HAYLE RESERVES 3, PENZANCE RESERVES 5

Bottom team Hayle produced a battling display against their high-flyers neighbours and were unlucky to be undone by two very late goals as the Magpies notched a fifth straight victory, consolidating second place eight points behind runaway leaders Dropship writes James Wright.

In the absence of Ryan Wilkinson, Kizzy Snowden resumed captaincy duties for Penzance and opened the scoring when he pounced on a poor clearance and muscled his way through, beating Alex Carter at the second attempt after the keeper initially saved well. Reece Bansy punished a defensive error to hit back for Hayle, but Wade Brown quickly restored the lead with a polished right foot finish from a tight angle. The home side were level again by the interval though, Bansy slotting home his second from a fine through pass by Spencer Richings.

Moved up alongside Brown following the withdrawal of Victor Mullaly, Snowden was denied second goals by both a post and an offside flag after the restart. It was therefore left to his strike partner to put Penzance ahead for a third time, with another emphatic close range finish. But, within a minute, Hayle were level again, through substitute Danny Ford.

The home side looked certain to take the lead five minutes from time, but Isaac Walsh was thwarted by a fine Kam Collins tackle as he prepared to pull the trigger. And the home side paid heavily as Brown completed his hat-trick to put the Magpies ahead yet again. In stoppage time James Butler prodded home the fifth from a centre by the irrepressible Brown.

A hat-trick from Wade Brown sees the Magpies over the finish line

in a thrilling derby at Trevassack Park.

“We were so happy to have Wade back playing, and you could see the quality that he adds to the squad,” said Penzance Head Coach Henry Ramsay. “We were really impressed with all the subs that came on today too, giving us big impacts off the bench.”

“It was not our finest display - a very scrappy game,” conceded Manager Daz Smith. “In years gone past we would have slipped to a defeat, so to come away with three points shows real character and resilience. Hayle gave us a good game today and wouldn't roll over so credit to them. We did make hard work of it, but it's the points that we came for and eventually got, thankfully.”

Hayle: Alex Carter, Harry Watters, Gabe Musto-Shinton, Jake Heale, Kieran Perry, Graham Stirr, Isaac Walsh, Spencer Richings, Harvey Richings, Frankie King, Reece Bansy.

Rolling Subs: Jac Watts, Jake Praill, Mark Wilbraham, Leo Fryer, Danny Ford

Penzance: Harvey Parsons, Lewis Stephens, Kam Collins, Ashley Mead, Elliott Carveth, James Butler, Mark Sands, Lewis Hitchens, Kizzy Snowden (captain), Wade Brown, Victor Mullaly.

Rolling Subs: Fin Harry, Sid Wilson, Fin Sharp, Ollie Page, Charlie Palmer

Referee: Ian Pattison