New manager Ashley Waters gave twenty players useful minutes in Penzance’s second pre-season run-out, but touring side Upton Park, who included in their ranks former Magpie Harry Lampier, cruised to victory thanks to a hat-trick by striker Finlay Dorrell.
For much of the first half it looked like Dorrell had left his shooting boots back in East London. The Romford forward missed two clear chances and was also denied by some fine Mikey Flores saves and a brave Tyler Tonkin block. But he eventually broke the deadlock four minutes before the turn-around, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to stab the ball home.
It was the least the tourists deserved having also gone close with a dipping shot by midfielder Jake Moss. The Magpies threatened just once, a tidy break down the left that culminated with Silas Sullivan skimming a shot just over.
Penzance made the first four of their nine substitutions at the interval, but were soon further in arrears when Upton Park captain Tao Felstead stroked home a penalty. Finlay then beat keeper Will Trenoweth, one of the changes, to a through ball to dink home the third and effectively seal the result.
The home side then enjoyed their best spell of the match. Frazer Cadman released Oscar Massey with a perceptive through ball, but the debutant striker, recently released by Swindon Town, was denied by the legs of keeper Junior Ysumblie. Moments after coming off the bench, young midfielder Dylan Walter looked to have bagged his first goal for the first team when he snaffled up the rebound after a Massey free-kick was saved, but an offside flag curtailed the celebration.
Upton Park finished the game back on the front foot. However a string of brilliant saves by Trenoweth, the most eye-catching of which denied Aaron Browne, limited the damage to a single hat-trick completing low strike from Dorrell four minutes from time.
Penzance: Mikey Flores (Will Trenoweth 46), Archie Reynolds (Kai Baxter 84), Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (Jordan Daniell 46), Silas Sullivan, Ollie Butler (Dylan Walter 68), Frazer Cadman (Kevin Lawrence 75), Alfie Hicks (Kam Collins 46), Alfie Turner (Rolandos Samnauskas 46), Oscar Massey (Obinna Abuka 84), Jacob Trudgeon (Michael Fitchett 68)
Upton Park: Junior Ysumblie. Joseph Akinsanmi, Finlay Dorrell, Jake Moss, Harry Lampier, Joffe Bradley, Aaron Browne, Henry Langley, Lewis McGillicuddy, Tao Felstead, Cian Connolly. Subs: Billy Jenkins, Peter McGillicuddy, Matt Kenny, Matt Rutherford
Referee: Tim Burley
Assistants: Max Davies, Neil Rudkin
Watch: The stream from this match (kindly sponsored by Antony Handyman and Ashley Waters - Painter & Decorator) is available to watch via our Facebook Page.