Author: Jeff Richardson

by Jeff Richardson

SEAGULLS’ EIGHT-GOAL WIN KEEPS THEM IN THE RACE AT THE TOP

MOUSEHOLE 8-0 STICKER

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2020

AT TRUNGLE PARC

A Hayden Turner hat-trick helped Mousehole to a convincing win to keep them in fourth place and within touching distance of this season’s two promotion places with 15 league games to go.

Four goals in each half were an adequate reward for Mousehole’s dominance, with Hayden Turner taking his tally to nine in four games, assisted by scores from wingers Amara Bakayoko (now up to 19 goals) and Rheiss McClean (11), a brace from Tallan Mitchell and an own goal, with Turner also missing a penalty.

Sticker had started the season slowly, and Mousehole had already beaten them 6-0 on their own turf in the Cornwall Senior Cup in November, but three good wins from their last four matches had lifted them off the foot of the table up to 18th.  They had an early chance – and their only one of the match – when Sam Begen got free 30 yards out but shot wide as he advanced on goal in the 5th minute.

Mousehole had already given notice of their attacking intentions in the second minute when Amara Bakayoko made a dazzling 50-yard run for Hayden Turner to connect with his low cross from six yards, but keeper Anton Lake started off his busy afternoon with a great point-blank save.

After an early period of casual play, Mousehole then got into gear and, with Ben Harding experimentally deployed as a front man and continually bringing his attacking colleagues into promising positions, they produced a much higher-tempo performance than had been the case earlier in the season.

Tallan Mitchell opened the scoring in the 15th minute, starting the move with a superb interception and one-two in midfield, with Ben Harding sliding an astute pass inside the defence for the midfielder to net through the keeper’s legs from 15 yards.

A minute later Turner was just the wrong side of the post with an angled volley, before Rheiss McClean’s inswinging corner glanced off a defender’s head at the near post for 2-0 after 21 minutes.

After 36 minutes it was 3-0 when Turner was fouled in the box after another quick pass forward and comfortably despatched the penalty.

Amara Bakoyoko was then just wide after a brisk move from the back involving Mark Richards, Ben Harding and Steve Burt on 39 minutes, and another incisive burst forward created space for Turner on the left to send over a pinpoint cross which Rheiss McClean headed home from 6 yards two minutes before the interval for a 4-0 scoreline.

The second half carried in in the same vein, Mitchell being denied by Lake’s outstretched boot on 49.  In the 56th minute Referee Price harshly judged visiting captain Mickey Rowles-Jane to have handled a cross from the left, but justice was done when Lake beat out Turner’s penalty.  The striker made amends three minutes later after being put into space and side-footing home to make it 5-0.  

Lake’s boot again prevented a goal – and Turner’s hat-trick – on 61, before Bakayoko swerved inside two defenders a minute later to plant a right-foot shot from 10 yards inside the post for 6-0.

Hayden Turner’s hat-trick finally arrived in the 85th minute, thumping the ball into the roof of the net from the corner of the six-yard box after another impressive pitch-length passing move.

The scoring was completed in the first minute of added-on time, Tallan Mitchell heading home Bakayoko’s cross for his second goal and Mousehole’s eighth.

This Saturday (8th February) sees the first of the two Cup quarter finals The Seagulls will play during the month.  Torpoint Athletic – lying in third place in the SWPL Premier east Division – are the visitors to Trungle Parc for a 2pm kick off in the Cornwall Senior Cup.  The other quarter finals are Falmouth (the holders) against Saltash, Millbrook v Liskeard, and Wadebridge v St Blazey, with the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th March at neutral venues.

The other Cup quarter final is in the SWP League Cup (the Walter C Parson Cup) away at East Division Bovey Tracey on Saturday 29th February (2.30pm).  Seats are available for booking on the coach, with details available in the clubhouse. 

In the meantime, Mousehole have two league games: at home against Porthleven on Saturday 15th February, and away at Liskeard Athletic on 22nd, both with a 3pm kick off. 

Mousehole v Sticker: Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Steve Burt, Tallan Mitchell, Ben Harding, Rheiss McClean, Hayden Turner, Amara Bakayoko

Substitutes:  Gerens James (for Ben Harding, 64), Lez Cela (for Rheiss McClean, 64), James Butler (for Steve Burt, 64), Glenn Gabriel, Jonny Ludlam

Officials: Adam Price (Referee), with Andrew Jenkin and Paul Birch (Assistants)

Attendance: 71

Mousehole vs Helston Jan 2020
by Jeff Richardson

MOUSEHOLE FALL TO NARROW DEFEAT BY LEAGUE LEADERS

MOUSEHOLE 0-1 HELSTON ATHLETIC

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 2020

AT TRUNGLE PARC

Friday night floodlit football between the third and first-placed teams drew the largest crowd of the season to Trungle Parc, and in a game of contrasting styles Helston took all three points to take their record-breaking run of consecutive league wins to 20 and also complete a treble over Mousehole after earlier home wins in the league and away in the Cornwall Charity Cup.

