PENZANCE RESERVES 0, MAWNAN 3

On a night when Penzance remembered recently departed club stalwarts Peter Williams and Paul Smith with a poignant minute’s silence before kick-off, Mawnan moved to the top of the Division One West table with an emphatic win at Penlee Park. Adam Keenan bagging the three goals that fired them into pole position writes James Wright...

Match photos courtesy of Jessie Nielson.

With Adrian Murley still side-lined by the nasty injury he sustained against Ludgvan, Harvey Richings, home from University, continued to deputise in the Penzance goal. And the student, who normally plays outfield, was deceived by the flight of an early Keenan cross that looped over his head and nestled in the far corner of the goal.

Max Bowden skimmed a just over the bar, and Richings made a couple of good saves as Mawnan continued to dominate. A second goal arrived seven minutes before the break when Keenan nodded home his second of the night from a cross from the left.

Only a fine stop by Adam Rosevear, diving low to his right, prevented Kizzy Snowden pulling a goal back just before the break. However the game was dead and buried twenty minutes after the turnaround when Keenan scored an absolute “worldie”, arrowing a shot just under the crossbar from the right-hand angle of the penalty area.

Playing in front of their home faithful for the final time this season, the Magpies acquitted themselves very well in the closing stages. Running on to a visionary through ball by Lewis Hitchens, Will Symons pushed a shot agonisingly just wide. Hayden Waters then forced Rosevear into an acrobatic tip-over of a long-range effort. But Mawnan held on for the win that takes them a point above Ludgvan. The top two will meet next Tuesday in a crucial head-to-head at Carwinion Road.

Reserves Manager, Daz Smith and defender Ashley Mead, give their reaction after the game.

Penzance: Harvey Richings, Ashley Mead, Lewis Hitchens, Lewis Stephens, Steve Miller, Ewan Trevains, Adam Lewis, Will Symons, Fin Sharp, Kizzy Snowden (captain), Hayden Waters. Subs: Jordan Rimmington, Joe Gordon, Fin Harry, Corey Angwin, Connor Thomas

Mawnan: Adam Rosevear, Olly Richardson, Kevin Morris, Harry McMellon, Ollie Grocott, Ryan Martt, Ben Richardson, Callum Thompson, Max Bowden, Adam Keenan, Luke Wort. Subs: Dominic Pullen, Darren Friend, Liam Dent, Josh Winnan, Dan Knowles

Referee: Simon Taylor

Attendance: 44