Penzance picked up only their second point away from Penlee Park this season, and arrested a run of five consecutive league defeats, but still left Pennygillam bitterly disappointed having been deprived victory by a concession from virtually the last touch of the match.
With Mark Vercesi, the Butler brothers, Rolandos Samnauskas and Mikey Flores all unavailable, the Magpies were somewhat depleted resulting in a first start for Dylan Walter. The teenage midfielder, deployed in the wide right attacking role, would have marked the occasion with an early goal but for a competent tip-over by home custodian Lewis Slade.
With Tyler Tonkin restored to the side and pulling the strings from the back, the visitors were utterly dominant in the opening half with the captain himself and Jacob Trudgeon both going closing. However, with their first attack of note, Launceston edged in front ten minutes before the break. Lewis Young pounced on a defensive error and bore down on Will Trenoweth. The keeper accomplished a good block, but the ball broke kindly to home captain Mike Steele who fired Launceston ahead.
Penzance responded within two minutes. Tonkin released Archie Reynolds down the right, and the full-back’s low centre was converted from close range by Michael Fitchett, the striker thus pocketing his fifth goal of an impressive campaign to date. By contrast, the next two scorers were notching season firsts. With the momentum after the break, the Magpies flew into a clear lead. Charlie Willis finished a move instigated down the left by Silas Sullivan with a quite sublime dink across Slade into the far top corner of the net – his first since signing from Mousehole. Then Tonkin got in on the act, crashing home a low free-kick after Liam Andrew’s purposeful surge was curtailed by a Young foul.
The Magpies have proven twice already this season they are not to be trusted with a two goal lead. However, to blame the final result on a Penzance capitulation would be unfair on Launceston. After the third goal, Neil Price’s side suddenly awoke and began performing to a level observers of their first half showing would have considered implausible.
Substitute Joe Munday, who is becoming a bit of a pain to Penzance having nabbed a late equaliser for Bodmin back in February, started the come-back by finishing a move down the right with a shot high into the roof of Trenoweth’s net. With Young particularly impressive, Launceston threw everything at their visitors but, with all but a few seconds of stoppage time elapsed, looked like coming up just short. Then a cross from the left was slowed by the wind allowing Jacob Ham, another substitute, to get to it before Trenoweth and nudged a header over the line.
A massive kick in the guts for Penzance, so reminiscent of the defeat at Newquay three weeks earlier, and the players looked utterly dejected. However, solace can be found in the result lifting them a place up the table, and the thought they will be returning to Penlee Park next Saturday after a gruelling month on the road.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Silas Sullivan, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Liam Andrew, Frazer Cadman, Charlie Wills, Kam Collins, Dylan Walter (Freddie Neaum 79), Michael Fitchett, Jacob Trudgeon. Unused subs: Ryan Andrew, Matt James
Launceston: Lewis Slade, Mark Wilson, Declan Woodgate, Archie Wall, Jude Jago, George Beardsmore (Ryan Bath 83), Mike Steele (captain), Tom Bullock (Joe Munday 14), Mark Elvidge, Josh Harris (Jacob Ham 57), Lewis Young. Unused subs: Liam Raglan, Dan Clifton
Referee: Ross Wilcox
Assistants: David Green, Rigas Gatzianidis
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