth to The Rec (7.30pm).