On the back of heavy defeats in their two previous outings, Penzance turned in a much improved performance at Dobwalls on Saturday but were beaten by a fine strike from Charlie Castlehouse with just seven minutes left on the clock.
Whilst the Magpies were a little unlucky to lose, Castlehouse certainly deserved his goal having gone close on a number of occasions including in the first minute of the match when he rattled Will Trenoweth’s crossbar with a great strike from thirty yards. That effort was part of a frenetic opening in which Kevin Lawrence jinked through the home defence before tucking the ball past Brice Shields to give the visitors a second minute lead.
Lawrence’s return to the starting line-up was one three changes to the side heavily beaten at Camelford. With Mikey Flores’s broken arm likely to keep him out for a protracted period, Trenoweth reclaimed the keeper’s gloves. Nathaniel West was missing with a hamstring injury, Ryan Andrew moved to the bench and Kizzy Snowden preferred to play for the Reserves. Their places were filled by Kam Collins and Rolandos Samnauskas who slotted into a five men midfield behind lone striker Darryl Richards.
With the spine of the team strengthened, Penzance traded chances with their hosts in an open half. Unfortunately though it was Dobwalls who scored next, Vincent Wright-Harper-Inniss floating a free-kick on to the head of captain Kelvin Fyneboy who nodded home from close range.
The open nature of the match continued after the restart with Penzance stringing together some fine moves. The visitors had two glorious chances. A deep cross from the right by Jacob Trudgeon was met by a first time angled volley by Samnauskas, but Shields pulled off a fine tip-over. Then Cam McCabe released Richards with a delightful pass but the striker pushed his shot just past the post.
At the other end, the marauding Fyneboy went close on two more occasions as did substitutes Oscar Larrieu and J-Jay Honeywill. So Castlehouse’s late winner was perhaps just about deserved, though still tough to take for the hard-working Magpies.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Cam McCabe, Kevin Lawrence, Jordan Daniell (Max Everard 85), Tyler Tonkin (captain), Jacob Trudgeon, Kam Collins, Silas Sullivan, Darryl Richards, Rolandos Samnauskas. Unused Sub: Ryan Andrew
Dobwalls: Brice Shields, Jamie Ball, Hayden Baugh, Joe Eke, Jordan Stidson,Vicent Wright-Harper-Inniss, Ricky Coton, Billy Coton, Kelvin Fyneboy (captain), Charlie Castlehouse, Nathan Behennah. Subs: Oscar Larrieu, J-Jay Honeywill, Joe Cook
Referee: Josh Eyre