A run of 23 consecutive competitive defeats was finally terminated as the Magpies opened their season’s account with hard-fought win at Mount Wise on Wednesday night. In recent years the vicinity has proved to be a happy hunting ground. Penzance’s last points were accrued from a 4-3 success back in October across town at Godolphin Atlantic, who were also beaten 3-2 in November 2020. So the last three wins on the road have all been in Newquay.
The Penzance management made two changes to the side defeated by Godolphin four days earlier, Haidar Fadli reverting to the bench to accommodate Kameron Collins’s return from cricket commitments, and summer signing Alex Ralph replacing Obinna Abuka up front.
Whilst being limited to one clear chance of his own, which the Newquay defence somehow scrambled clear just before the break, Ralph - a prolific Combination scorer in recent seasons with Rosudgeon and Pendeen Rovers – injected a physicality that has been missing from Penzance’s attack. Though the hosts generally dominated the opening half, hitting the bar and stretching Mikey Flores to two excellent saves, the Magpies showed enough to hint a shock may be on the cards, particularly with two efforts from Darryl Richards that only just missed the target.
In drizzly conditions, the second period followed a similar pattern with the Peppermints on top but showing little sign of making a break-through. This continued until Penzance made a double change midway through the half. Returning from a three game absence, Cam McCabe replaced Rocco Hill in midfield whilst Rolandos Samnauskas relieved Ralph up front. Within five minutes, the move had paid as the striker, on his return from suspension, flustered the Newquay defence into a poor clearance. Kizzy Snowden pounced on the loose ball, carried it forward and cracked a low right foot shot from the edge of the area into the far corner of Harry Ashton’s net.
The visitors managed the remaining sixteen minutes plus stoppage time well, and almost doubled the lead when Samnauskas saw a shot deflected wide. Though Newquay did finally force the ball home right at the death, an offside flag intervened to confirm the most welcome of victories for Penzance.
Jubilant Magpies! The 23 match losing streak finally comes to an end at Newquay.
Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds, Tyler Dayus, Ryan Andrew, Silas Sullivan (captain), Jordan Daniell, Rocco Hill (Cam McCabe 68), Kameron Collins, Kizzy Snowden, Alex Ralph (Rolandos Samnuaskas 68), Darryl Richards. Unused subs: Max Everard, Haidar Fadli, Will Trenoweth
Newquay: Harry Ashton, Jake Shaw, Bradley Leivers, Tom Whipp, Nick Boase, Lachlan Brace, Ross Fallens (captain), Scott Flannigan, Tom Shepherd, Alex Cole, Dan Carne. Subs: Harry Lampier, Cam Turner, Phil Lowry, Noah Teagle, Connor Wharton
Referee: William Annear