PENZANCE 2, ST MAWGAN 0

Penzance scored right at the start of the match, and right at the death. In the intervening exchanges they were largely frustrated, and occasionally threatened, by a solid St Mawgan team paying its first visit to Penlee Park since promotion from the St Piran League.

With injuries sustained at Wendron in midweek appending Silas Sullivan-Bailey and Josh Otto to a lengthening sick list, Mark Vercesi was again forced to tweak his team. Charlie Willis and Lewis Caspall were back however, re-introducing a creative spark lacking at Underlane. It took the home side just six minutes to break the deadlock, Josh Turner converting a Jacob Trudgeon cross to chalk up his seventh goal of the season.

If anyone thought the Magpies would then fly away with the match, they were mistaken. Half an hour elapsed before there was another chance deemed worthy of entry into the match reporter’s notebook, Caspall glancing a near post header over from a Hayden Waters cross. St Mawgan may have found themselves level at the break when Craig Allen bore down on Harry Salmon in the 40th minute. But the lone striker was ushered wide by Andreas Calleja-Stayne – playing at the back due to afore-mentioned injuries – and rippled only the side-netting.

The sides traded chances throughout the second half. Ben Palmer – wearing the Penzance captain’s armband from the start for the first time – blocked an Alex Bicknell shot. Ollie Buter fired just wide for Penzance, then Craig Allen and Ollie Morrison both went close for the visitors. 

The Magpies introduced all their substitutes in the final half hour, and four combined to seal the deal in injury time. Teenage forward Jahmali Prowse broke clear down the left and centred for fellow benchee George Molcher who had three stabs at scoring, all of which were stubbornly repelled by St Mawgan. From the resultant flag kick another sub - James Butler - picked out Vercesi, who had brought himself on for the last ten. The player-manager, side-lined since injury in the first game of the season, cushioned the most accurate of back post headers into the far top corner to clinch a fourth straight win for his team.

Today's scorers, Josh Turner and the gaffer, Mark Vercesi.

“St Mawgan came with a definite game plan of seating in deep – a bank of four and a bank of five - and we found it hard to break down at times,” summed up Vercesi. “We had a lot of possession, but didn’t do much with the ball. They are a difficult side to break down defensively. They are not going to be anyone’s walkover - they are certainly organised. But we need to be smarter on the ball.” 

Penzance: Harry Salmon, Steve Burt, Ben Palmer (captain), Archie Reynolds (Ewan Trevains 64), Ollie Butler (George Molcher 64), Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Charlie Willis, Hayden Waters (James Butler 77), Jacob Trudgeon (Mark Vercesi 81), Lewis Caspall, Josh Turner (Jahmali Prowse 64)

St Mawgan: Jordan Cole, Alex Bicknell, Owen Royes, Ollie Morrison (captain) (Harrie Tilston 84), Jay Davie (Oleksandr Bradbury 64), Brett Prentice, Johan Allen, Tom Barnett, Craig Allen, Jack Piper, Will Ludlam (Sam West 64).

Unused sub: Ash Bicknell

Referee: Tim Burley

Assistants: Ian Pattison, Simon Taylor

Attendance: 198

Match Report and photo courtesy of James Wright

You can view more excellent photos from todays game on the Sport in Cornwall by Steve Winters Photography Facebook page