PERRANPORTH 6, PENZANCE RESERVES 7 (aet)

Penzance Reserves are through to the George Evely Cup final after a night of insanity in the fog at Wendron writes James Wright. In so doing they inflicted upon runaway Division Two West leaders, and Cornwall Junior Cup finalists, Perranporth a first defeat of the season.

Jahmali Prowse raced clear in just the second minute to fire the Magpies into an early lead from a tight angle. The teams then traded chances for half an hour. George Parkes and Dan Gilbert both went close with headers for Perran, whilst Prowse and fellow striker Luke Carroll threatened again for Penzance. It was Daz Smith’s side who bagged the next goal though, Asa Donaldson threading a shot just inside the far post.

Seconds later, Alex Taylor had a glorious chance to pull Perran back into contention, but failed to convert, arriving late on to a centre from the right. The striker made amends, halving the deficit with a looping header straight after the turnaround. But Penzance immediately re-inflated their cushion, Prowse bagging his second with a clean left-foot strike from close range after a good move down the left.

The teenager had the ball in the net again on the hour mark, but his hat-trick celebrations were curtailed by an offside flag. And soon the margin was back down to a single goal, Liam Drake getting in front of the Penzance defence to meet a corner from the left and glance it inside the near post.

In the 66th minute the Magpies pulled clear again. With an immense, impeccably struck free-kick from deep inside his own half, captain Ryan Wilknson located his former Praze team-mate Carroll, and the top-scorer ushered his 28th goal of the season over the line.

Fifteen minutes from time the Magpies surged further ahead. Mark Sands and substitute Victor Mullaly linked up down the right to play in Prowse who delivered a fine cross to Donaldson. The recent signing from St Ives Town confidently despatched his second of the night, and fourth in just two games.

But still it wasn’t over. Six minutes from time Leigh Montague headed home a corner, and the same player immediately added a second. In on goal, Prowse had a glorious chance to put Penzance clear again, but was denied by a good save. And, also inevitably, Perranporth took the game to extra-time with a last gasp low strike from Taylor.

The Magpies might have been crest-fallen having surrendered a three goal lead inside six mad minutes. Far from it. Right at the start of the additional period Kizzy Snowden embarked on a lung-busting run down the left from deep in his own half. It was curtailed by a tackle inside the Perranporth box, and the ball broke kindly to Prowse who this time was not to be denied his third. Sixty seconds later, Alex Taylor had a great chance to complete his own hat-trick, but was thwarted by a fine Harvey Parsons save. And Penzance broke to add a 93rd minute seventh goal with a tidy Mullaly finish.

Second time around the Magpies defended their lead with greater composure. Kiall Maugham did pull one back from a corner three minutes from time, but it was too little too late. Daz Smith’s side can look forward to a final against either Nanpean Rovers or Dropship in May after a quite breathless night at Underlane.

Magpies are through to the Evely Cup final thanks to a Jahmali Prowse hat trick and goals from Donaldson x2, Carroll and Mullaly.

Perranporth: Warren Sarjantson, Ben Lawrence, Kierren Faulkner, Liam Drake, Luke Watson-Read, Dan Ware, Oliver Keveren, Rian Faulkner, Alex Taylor, Dan Gilbert, George Parkes. Subs: Jake Allen, Will Perry, Leigh Montague, Max Smith, Kiall Maugham

Penzance: Harvey Parsons, Mark Sands, Elliot Carveth, Ryan Wilkinson, Ollie Page, Oakley Clary-Brom, Kizzy Snowden, Bernardo Braga, Asa Donaldson, Luke Carroll, Jahmali Prowse. Subs: Ben Strevens, Victor Mullay, Connor Thomas

Referee: Sam Doble

Assistants: Ian Pattison, Jonathan Harris

Photos and Match Report courtesy of James Wright