DROPSHIP 6, PENZANCE RESERVES 2

Despite getting off to a flying start, Penzance Reserves were unable to pull off a shock in Wednesday's George Evely Cup final at Wendron United's Underlane ground writes James Wright.

Daz Smith's team took the game to the unbeaten St Piran One West champions Dropship from the first whistle. Asa Donaldson skipped clear down the left and won a corner from which Bernado Braga towered to head home. Regrettably though for the Magpies, the match followed exactly the same pattern as a recent league fixture between the sides at Penlee Park. Having taken an early lead, Penzance soon themselves adrift.

Ghosting on to a long free-kick from the right, Brodie Kemp glanced the equaliser past Harvey Parsons. The flight of a deep cross by Liam Chinn then deceived the teenage keeper, the ball somehow plopping into his far top corner. That Penzance were sorely missing the aerial presence of regular captain Ryan Wilkinson was then further emphasised ten minutes before the break when Liam Jarvis bullied his way on to the end of a cross to head Dropship further ahead.

By half-time the game was effectively over. Dan Stidwell had a shot blocked and Kemp rapped home his second of the evening from the rebound. The prolific marksman almost completed his hat-trick immediately after the turnaround, curling a free-kick agonisingly close to the target. Dropship were not to be denied their fifth for long though, Stidwell ramming the ball home at the end of a swift counter attack. And another rapid breakaway saw the champions bring up the half dozen, former Magpie Paul Robertson tucking a crisp low shot just inside the far post.

Cheered on by a large contingent of supporters on a horrible evening weatherwise, Penzance battled hard to the final whistle and pocketed a deserved consolation goal four minutes from time through Jahmali Prowse. “I have mixed emotions tonight,” confessed manager Smith. “I am disappointed as I didn't think we quite showed our full potential, but also I'm incredibly proud of the lads for their efforts to reach the final. We missed some chances early on and against a team like Dropship you need to take them otherwise they will punish you. Again though, credit to the lads for their efforts this season and we'll certainly learn from tonight.”

Dropship: Zach Telling, Ryan Beer, Finn Thompson, Harry Hounsome, Rhys Allen, George Gaylard, Liam Chinn, Liam Jarvis, Paul Robertson, Brodie Kemp, Dan Stidwell.

Subs: Pete Norfolk, Ryan Harley, David Webb, Nick Moss, Bailey Stevens

Penzance: Harvey Parsons, Mark Sands, Kizzy Snowden (captain), Ollie Page, Oakley Clary-Brom, Elliott Carveth, Jahmali Prowse, Asa Donaldson (Ben Strevens 85), Luke Carroll, Bernado Braga (Victor Mullaly 77), Hayden Waters.

Unused sub: Connor Thomas

Referee: Simon Taylor

Assistants: David Becker, Philip Cuthbert

Match Report courtesy of James Wright

Cover photo courtesy of Aj Munro (X - @Ajmunro252065)