Supersub Josh Wood again proved the scourge of the Magpies as, for the second time in just over a month, he came off the Penlee Park bench to make a match-changing scoring contribution.
Two goals up with nearly an hour played, Penzance looked on course for a statement win over the league leaders before Wood, whose extra-time brace in won January’s Cornwall Senior Cup quarter final, bagged a momentum-swinging Wendron United opener.
Making light of the absence, with a broken toe, of influential left-back Cam McCabe, Penzance made a barn-storming start and could have been three up within a quarter hour. Tyler Tonkin set up Rolandos Samnauskas to fire just over, Kevin Lawrence tickled a just shot just wide when in on goal, then Darryl Richards gave Samnauskas another chance from which Ethan Fearn was required to make a good block.
A nasty clash of heads between Wendron’s Russell May and Liam Andrew caused a lengthy delay. Happily both were able to continue and, on the resumption, Penzance took a deserved lead. Under pressure from Jacob Trudgeon, former Magpie Jacob Cleverly underhit a back pass and Samnauskas pounced to score. The lead was doubled when Andrew, with head bandaged from his injury, delivered a fine cross from the right to Richards who skilfully converted.
Shell-shocked Wendron made four changes at the break, and two of the substitutes found the net to salvage a point. A Penzance corner was cleared to Scott Palmer who sent a probing long ball deep into home territory. Wood exploited the space vacated by the pushed forward Magpies and slipped the ball past Will Trenoweth. Tails-up Wendron then laid siege to the Penzance goal. Cameron Quirke, Palmer and Jack Stocker all went close before Cam Wheat levelled with a deft glancing header with just two minutes remaining.
With both Samnauskas and Frazer Cadman, making his first appearance of the season as a substitute for Richards, sin binned during the closing stages, Penzance were the more relieved to hear the final whistle. There was a sense of dejection from both sides at the end. From the home side for surrendering a healthy lead and from Wendron for the dropping of valuable points in their title chase. Which is a pity as it was a great match.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Liam Andrew, Kevin Lawrence (Alfie Hicks 76), Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Jacob Trudgeon, Kam Collins, Rolandos Samnauskas, Darryl Richards (Frazer Cadman 83), Silas Sullivan. Unused subs: Max Everard, Kai Baxter, Mikey Flores
Wendron: Ethan Fearn, Joe Chapman (Reece Carroll 46), Joe Souch, Scott Palmer (captain), Russell May, Sam Young (Lucas Potts 46), Ryan Reeve (Josh Wood 46), Cameron Quirke, Charlie Young, Jack Stocker, Jacob Cleverly (Cam Wheat 46). Unused sub: Brian Scoffin
Referee: Jonothan Green
Watch: The stream from this match (kindly sponsored by Antony Handyman and Ashley Waters - Painter & Decorator) is available to watch via our Facebook Page.