A
brilliant double strike from Jacob Trudgeon propelled Penzance to a season's high position of twelfth, leapfrogging opponents Bodmin Town, after a gripping contest at Penlee Park.
With captain Tyler Tonkin restored to the starting line-up after a three game absence, the Magpies started the match on the front foot and Rolandos Samnauskas forced Ethan Elwell to dive low to his left to push aside a stinging early shot. The home side were making all the running and the inevitable breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute. Cam McCabe located Trudgeon with a perceptive cross-field pass and the top scorer bullied his way past his marker before smashing a fierce drive low into the far bottom corner.
Only a quite remarkable miss denied the rampant home side turning around two up. Tonkin picked out Trudgeon with a raking left to right pass, and the scorer centred to Samnauskas who somehow managed to scoop the ball over from only a couple of yards out.
The chances continued to rain thick and fast after the break with both McCabe and Silas Sullivan pulling shots just wide of the far post. But a flurry of five substitutions in just fifteen minutes by Bodmin manager Dane Bunney resulted in his side finally getting a foothold in the match.
The Magpies were put under constant pressure, and only a glaring miss by striker Kyle Marks when in on goal preserved parity. Penzance's chances of hanging on then diminished further with the dismissal, for kicking the ball away - his second booking, of Samnauskas.
However the reduction to ten appeared to galvanise the home side, and within seconds they finally grabbed the decisive second. Substitute Darryl Richards was put clear down the left and he worked the ball to Trudgeon who bore down on Elwell before slamming home a goal as emphatic as his first to secure another impressive victory.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Cam McCabe, Mark Vercesi, Liam Andrew, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Silas Sullivan, Jacob Trudgeon (Alfie Hicks 90), Kam Collins, Rolandos Samnauskas, Max Everard (Darryl Richards 78). Unused Subs: Haidar Fadli, Ryan Andrew
Bodmin: Ethan Elwell, Anthony Davey (Joe Munday 75), James Forrest, Adam Beardsmore (Lyle Johnson 60), Sam Hepworth, Lee Rundle, Dave Trott (Christian Moss 72), Ruben Kane (captain) (Dan Tate 72), Danny Zalick, Kyle Marks, James McNary (Ollie Miller 60)
Referee: Neil Hunnisett
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