PENZANCE 1, BUDE TOWN 0

Mikey Flores made his first Penzance appearance of 2025-26, driving almost the length of the country from his Army barracks in East Yorkshire to deputise for successor Harry Salmon, unavailable on the day writes James Wright. And the former Magpies Number One - hero of the League Cup final penalty shoot-out victory on his last outing – kept a clean sheet as Mark Vercesi’s side extended their unbeaten League run to eight games.

Flores had just one save of note to make but it was a pivotal one, sprawling low to his right to palm behind a fine shot on the turn from Tornado Bellow just seconds after Penzance had taken the lead. “It was a fantastic save – I thought it was in,” confessed Vercesi. “Tornado has held the ball up really well in the box, and Mikey got down really well and made a helluva save.

Penzance had taken the lead barely a minute earlier. Lewis Caspall was clattered by Bude keeper Ty Rowe who got down well to Charlie Young’s penalty low to his right, but was just unable to keep the ball out and prevent the striker notching for the twelfth time this season.

The goal capped a bright start for the Magpies who fell back on their depth of squad to make light of the absences of George Molcher and Charlie Willis, both injured in the midweek Senior Cup win over Wendron, and brothers Ollie and James Butler. Sliding in to meet a Caspall centre, Young almost grabbed a second in the 29th minute. However, Bude finished the half strongly with Ewan Trevains bravely blocking a Harrison Swatton drive.

Jacob Trudgeon and Young again went close for Penzance after the turnaround. Teenage left-sided player Hayden Waters was introduced in place of Trudgeon 20 minutes from time and immediately went close, seeing two shots blocked in quick succession after good work down the right by Archie Reynolds. Bellow served a ten minute sin bin but, immediately after his return to the field, dipped a shot just over as Bude continued to carry a threat.

The final ten minutes belonged to Penzance though. Trevains set up Magin, but the latter’s shot was deflected wide. Another teenager – Jahmali Prowse – come on for only his second appearance for the first team, and also went close. Caspall fired just over and, finally, Young was denied his second by an excellent save by Rowe.

“On balance of chances, we probably should have scored four or five,” concluded Vercesi. “But credit to Bude – they are a very organised team, very hard to beat and really well set up. How they defended was amazing – their commitment to clearing the ball off the line, to covering the keeper, to blocking shots inside their box – it was a fantastic display defensively”

Watch James Wright's full interview with Mark Vercesi following the Magpies 1-0 win over Bude Town.

Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds, Silas Sullivan, Josh Turner, Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Ewan Trevains, Josh Magin (Jahmali Prowse 85), Jacob Trudgeon (Hayden Waters 69), Charlie Young, Lewis Caspall.

Unused subs: Sam Young, Kam Collins, Rohan Bennetts

Bude: Ty Rowe, Jamie Gorst (Dylan Morgan 67), Ewan Reeves (captain), James Wheeler, Harry Hopcroft, Baga Mariko (Ryan Hodge 79), Harrison Swatton, Jake Woodland, Saddam Bellow, Archie Perrott, Aaron Hart (Abdul Deifa 60).

Unused subs: Ryan Leverton, Steve Hackett

Referee: Scott Coutts

Assistants: David Cartland, Ian Pattison

Attendance: 156

Cover photo courtesy of James Wright.