Penzance rounded off 2023 with an impressive victory in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd at Penlee Park, captain Tyler Tonkin blasting a hat-trick in their final fixture of the calendar year.
The Magpies welcomed back Charlie Willis, James Butler and Mark Vercesi, the latter replacing Liam Andrew, injured last time out against St Austell, at centre-back. Visitors Truro City Reserves made the brighter start hitting the woodwork in the opening exchanges but, once Tonkin had bagged his first with a crisp right-foot angled drive after a quarter hour, the Magpies never looked back.The best move of the match spawned the second goal, shortly before the break. Vercesi rolled a free-kick out to Darryl Richards wide on the left. The latter’s splendid cross-field ball was expertly controlled by Ollie Butler who fed a pass to Tonkin to clip home his second.
Both Butler brothers went close as the home side continued to dominate after the turnaround. And, after great work down the right by Jacob Trudgeon, Tonkin was only denied his third by a save from Morgan Jones. Truro’s best chance came after an excellent burst down the right by substitute Matty Walker that culminated with a shot that skidded just past the far post.
With seven minutes to go, City substitute Teddy Horton saw a shot well saved by Will Trenoweth. Penzance counter-attacked with menace, Rolandos Samnauskas, on for Richards, haring clear down the left. Samnauskas, the last Magpie to notch a hat-trick (at Sticker last season) drilled over an inviting centre from which Tonkin gleefully snaffled his third.
“It was a fantastic way for us to finish the year,” said manager Ashley Waters. “We dominated with a massive shift from all the players. Everything asked from them they delivered on today, and a special mention goes to Tyler who once again showed leadership. His hat-trick gave him a well-earned Man of the Match award.”
Club Captain, Tyler Tonkin collects his well deserved Man of the Match award (kindly sponsored by Cape Cornwall Rum) from 1st Team manager Ashley Waters for his excellent hat-trick.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds , James Butler, Ollie Butler, Mark Vercesi, Darryl Richards (Rolandos Samnauskas, Jacob Trudgeon, Kam Collins, Silas Sullivan, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Charlie Willis
Truro: Morgan Jones, Eagan Fabby, Lawson Turpin, Owen Rosevear, Jack Carron, Fin Harrison, Teddy Horton, Josh Turner, Ben Shaw, Gabe Turpin, Jake Edlin. Subs: Cameron Hirst, Josh Marcelis, Dan Carne, Matty Walker, Ollie Paterson
Referee: Paul Kempen
Assistants: Liam Bray, Francis Hood
Attendance: 402
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