WEST CORNWALL 2, PENZANCE RESERVES 5

It was the Victor Mullaly super show at Camborne College writes James Wright. On only his second appearance since joining from Penryn Athletic, Penzance’s new signing helped himself to two goals and three assists as the Magpies hoovered the points off the 3G surface like Autumn leaves.

The emphatic away win could not have been predicted in the early exchanges which were wholly bossed by the home side. West Cornwall raced into an early lead with a fine left foot strike by Owen Barrett, clipped into the far top corner from a tight angle. With two free-kicks and a speculative lob from just shy of the halfway line, Jordan Moyle was on three occasions close to extending the margin as the home side dominated.

Two goals inside a minute just before the half hour mark flipped the encounter on its head, however. First Bernado Braga profited from good work down the left by Mullaly, turning the ball home from close range via a deflection. Then Mullaly set up substitute Fin Sharp – an early replacement for the injured Callum Curran – to fire an unstoppable shot into the top lefthand corner.

Before the interval, Sharp was a hero at the other end, bravely sprawling to repel a fierce drive by the unlucky Moyle. And Penzance capitalised by stretching their lead shortly after the restart. Josh Turner sprayed a pass to Braga wide on the right, and the latter’s pinpoint cross was converted by Mullaly, arriving at pace at the far post.

Heading home a Ben Dawe corner from the left, Will Dale gave West Cornwall hope in the 54th minute. But Penzance pulled clear again with another excellent goal on the counter attack. Turner won the ball inside his own half and muscled his way purposefully through the heart of the home defence. His shot was saved by Callum Richards, but the ball broke kindly for Mullaly to swat home his fourth goal in just two games.

Lewis Caspall hit a post and Richards made some great saves as Penzance bossed the latter stages. They bagged a fifth ten minutes from time when another forceful run by Turner presented Mullaly with his opportunity to complete a hat-trick. Selflessly, the forward laid the ball off to better-placed Sid Wilson, the substitute stroking it home with his first touch after coming on for Braga.

Top performance from Victor Mullaly today with two goals and three assists.

“I am really, really pleased with the lads today,” cooed elated manager Daz Smith. “It was quite possibly one of our best performances as a team - minus the first twenty minutes. We knew it would be a tough game, but the lads battled so well and deserved the win. They've set the standard today and showed some real quality whilst also working so hard for each other. Victor has slotted straight in and is a real threat going forward, but it was also nice to see three other scorers again today.”

West Cornwall: Callum Richards (captain), Josh Harbage, Will Dale, Josh Whitburn, James Davies, Cameron Searle, James Blackburn, Jordan Moyle, Robertas Samnauskas, Owain Barrett, Ben Dawe.

Rolling Subs: Lee Chambers, Reece McKnight, Levi Leach, Charlie Mitchell, Daniel Alexandru

Penzance: Harvey Parsons, Ryan Wilkinson, Ollie Page, Josh Turner, Mark Sands, Lewis Hitchens, Kizzy Snowden (captain), Bernardo Braga, Lewis Caspall, Victor Mullaly, Callum Curran.

Rolling Subs: Connor Glanville, Ashley Mead, Fin Sharp, Sid Wilson, Lewis Stephens

Referee: Tim Reeks

Photos courtesy of James Wright