PENZANCE 1, HOLSWORTHY 0

Penzance struck deep in to injury-time to secure all three points and a double over unlucky Holsworthy in front of a large crowd at a sodden Penlee Park writes James Wright.

It was a huge testament to the groundsmen that the match was one of only three across both divisions of the Peninsula League to go ahead as the South West continued to be hit by appalling weather. The efforts were rewarded by a larger than average crowd, inflated by many neutrals desperate for a game.

And they were entertained by an intriguing, close encounter that only entered injury-time scoreless thanks to excellent goalkeeping at both ends. Between the sticks for Penzance for only the second time this season was Will Trenoweth, called up due to an ankle injury sustained in training by Harry Salmon. Trenoweth was in action early, clawing away Jedd Pescke’s header from a Billy Tucker corner.

Penzance were also without regular starters Archie Reynolds, Ollie and James Butler and Josh Turner, and their ranks were further depleted when Lewis Caspall had to come off injured, to be replaced by Wade Brown. It was therefore no surprise that the visitors continued to boss proceedings until the interval. However, they were repeatedly thwarted by Trenoweth, his sharpest save denying Ben Sharpe.

Penzance were markedly more menacing after the turnaround. Cutting in on to his right foot, Charlie Willis curled a fine shot just wide. Ryan Chadwick then tipped a Brown belter over the bar before sprawling to his right to repel a shot on the turn by Jacob Trudgeon at the end of a slick passing move. Ben Palmer twice went close to bagging his first Penzance goal, glancing a header wide from a Willis free-kick before just missing the target with a powerful drive.

With the clock having ticked seven minutes past the ninety, the spoils looked set to be shared. But Brown won a penalty giving Charlie Young the chance to pinch the points. The top scorer was up to the pressure, emphatically ramming the kick low to Chadwick’s right to take his personal tally for the season to sixteen goals and his team back above Callington Town to third place in the table.

Hear what our manager, Mark Vercesi, had to say after the game.

Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Ewan Trevains, Ben Palmer, Silas Sullivan, Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (captain), George Molcher (Hayden Waters 84), Jacob Trudgeon (Sam Young 90), Charlie Willis (Kameron Collins 88), Charlie Young, Lewis Caspall (Wade Brown 38). Unused sub: Rohan Bennetts

Holsworthy: Ryan Chadwick, Callum Martyn, Rob Pearce (Sam Hill 55), George Plumb, Jedd Pescke (captain), Billy Tucker, Jay Thomas (Gabe Rutter 78), Ellis Aldrich (Josh Down 52), Brad Ausden, Ben Sharpe, Gavin Carter

Referee: Andrew Hobbs

Assistants: Aimee Green, Brooke Lague

Attendance: 210

Cover photo courtesy of Sport in Cornwall by Steve Winters Photography. You can more photos of this game and other cracking photos on Steve's Facebook page - Sport in Cornwall by Steve Winters Photography