ST AUSTELL 0, PENZANCE 1

Penzance stunned their hosts, leaders St Austell, with a last gasp winner. George Molcher came off the bench to notch his first goal of the season, securing all three points and leaving his team as the only undefeated side in Premier West this season.

Manager Mark Vercesi made just one change to the eleven that had started at Sticker four days earlier, benching himself in favour of James Butler. The visitors made the brighter start, Lewis Caspall having an early shot blocked with Jacob Trudgeon putting the rebound just over the bar. Ben Palmer fed Ewan Trevains who carried the ball forward on his own before curling a shot just too high. A good link-up between Trevains and Butler then fashioned an opening for Charlie Willis who was just off target. A very positive, albeit fruitless, first half for the Magpies concluded with home keeper Josh Clark pushing a Caspall shot on to the woodwork.

On a booking and a final warning, Butler was replaced at the interval by teenage striker Jahmali Prowse. The visitors continued to enjoy the better chances and were convinced an Andreas Calleja-Stayne effort had crossed the line. The officials, however, disagreed. Though Willis headed wide from a fine Prowse cross, St Austell grew in stature and began to assume control.

Set-up by some Ryan Richards trickery, Callum McGhee had a glorious chance ten minutes from time, but skewed his shot wide from point blank range. Captain Neil Slateford saw a goal-bound drive defected behind and his side looked the likelier to nick it until, with virtually the last kick of the match, Molcher threaded an accurate low shot just inside Clark’s near post to spark delirious celebrations. The substitute had only been on for ten minutes, in place of Steve Burt, and had not scored since February.

“I felt for sixty minutes we were the better team, and it was only a matter of time until we scored,” reflected Vercesi. “But in the last twenty minutes, leading up to the goal, I think we would have taken a point. They were piling players forward and changed their formation and at times had four up front, and it was causing us trouble. But I always knew that we’ve got some players in our team that can go and be dangerous. An unbelievable finish – last kick of the game George Molcher gets the winner. Hero – absolute hero.”

The Magpies take all 3 points thanks to an injury time time winner from George Molcher.

The win lifts Penzance up to a place to second ahead of Sticker, but still seven points adrift of St Austell, albeit having played four fewer matches. Callington Town, nonetheless, can overhaul both the front two if they win all their games in hand.

St Austell: Josh Clark, Jude Tripconey, Freddie Kemp, James Ward, Kieran Powell, Henry Wilson, Neil Slateford (captain), Callum McGhee, Tom Whipp, Martyn Duff, Ryan Richards. Subs: Alfie Flack, Liam Eddy, Jake Wharman, Jayden Gilbert, Cam Patterson, Josh Bragg

Penzance: Harry Salmon, Archie Reynolds, Steve Burt (George Molcher 80), Ben Palmer, Ewan Trevains, Tyler Tonkin (captain), James Butler (Jahmali Prowse 46), Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Charlie Willis, Jacob Trudgeon (Kizzy Snowden 80), Lewis Caspall.

Unused subs: Mark Vercesi, Wade Brown

Referee: Reuben Ludgate

Assistants: Joe Chapman, Sarah Howie

Attendance: 301

Match Report and photo courtesy of James Wright