LISKEARD ATHLETIC 1, PENZANCE 1

Penzance ended a losing streak against bogey side Liskeard Athletic that stretched eleven games way back to November 2018 writes James Wright. In so doing, they became the first visiting side to avoid defeat at Lux Park this season in the Peninsula League.

Manager Mark Vercesi made three changes to the side that had started the midweek League Cup semi-final. George Molcher replaced Ollie Butler in midfield whilst the unavailability of Lewis Caspall and Josh Turner necessitated a complete change of forward line, Jacob Trudgeon and Wade Brown being drafted in. Unfortunately the recurrence of a recent niggle meant Brown didn’t make it to the break and was replaced by Charlie Young, who has suffered his own fitness travails of late.

Very strong, gusty wind, frankly ruined the first half. For the Blues, George Newton had an early shot blocked whilst Ryan Richards pulled another wide moments before they broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark, Matt Andrew getting across the bows of his markers to meet a Max Gilbert corner from the right and divert it home. Trudgeon and Molcher had a couple of half chances at the other end, but at break there was little to suggest Penzance could break the Liskeard hoodoo.

With the gale abating a tad, the second half was a wholly different story. Gilbert had a couple of early chances for Liskeard, but thereafter the Magpies were the better side. A the end of a lung-busting surge from inside his own half, Ewan Trevains stretched Luke Gwillam to an athletic save, sprawling low to his right. Centre-back Ben Palmer was also denied by the home keeper before Penzance deservedly salvaged a point ten minutes from time with a strange goal. Trudgeon, who had taken over set piece deliveries from a clearly fatigued Charlie Willis, smashed over a corner from the left which the officials deemed to have crossed the line before it was headed out. It was the second consecutive Saturday the team had scored direct from a flag kick, following James Butler’s delivery against Dobwalls.

Reflecting on the draw, Vercesi said: “It was a really tight game. I think we matched them and gave them a really hard time out there. We matched them physically, we matched them fitness-wise and on chances we probably edged it. It was a wicked corner in from Trudgy. He took over the set piece duty midway through the second half and I’ve got to say he was fantastic at it.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfcPUHWbUpg

Watch the full interview with the Magpies boss, Mark Vercesi.

Liskeard: Luke Gwillam, Scott Sanders, Sam Gerken, Harry Jeffery, Josh McCabe (Ben Collins 62), Matt Andrew, Max Gilbert, James Lorenz, George Newton (Dan Jennings 66), Sean Thomson, Ryan Richards.

Unused subs: Bailey Mabin, Jordan Powell, Matt Outtram

Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Mark Vercesi, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, George Molcher (Ollie Butler 66), Ben Palmer, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Jacob Trudgeon, Charlie Willis (Hayden Waters 85), Ewan Trevains, Wade Brown (Charlie Young 39), Silas Sullivan.

Unused subs: James Butler, Harry Salmon

Referee: Tim Burley

Assistants: Graham Rugg, Keith Butler 

Attendance: 152

Cover photo and Match Report courtesy of James Wright