Penzance never fully recovered from a freakish early concession, and slipped to defeat in their penultimate pre-season match - a feisty derby at Lafrowda Park.
The contest was less than three minutes old when home forward Ashley Ellis fired in a seemingly innocuous shot from wide on the right that Mikey Flores, still suffering from the injury that had seen him taken off at half-time in the previous game against St Agnes, was unable to keep out. The goalkeeper soldiered on for another twelve minutes before being forced to come off. With his midweek replacement Kameron Collins playing cricket, the gloves were passed to Ryan Andrew for the remainder of the match.
Reeling from this blow, the Magpies might have fallen further behind had Tyler Tonkin not managed to block a fierce George Harry drive, and Scott Meagor been on target with a cleverly glanced header from a Chris Curnow corner.
But the visitors settled, and by half-time were dominating. Kevin Lawrence and Jacob Trudgeon had efforts saved by Martin Grenfell. A neat link-up between Trudgeon and Kizzy Snowden released Max Everard who chipped just over. Then Sam Buckley dipped a volley over the bar on the half-hour mark. Just before the interval, Penzance thought they had levelled when Grenfell parried a Lawrence shot into the path of Buckley who tucked the ball away, but an offside flag intervened.
The equaliser finally arrived ten minutes after the break. Darryl Richard threaded a free-kick into the path of Silas Sullivan who turned the ball home via a deflection.
Monopolising possession, at this point Penzance looked the likely winners. However, a brief flurry midway through half was enough to win it for St Just. Firstly, Andrew saved well from George Harry, then Ellis rattled the goal frame with a thunderous shot from twenty yards out. Finally, a penalty was awarded for a Jordan Daniell foul, and George Harry confidently dinked the penalty to the stand-in keeper’s left.
Two further good saves by Grenfell – from Sullivan and, most spectacularly, a Trudgeon diving header – protected the slender lead and secured local bragging rights for the Tinners from an entertaining tussle.
Penzance: Mikey Flores (Ryan Andrew 15), Silas Sullivan, Alfie Turner, Tyler Tonkin, Jordan Daniell, Kevin Lawrence (Sam Payne 79), Max Everard (Joe Gordon 70), Darryl Richards, Jacob Trudgeon, Sam Buckley, Kizzy Snowden.
St Just: Martin Grenfell, Luke Jenkins, Chris Curnow, Ben George, Ryan Ladd, Joe Sturgeon, Josh Attwood, Scott Meagor, Tyler Dayus, Ashley Ellis, George Harry. Subs: Nick Hichens, Charlie Harry, Tjay Price.
Referee: Neil Rudkin (Hayle)
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