STICKER 0, PENZANCE 1

Penzance made it eight wins from nine games - an unbeaten run that now stretches back to August – with a hard-earned victory at Sticker to consolidate third place in the table writes James Wright. They were without Josh Magin through illness, but welcomed back Charlie Willis after an injury absence.  Harry Salmon returned in goal, contributing massively to a second consecutive clean sheet with some vital saves.

The first chance fell to the home side, Tom Guest firing just over. The opening half hour was cagey with few clear cut openings until the Magpies went close twice within a minute. Silas Sullivan hooked a shot just wide from twenty yards out, then Lewis Caspall surged through the Sticker defence before crashing the ball just over the crossbar. The half concluded with both sides having one further chance. Sliding in at the far post, Sticker’s Josh Bragg was just unable to connect with a tantalising centre from the left. Then Jacob Trudgeon tested Ethan Elwell with a shot on the turn that the home gloveman safely pouched.

The second half was more open. Caspall curled a free-kick over before Salmon was twice called into action at the other end, firstly to save from Ethan Skyba, then to brilliantly finger-tip a Bragg effort onto the crossbar. Guest fired another chance wide before Penzance made the vital break-through, player manager Mark Vercesi latching on to a half cleared ball and blasting it back past Elwell.

The Magpies had to soak up some intense pressure during a protracted period of stoppage treatment necessitated by an earlier injury to Elwell. But Salmon pulled off another fine save, and Bragg curled a free-kick just over as Penzance held out for a win that cuts the gap to second placed Elburton Villa to six points.

Sticker: Ethan Elwell, Ewan Warren, Harley Simms, Owen Rosevear, Ollie Brokenshire, Fin Nancarrow (captain), Josh Bragg, Ethan Skyba, Connor Cooke, Liam Knowles. Tom Guest. Subs: Richard Edworthy, Josh Evans, Josh Penrose, Richard Balazs

Penzance: Harry Salmon, Archie Reynolds, Silas Sullivan, Josh Turner (James Butler 79), Mark Vercesi, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Ewan Trevains, Jacob Trudgeon (Hayden Waters 65), Charlie Willis, Charlie Young, Lewis Caspall.

Unused subs: Sam Young, Rohan Bennetts, Alfie Turner

Referee: Lee Dudman

Assistants: Graham Rickard, David Becker

Cover photo courtesy of James Wright