McCann hopes Dingos can push on after first win of the season at Launceston

DOBWALLS boss Kevin McCann believes his side ‘finally got what we deserved’ as they ended their winless start to the season with a 6-2 thrashing of fellow strugglers Launceston at Pennygillam on Saturday.

The result – which saw Clarets boss Simon Minett resign – saw Elian Causon net a hat-trick for the Dingos after he gave the villagers a 1-0 lead at the break, while George Hann and Jamie Gilbert’s brace made it 6-1.

Debutant Owen Davies’ fine finish pulled a second back for the hosts late who actually were on top in the first half and got one back at 3-0 via Lee Robinson’s spot-kick.

Reflecting on Tuesday night, McCann said: “After getting our first win against Millbrook in the cup last time out it was important to get that going in the league and turn good performances into actual wins - which will then help with confidence, so we went into the game knowing how important it was.

“Despite that though we didn't have the best of first halves, the intensity wasn't what I wanted, the quality wasn't there either and to be honest if it wasn't for Freddy Harvey-Larmar in goal we could will have found ourselves behind at the break. But we didn't concede and then our only real bit of quality play saw Elian Causon grab his first of the game and sent us in one up.

“Safe to say though I wasn't happy at half -time despite the score so we 'discussed' it and we came out the second half with a much better attitude.

“The intensity was there, the quality was there and more importantly the finishing was there.

“Five excellent goals - man-of-the-match Elian getting his hat-trick, George getting another and two excellent goals from Jamie Gilbert - his first one a fantastic free-kick.”

McCann hopes it can act as a springboard as they look to catch the likes of Launceston, Wendron United and Mousehole.

He continued: “Launceston couldn't live with us when he got our levels up and finally we got what we deserved in this game which we haven't in quite a few games this season.

“We're obviously still down the bottom but our goal difference does shows we haven't been getting beaten by much in our previous games - just letting ourselves down in front of goal. So hopefully we've turned a corner where that is concerned. The team spirit has always been there but now it's really starting to show and as a group we can start our push up the table.”

Launceston’s squad on paper is better than their position suggests and Minett’s final team selection saw the Clarets give a debut to Davies from Saltash United, while Harry Probyn looked to build on Saturday’s fine goal at Mousehole on his second appearance.

Launceston opened very much on the front foot and had four goal-bound efforts from distance in the opening 20 minutes. However, visiting keeper Freddy Harvey-Larmer was equal to everything thrown at him and gradually Dobwalls settled into the game.

The visitors moved in front just before the break when Elian Causon turned in a low left-wing cross.

Whatever was said at half-time in the away dressing-room had an immediate effect. Causon doubled the lead after 49 minutes and George Hann soon made it three.

Probyn was brought down inside the area for Lee Robinson to convert the resultant spot-kick, but Dobwalls were dominant by now and Causon completed his hat-trick.

Jamie Gilbert made it 5-1 with an unstoppable 22-yard free-kick and the same man added a sixth as Launceston’s defence collapsed.

Remarkably, the Clarets had the last word as Davies marked his debut with a fierce 20-yard drive that flew past Harvey-Larmer, who was nevertheless voted man-of-the-match, as recognition for his exceptional first-half performance.

However, this was a harrowing evening for Launceston who ended a well-beaten side and are now looking for a new manager and coaching team after Minett’s resignation which was accepted by the club committee who nevertheless expressed sincere thanks to the manager for his tireless efforts on behalf of the club.

LAUNCESTON: Howie Evans; Dylan Rangecroft, Taylor Davey, Nathan Lang, Jude Jago, Tom Manuel, Sam Tattersall, Owen Davies, Lee Robinson, Harry Probyn, Kian Berry. Subs: Ryan Dawe, George Davey, Tom Bullock, Alex Parnell, George Bills.

DOBWALLS: Freddy Harvey-Larmar; Adam King, George Hann, Rhys Connew, Tyler Copp, Cam Dymond (capt), Jamie Gilbert, Morgan Jones, Jack Gaynor, Elian Causon, Conrad Naylor. Subs: Raffi Causon, Fin Lyle, Sam Jordan, Levi Cable, Harvey Glossop.