Penzance were yet again hit by chronic player availability issues. For the second consecutive match, a bare eleven names were available at kick off so, given the circumstances, the starters performed admirably to contain their high-flying hosts for long periods of the match, and keep the score respectable.
With an excellent save from Matt Lloyd’s far post header, Mikey Flores kept the Magpies in the match early on, and they even threatened briefly themselves. Starting alongside his brother Robertas for the first time this season, Rolandos Samnauskas dipped a shot just over the bar from twenty yards out then, after surging into the box from the right, fired straight at Rob Rosevear when a pass to the unmarked Alex Ralph may have been a better option.
The Bridgers punished these misses by taking the lead after 25 minutes. Great work on the right saw Jack Rapsey release Lloyd who in turn fed Jacob Smale to drill the ball past Flores. The lead was doubled two minutes before the break. Tom Strike crashed a free-kick against the cross-bar, and the rebound was worked to Ross Beare who fired home. Only a superb save by Flores from a Rapsey drive spared the Magpies from going in at the break further behind.
Following the resumption, Man of the Match Smale fired over after being set-up by Charlie Willis, then Flores again denied Rapsey with another good save. Five substitutions, including three in one hit with twelve minutes to go, seemed to disrupt Wadebridge’s rhythm though, and Penzance dominated the closing stages. The best move saw a delightfully weighted pass by Darryl Richards release Cam McCabe. The left-back’s deep cross located Rolandos Samnauskas who blasted over the bar. The last action saw Silas Sullivan, also teed up by McCabe, just off target with a header to conclude a game in which Penzance were defeated, but never outplayed.
Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds, Cam McCabe, Silas Sullivan (captain), Jordan Daniell, Tyler Tonkin, Jacob Trudgeon, Robertas Samnuaskas, Alex Ralph, Darryl Richards, Rolandos Samnauskas. Unused Sub: Jack Ralph
Wadebridge: Rob Rosevear, Sam Gerken, Ewan Reeves (Jack Carron 67), Steve Simmonds, Tom Harris, Ross Beare (Will Tucker 71), Tom Strike (captain), Jack Rapsey (Tom McLachlan 78), Charlie Willis (Morgan Vallejo 78), Matt Lloyd (Sam Mellor 78), Jacob Smale
Referee: Thomas Anstice-Mitchell