Playing their first match in three weeks, Penzance endured the toughest of starts to 2023 as they were comprehensively put to the sword by a slick Wadebridge Town side at Penlee Park.
With Tyler Tonkin and Darryl Richards unavailable, Jordan Daniell and Nathaniel West returned to the eleven, the latter making his first start since sustaining an injury at Camelford in October. Silas Sullivan assumed Tonkin’s captain’s armband and slotted in at left back behind Cam McCabe who was pushed forward into a four man midfield.
The re-jinked system was given no opportunity to bed in by second-placed Wadebridge who ripped into their hosts from the first whistle. Ryan Downing was twice denied by Will Trenoweth, and Tom Harris fired over, before the deadlock was broken after 21 minutes. Morgan Vallejo intercepted an under-hit forward pass and waltzed through to fire home.
With a delightfully placed curling free-kick, Wadebridge debutant Aaron Dilley doubled the margin just after the half-hour mark. Then two goals inside three minutes by Jacob Rowe effectively killed the contest by the interval. After a great burst down the right by Tom Shepherd, Wadebridge’s top scorer blasted home his first from close range, then struck a lovely shot on the turn to double his tally.
A treble substitution on the hour mark, and a ten minute sin-bin for Downing, broke Wadebridge’s elan somewhat after the break. However, knocks sustained by Archie Reynolds and Liam Andrew, who replaced by Kevin Lawrence, did nothing to boost Penzance’s hopes of reducing the deficit. The tricky Downing, who whilst still wearing a Camelford shirt contributed massively to Penzance’s last five goal defeat, returned to the pitch to ice the visitors’ cake seven minutes from time. He concluded a forceful burst down the right with a powerful shot from a tight angle which was deflected into the path of Rowe to complete his hat-trick with a tap-in.
For their part Penzance managed just two shots all afternoon, by West in the first half and Kam Collins after the break, both of which missed the target. And things will get no easier soon – they now face the daunting prospect of a visit from Wendron United – the only side above Wadebridge in the table – in the Cornwall Senior Cup on Wednesday.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Cam McCabe (Kizzy Snowden 65), Mark Vercesi, Liam Andrew (Kevin Lawrence 57), Jordan Daniell, Kameron Collins (Alfie Hicks 72), Jacob Trudgeon, Rolandos Samnauskas, Silas Sullivan (captain), Nathaniel West (Max Everard 76). Unused sub: Ryan Andrew
Wadebridge: Rob Rosevear, Tom Harris, Aaron Dilley, Tom Strike (captain) (Ross Beare 60), Steve Simmons, Sam Gerken, Tom Shepherd (Matt Lloyd 60), Morgan Vallejo (Jacob Smale 60), Jacob Rowe, Ryan Downing, Ross Fallens (Chris Reski 31). Unused sub: Cory Sargent
Referee: David Bartlam
Watch: The stream from this match (kindly sponsored by Antony Handyman and Ashley Waters - Painter & Decorator) is available to watch via our Facebook Page.