PENZANCE RESERVES 4, PORTHLEVEN 2

Penzance Reserves garnered up their first points of the season with an exhilarating come-back victory in front of a large, vocal crowd at Penlee Park.

The tone was set right from kick-off with both teams having clear chances in the first sixty seconds. Luke Carroll for the Magpies and Mark Goldsworthy of Port both put their efforts over the bar, but the latter made no mistake when he was handed another opening in just the second minute, firing the visitors ahead.

The ex-Helston and Mousehole hitman would have extended the margin but for a competent save by Harvey Parsons and, to a hearty roar from the packed Jimmy Dann Stand, Penzance hit back in the 19th minute. Carroll struck the woodwork from a deep Jahmali Prowse cross then, after two further shots had been blocked, a third rebound fell to Elliott Carveth who lashed the ball home. Carveth then turned provider, lofting a through pass to Carroll who out-battled the Port defence before turning skilfully on to his left foot to slot the Magpies into a half-time lead. 

After 56 minutes, teenage forward Prowse rounded Porthleven keeper Martyn Webster to score from a tight angle. The Magpies were flying high, and Carroll notched his second goal of the night with an outrageously dipping lob just after the hour-mark. From a Prowse cross, captain Ryan Wilkinson almost added a fifth, as did substitute Connor Thomas when he was denied by a combination of the woodwork and a brilliant goal-line clearance, from another Prowse pass. A late Port consolation goal, again scored by Goldsworthy, barely dampened Penzance spirits.

“We are absolutely buzzing the performance and result,” beamed cock-a-hoop manager Daz Smith. “The lads were top drawer. That sort of performance has been coming, and I think we definitely deserved the three points. It was great to have almost everyone available, finally. I felt we had some very good, flowing build-up play, along with some solid defensive performances, so we are very happy with tonight's efforts all round!”

Luke Carroll bags a brace against Porthleven.

Penzance: Harvey Parsons, Mark Sands, Fin Harry, Ben Strevens, Elliott Carveth, Ryan Wilkinson (captain), Oakley Clary-Brom, Bernado Braga, Luke Carroll, Kizzy Snowden, Jahmali Prowse. Rolling subs: Kitto Berger-Reeve, Lucian Easter, Connor Thomas, Ashley Mead

Porthleven: Martyn Webster, Archie Strike, Zephrin Caddy-White, Jake Harrison (captain), Luke Hart, Nick Barber, Noah Morton, Dan Greet, Mark Goldsworthy, Cameron Quirke, Riley Stevens. Rolling subs: Fraser Paterson, Jack Varah, Austin Cockett, Oscar Paterson

Referee: Thomas Milburn

Attendance: 112

Match Report and Photos courtesy of James Wright