Penzance were far from their best, but a fine strike by Rolandos Samnauskas with just eleven minutes remaining salvaged a draw just when bottom side St Dennis looked set to take all three points on a dank, mizzly afternoon up in the clay hills.
The Magpies, already without Jordan Daniell, were hit by the late withdrawal of influential centre-back Liam Andrew due to family reasons. However, captain Tyler Tonkin returned after suspension and Darryl Richards slotted into midfield following a three match absence, and the visitors made all the early running.
Jacob Trudgeon set up Kevin Lawrence to fire over after just five minutes, then Richards had a shot saved. Lawrence found Trudgeon at the far post with an accurate cross, but the top scorer was unable to convert from very close range. Kam Collins and Mark Vercesi were also off target with shots from further out.
St Dennis, playing their first game since Jack Barbery’s return to the managerial hot seat, also had their chances, the best of which in the first half was snuffed out by Vercesi’s well-timed block on Chris Brown as the striker bore down on goal. The home side did make the breakthrough eight minutes after the interval thanks to a huge slice of good fortune, captain Josh Pope’s drilled free-kick taking a wicked deflection leaving keeper Will Trenoweth wrong-footed.
Penzance were temporarily reduced to ten men by the sin-binning of Archie Reynolds. Notwithstanding the numerical disadvantage, they laid siege to the St Dennis goal. Samnauskas hooked a shot against the crossbar before levelling with a fine low shot after a good move down the left two minutes before the right-back’s return to the field.
When the otherwise impressive St Dennis keeper Ryan Holland inexplicably hit a short clearance straight to Samnauskas’s feet, Penzance were handed a glorious chance to win the match. However, the striker attempted to round Holland when a square past to substitute Nathaniel West may have been better advised. Holland atoned for his error by diving bravely to reclaim the ball and ensure the points were deservedly shared.
Penzance: Will Trenoweth, Archie Reynolds, Cam McCabe, Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Kevin Lawrence (Nathaniel West 62), Darryl Richards, Silas Sullivan (captain), Kam Collins, Rolandos Samnauskas, Jacob Trudgeon (Kai Baxter 68)
St Dennis: Ryan Holland, Zach Best, Ash Taylor, Jack Carron, Mikey Davies, Liam Nicholls (Sam Ecclestone 51), Martin Sleeman, Josh Pope (captain), Chris Brown, Ryan Oxley, Aidan James (Ross Maynard 75). Unused sub: James Baker
Referee: Ryan Dennis
Watch: The stream from this match (kindly sponsored by Antony Handyman and Ashley Waters - Painter & Decorator) is available to watch via our Facebook Page.