CULLOMPTON RANGERS 0, PENZANCE 0 aet (7-8 penalties)

Saving three penalties, keeper Mikey Flores was the hero of a heart-stopping penalty-shoot, in which all twenty outfield players were required to stand-up and be counted as Penzance delighted 300 of their jubilant supporters at Launceston writes James Wright.

Cullompton Rangers – the fifth team from the East Division that the Magpies have been required to see off to lift the Walter C Parson Peninsula League Cup – almost scored just ten seconds into the final. Thereafter, Penzance were the better side during the first half, hitting the woodwork twice through Lewis Caspall. Midfelders Kam Collins and Sam Young also went close, whilst Cullompton’s George Russell had a shot charged down at the other end. The Devonians had the better of things after the break with Aiden Horne having a “goal” disallowed for offside and Lucas White firing a shot into the side netting. But Penzance had one massive chance – a penalty eighteen minutes from time from which Jimmy Weeks saved from Charlie Young.

Each side had an excellent opening during extra-time. Cullompton’s Lewis Hill smashed a shot against the woodwork with Horne skying the rebound. Then, right at the death, Curtis Smith – a second half replacement for Jacob Trudgeon – pounced on a mistake by Weeks but was unable to penetrate an open goal, albeit from a tight angle.

So, as in the semi-final at the same venue against Honiton Town, Penzance and the club’s devotees had to endure the agony of penalties, only this time they had the disadvantage of going second.  Flores got them off to the best possible start, sprawling to his left to claw aside Drew Sloan’s opener. With Charlie Young, player-manager Mark Vercesi, and Smith all netting, the Magpies had their beaks in front, though Horne, Hill and Craig Woodman kept Rangers in it. Caspall then missed Penzance’s fourth kick. White levelled for Cullompton, James Butler nervelessly responding to extend the shoot-out to sudden death.

Zack Williams, Ben Scott and Brayden Morris then all netted for the Devon side piling huge pressure on Brook Williams, Ollie Butler and Charlie Willis to keep Cornish hopes alive. But all bravely replied in turn and, when Flores saved from Scott Varnell, Ewan Trevains had the chance to win it. Weeks smothered the youngster’s penalty, extending the drama further. But Flores saved again – this time from George Russell – and Chris Wormington converted Penzance’s second match point triggering jubilant scenes.

Vercesi’s first season in the Penzance hot seat thus ends with the club winning its first silverware since the Division One West/Charity Cup double of 2008-09 when he was captain. “That was brilliant, but this is way better,” he concluded. “As a manager it surpasses any sort of feeling as a player. This is everything those boys deserve. They have been brilliant this year. We left a lot of point on the board in the League, but we have come good in this Cup.

A jubilant Mark Vercesi speaks to Press Officer James Wright after Monday's final.

Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds (Ewan Trevains 74), Silas Sullivan (James Butler 80), Mark Vercesi, Chris Wormington, Sam Young (Brook Williams 68), Kam Collins (Ollie Butler 84), Charlie Willis, Lewis Caspall, Charlie Young, Jacob Trudgeon (Curtis Smith 62)

Cullompton: Jimmy Weeks, Lucas White (captain), Zack Williams, Will Pinnick (Ben Scott 96), Craig Woodman, George Russell, Brayden Morris, Callum Hutchings (Drew Sloan 45 (Sully McKenna 113)), Lewis Hill, Cameron Webb (Aiden Horne 57), Lloyd White (Harry Varnell 72)

Referee: Matt Uren

Assistants: Ross McMenemy, Richard Butter

Attendance: 533

Match Photos: Photos of the game can be found on our Facebook page, courtesy of Jessie Neilson.