DOBWALLS 0, PENZANCE 3

Penzance eased into a first Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final in fifteen years by virtue of a workmanlike win at Dobwalls – a match in which their unfortunate hosts were forced to use four different goalkeepers during the ninety minutes writes James Wright.

Penzance manager Mark Vercesi made two changes from Saturday’s League win at Launceston. Wade Brown started ahead of Jacob Trudgeon in front line with Ewan Trevains, a scorer from the bench at Pennygillam, drafted into the eleven for injured defender Archie Reynolds whose slot at the right of the back three was filled by Josh Turner. And it was the visitors who made the early running with Turner, Ollie Butler and Brown all going close in the opening quarter hour.

The home side’s keeper travails started when Rob Brown had to retire injured. Captain Cam Dymond donned the gloves temporarily before Kieran McCann came off the bench to take over. But the substitute was then injured himself, forcing Dymond back between the sticks for the remainder of the first half. 

Amidst this unfortunate upheaval, Penzance scored twice. The deadlock was broken shortly before the half hour mark when a Charlie Willis cross from the left just eluded Brown and fell perfectly for Lewis Caspall to usher over the line from point-blank range. The goal was allowed to stand despite initially being flagged offside. With a low shot past Dymond, Caspall notched his second as the interval approached.

Dobwalls made their final change of keeper early in the second half when regular custodian Mike Westall arrived at the ground and was able to relieve Dymond. However, the Magpies put the game to bed in the 48th minute. A free-kick by Willis was charged down by the wall, but the ball was turned back into the six-yard box where Brown forced it home. 

The home side had their first clear chance of the match when Alex Oshinyemi found himself in on goal, but blazed his shot over. The striker did get an effort on target shortly afterwards, but was denied by a good save from Harry Salmon. With a quarter of an hour to go, Vercesi brought himself on for a first run-out since his dismissal at Elburton in mid-December, and came agonisingly close to netting with a shot deflected just past the far post. Charlie Young, returning from injury, was also give some minutes as Penzance saw the game out on the front foot. They will play Mousehole, Camelford or Saltash United in the semi-finals, which are yet to be drawn.

Dobwalls: Rob Brown, Oscar Quintrell, Valentine Ogakwu, Ryan Winfield, Louis Body, Cam Dymond (captain), Scott Kemp, Raffi Causon, Dan Alfold, Alex Oshinyemi, Elian Causon. Subs: Fin Neville, Dan Frazer, Kieran McCann, Luke Gale, Matt Westall

Penzance: Harry Salmon, Ewan Trevains, Ben Palmer (James Butler 51), Silas Sullivan (Mark Vercesi), Tyler Tonkin (captain), Josh Turner, George Molcher (Sam Young 60), Wade Brown (Jacob Trudgeon 60), Charlie Willis (Charlie Young 75), Lewis Caspall, Ollie Butler

Referee: Shaun Edge

Assistants: Kevin Hoare, Alan Howells