PENZANCE 5, HELSTON ATHLETIC 1

Penzance recorded a first win of the season, a devastating first half performance blowing away a young Helston Athletic side under the newly installed LED floodlights at Penlee Park.

The Blues, making a first visit since January 2020, were under the cosh from the third minute when Piran Jones was called on to rush off his line to deny Jacob Trudgeon, played in by a precise Charlie Willis through-ball. The reprieve was temporary, however, Josh Turner running on to a Lewis Caspall pass and skilfully rounding the keeper to put the Magpies ahead on the quarter hour.

From a fabulous Silas Sullivan-Bailey cross, Ben Palmer glanced a header just wide. But the second goal arrived in the 20th minute when Trudgeon hared clear down the right to serve up Turner his second on a plate. Palmer then powered home a header from a James Butler corner before Willis diverted in a low Caspall centre. So 4-0 at the break, but it really should have been more with Turner missing a sitter as well as seeing another header well saved by Jones.

Helston rallied strongly after the turnaround. Set up by Blake Gordon-Dunn, captain Finn Costa fashioned himself an opening with some nimble footwork to temporarily reduce the arrears. But, after 57 minutes, Palmer despatched a powerful low shot from 25 yards out to chalk up his first brace from the Magpies.

With the game effectively won, Mark Vercesi indulged himself with a quintuple substitution just after the hour mark. There were no additions to the score, though three of the new arrivals went close – Steve Burt fizzing a powerful left-footer just over the bar, and Wade Brown and Charlie Young both being denied by excellent Jones saves. “We felt a bit of pressure having played two and not won one, so it is nice to get that win,” conceded the Manager. “4-0 up at half-time – it should have been five. A really good performance, but unfortunately again we’ve only done 45 minutes.” 

A brace apiece from Ben Palmer and Josh Turner.

Penzance: Harry Salmon, George Molcher (Steve Burt 62), Ben Palmer (Archie Reynolds 62), Jacob Trudgeon, Silas Sullivan-Bailey (captain), Andreas Calleja-Stayne (Hayden Waters 62), Charlie Willis, James Butler (Charlie Young 62), Ewan Trevains, Lewis Caspall, Josh Turner (Brown 62)

Helston: Piran Jones, Micah Davy, Calum Knowles, Freddie Walter (Henry Chappell 58), Sam Fisher (Ben Wills-Mack 58), Sam Pallett (Blake Gordon-Dunn 38), Rocco Williams, Hayden Black, Finn Costa (captain), Harry Morton (Toby Griggs 73), Josh Daniel (Osiah Spelman 66)

Referee: Darren Gay

Assistants: Justin Moses, Barry Raiker  

Attendance: 267

Match Report and Photo courtesy of James Wright