Penzance gave nineteen players useful game time, and higher-ranked opponents a good run for their money, in an enjoyable pre-season warm-up match watched by Penlee Park’s biggest crowd since Mousehole’s visit on Boxing Day 2020.
The match started badly for the home side with Gary Matthews, who has returned to the club this summer, limping off injured in the opening moments. Alfie Turner, another returnee after a season with Hayle, came on to play 88 minutes in the left-back berth.
Falmouth, on their last run-out before a Western League opener at Brixham this Saturday, dominated the opening 45 minutes with wing-backs Luke Brabyn and Bradley Leivers, a new signing from Newquay, particularly effective. Penzance were indebted to Tyler Tonkin and Archie Reynolds for a couple of brave blocks, and Mikey Flores for a string of fine saves, most notably from Cam Hutchison and Jayden Gilbert. At the other end, Oscar Massey flashed a shot just over the bar cutting in from the left, and Michael Fitchett bundled the ball home but from a clearly offside position.
Flores handed the goalie gloves to Will Trenoweth for the second half. The substitute was caught stranded during an early attack, but former Falmouth player Mark Vercesi came to his rescue, clearing Jayden Gilbert’s shot from a Jared Simms cross off the line. There was no reprieve, however, on 57 minutes when Trenoweth was sanctioned for bringing down Gilbert.
Tom Annear tucks a near perfect low spot-kick just inside the keepers right-hand post.
Video courtesy of AJ Munro - Twitter @ajmunro1607
With a viciously curling free-kick, the centre-half was denied a second goal by a brilliant Trenoweth save. At the other end, Massey’s powerful, energetic front running troubled the visiting defence. Morgan Coxhead, however, saved on the couple of occasions the former Swindon Town youngster managed to get shots away ensuring Falmouth start their league campaign on the back of a victory.
Will Trenoweth makes a fine save from a vicious Falmouth Town freekick.
Video courtesy of AJ Munro - Twitter @ajmunro1607
A great piece of play by Penzance, but Silas Sullivan's diving header falls straight into the arms of Falmouth Towns Morgan Coxhead. Video courtesy of AJ Munro - Twitter @ajmunro1607
Penzance: Mikey Flores (Will Trenoweth 46), Archie Reynolds, Gary Matthews (Alfie Turner 3), Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin, Silas Sullivan (Kam Collins 75), Frazer Cadman (Jordan Daniell 62), Rolandos Samnauskas (Kai Baxter 60), Oscar Massey (Obinna Abuka 75), Jacob Trudgeon (Alfie Hicks 75), Michael Fitchett (Dylan Walter 57)
Falmouth: Morgan Coxhead, Luke Brabyn, Bradley Leivers, James Ward, Tom Annear, Max Everall, Jack Webber, Cam Hutchison, Jared Simms, Luke Barner, Jayden Gilbert. Subs: James Swan, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Jacob Grange, Alex Wharton, Olly Pickup
Referee: Alan Hoon
Assistants: Eric Sleeman, Liam Bray
Watch: The stream from this match (kindly sponsored by Antony Handyman and Ashley Waters - Painter & Decorator) is available to watch via our Facebook Page.