A rampant first half performance put the Magpies out of sight as they chalked up a first win of this pre-season in muggy conditions that tested fitness levels to the extreme.
A string of very presentable chances had been passed up before the deadlock was broken halfway through the opening period. Robertas Samnauskas made a powerful burst down the inside left channel before feeding a short pass to Sam Buckley. The forward cushioned the ball back into the path of Silas Sullivan who found the bottom left hand corner with a powerful shot that took a slight deflection.
With Penzance in total control, Shaun Jackson Guy saved from Max Everard, and Kizzie Snowden fired just wide, before an inevitable second goal was notched three minute before the break. In on goal, Darryl Richards managed to lay the ball square to Buckley who, despite a heavy first touch taking him wide, managed to find the empty net from a very tight angle for his first goal for the club.
There was still time for a third before the break, Sullivan and Buckley pouncing on a error in the heart of the ‘Port defence, the latter feeding Richards who deftly clipped the ball past the on-rushing Jackson Guy.
The home side made two changes at the interval, Alfie Turner replacing Tyler Tonkin in the back line and Jude Warr, who had impressed playing against the Magpies for Falmouth earlier in the week, coming on for Richards. As the half progressed, two more players were given their Penzance debuts – Josh Storey and 16 year Joe Gordon, a former Plymouth Argyle youngster returning to the game after a long injury lay-off. Kevin Lawrence also came on for Sullivan, and Samnauskas, Sullivan and Richards later returned after breathers – such is the nature of friendlies especially on baking hot days.
The switches, though understandable in the intense heat, disrupted rhythm somewhat, and the Fishermen reduced the arrears twenty minutes from time when Harley Tucker capitalised on some battling forward play by substitute Amori Matanabu to flick the ball past Mikey Flores.
As they had against Falmouth though, the Magpies managed to find a strong finish. Richards went on a mazy run through the visiting defence before seeing his curling left shot brilliantly saved. He was not to be denied a second goal though, and benefitted from trickery on the left by Cameron McCabe. Set-up by the left-back, Richards slammed the ball home at the second attempt, his initial shot having been blocked, to conclude a very satisfactory afternoon’s work by the Magpies.
Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds, Cameron McCabe, Ryan Andrew, Tyler Tonkin, Max Everard, Robertas Samnauskas, Silas Sullivan, Darryl Richards, Sam Buckley, Kizzie Snowden. Subs (all used in second half): Alfie Turner, Kevin Lawrence, Jude Warr, Joe Gordon, Josh Storey
Porthleven: Shaun Jackson Guy, Jevon Nolan, Jordan Greet, Daniel Greet, Jake Harrison, Sam Leslie, Connor Bowman, Martyn Webster, Connor Webb, Evan Hubbard, Ed Estall
Ref: Sam Doble
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