CALLINGTON TOWN 1, PENZANCE 2
Penzance emerged from an arduous week of visits to three of their main title rivals with the maximum nine points. A first half double whammy of two quick-fire goals was backed up by 45 minutes of backs-to-the-wall defending to edge Mark Vercesi’s team to third consecutive slender win.
The Manager’s return in place of Lewis Caspall was the only change to the eleven that had started at St Austell three days earlier. The home side was first to threaten, Joe Preece threading a pass to George Soper who was denied by a brave smother from Magpies keeper Harry Salmon. Thereafter, the visitors were in the ascendancy. James Butler pounced on a loose pass to set-up Jacob Trudgeon whose shot was bravely blocked by Harry Southcott. The reprieve was temporary, however, Tyley Tonkin picking out Butler who finished tidily at the far post.
Almost immediately, the lead was doubled. Ben Palmer switched play with a raking left to right cross-field pass to Ewan Trevains. The midfielder, who had celebrated his 20th birthday in the week, delivered an acute low centre that Charlie Willis smashed past Jake Mead-Crebbin.
The first half ended worryingly for Penzance with both Palmer and Vercesi picking up knocks. The former was able to continue but the Player-Manager withdrew himself five minutes after the turnaround forcing a rejig of the back line – Palmer being pushing into the centre with the versatile Trevains dropping to left-back. Injury also forced off Butler– midweek goalscoring hero George Molcher deputising – and the reshuffled visitors were under the cosh as Callington smelt blood.
From a Dan Alford cross, Preece volleyed just wide at the far post. Salmon saved well from Callum McDonnell but, in the 68th minute, was beaten by a looping effort from home captain Southcott that dipped just under the bar to halve the deficit.
Penzance have earned a reputation as dogged Cup specialists over recent seasons, and the match had something of the feel of a knock-out tie they tenaciously repelled wave after wave of home attacks to hang on to the lead. From an inch perfect Preece cross from the left, Alford cushioned a header inches wide of the near post. Tonkin cleared off the line, Calum Courts rattled the crossbar from a corner then, in stoppage time, Salmon saved heroically from substitute Joseph Gill.
Somehow the Magpies hung on, picking up their first points at Callington since October 2020 after five consecutive Marshfield defeats. In so doing they closed the gap on leaders St Austell, over who they have three games in hand, to four points.
Callington: Jake Mead-Crebbin, George Soper, Ed Harrison, Connor Pritchard-Lee, Harry Southcott (captain), Sam Hill, Joe Preece, Calum Courts, Kieran Prescott, Dan Alford, Callum McDonnell.
Subs: Joseph Gill, Ben Langton, Harry Barnes, Elliott Haxell, Huck Enticknap
Penzance: Harry Salmon, Archie Reynolds, Steve Burt, Ben Palmer, Ewan Trevains, Tyler Tonkin (captain), James Butler (George Molcher 66), Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Charlie Willis, Jacob Trudgeon, Mark Vercesi (Wade Brown 50).
Unused subs: Kai Baxter, Alfie Turner, Will Trenoweth
Referee: Thomas Milburn
Assistants: Martin Ruffin, Arthur Davis
Match Report and photos courtesy of James Wright
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