The Blues, with their combative and direct approach, dominated most of the first half and grabbed the all-important goal with a spectacular strike, before being pushed all the way by a resurgent Seagulls performance after the interval, with the final whistle prompting a combination of jubilation and relief among the visitors’ contingent.

On another day, Mousehole might have profited from careful approach play – as well as from refereeing decisions – but they will have learned a great deal from defeat by arguably the league’s most effective and efficient team.

Helston were well on top in the opening exchanges, forcing the hosts back on to the defensive and capitalising on misplaced passes.  Phil Cattran was thwarted by keeper Cory Harvey in the 4th minute, and in the next attack Mark Richards made a great tackle as Billy Tucker steamed through on goal.  Centre back Ryan Beattie was only just wide with a 20 yard drive in the 6th minute and Rheiss McClean made an important challenge to prevent a breakthrough a minute later.  In the 12th minute Cattran from distance fired wide of an open goal with Harvey caught out of position and on 17 Billy Curtis blocked Tucker’s 8-yard shot.

The visitors’ goal in the 20th minute said a lot about their qualities.  Gathering the ball in front of goal, former Seagulls keeper Jason Robertson immediately launched a high 70-yard kick downfield, where last-man Billy Curtis was shoved off the ball by Phil Cattran who then unleashed a superb first-time dipping volley into the net from fully 30 yards.

Mousehole started to click around the half-hour mark and fashioned a series of chances before the interval but without causing Robertson too much concern.  Lez Cela drove over from 10 yards after a clever reverse pass by Rheiss McClean, Tallan Mitchell fired wide from 20 yards and Amara Bakayoko came in from the right to send a trade-mark left-footer millimetres over the bar from 25 yards.  The same player then raced in from an angle but found only the near side-netting, while in first-half added-on time Jamie Devine got to a corner just ahead of Robertson but headed over.

The second half started with The Seagulls playing with quicker tempo but with Helston’s defence coping comfortably when the ball was passed in front of them, the main threats came when ‘Plan B’ came into operation with longer passes causing the back four to turn.  Lez Cela headed wide from a good position as a McClean free kick came in towards the near post on 60 minutes as Referee Glanville began to issue yellow cards as he lost patience with the visitors’ frequent fouls.

But Jason Robertson got the benefit of the doubt from the Referee twice in the closing stages, firstly obstructing Amara Bakayoko 30 yards out after a miskicked clearance, but receiving only a yellow card, and then in the dying minutes coming out of the area to clear a bouncing ball, with the Referee over-ruling the assistant referee’s raised flag for a handball offence.  And just to prove it was not going to be Mousehole’s night, Hayden Turner at last got free of the defensive cordon in the last minute to square the ball in front of goal where Ed Timmons denied substitute Jonny Ludlam the tap-in chance with a hacked clearance, only for a goal kick to be awarded and Ludlam sin-binned for his reaction.

Despite defeat, Jake Ash and his team will still regard themselves as being in with a chance of grabbing one of the two promotion places on offer this season.  In 22 league games they have been defeated only by Helston, and have only one remaining match against a top-five team – away at Saltash United on 7th March – whereas their rivals will inevitably drop points as they each have several matches to play against each other.

In the meantime, there is much to celebrate at Trungle Parc, with the First team currently in 4th place, and far and away the most successful of the nine teams promoted from Division One in last season’s league re-structuring,  The Seagulls are currently 22 points ahead of last season’s champions Liskeard Athletic with two games in hand, as well as in the quarter finals of both the SWP League Cup and the Cornwall Senior Cup.  And the ground is undergoing major work to improve the spectator experience and meet the requirements of both the current league and the next Step up.

Next for Mousehole is a league fixture at home to Sticker this Saturday (1st February) with a 3pm kick-off.  The visitors have found a good run of form in recent weeks, winning three of their last four matches, including two away from home, to rise up from the foot of the table.

The following Saturday (8th, kick off 2pm) sees the mouth-watering Senior Cup quarter-final tie at home against Torpoint Athletic, who are currently in second place in the SWPL East Division.

Mousehole v Helston: Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Steve Burt, Lez Cela, Tallan Mitchell, Amara Bakayoko, Hayden Turner, Rheiss McClean

Substitutes: Glenn Gabriel (for Rheiss McClean, 67), Ben Harding (for Steve Burt, 77), Jonny Ludlam (for Lez Cela, 90), Tom Hands, James Butler

Officials: Mike Glanville (Referee), Dave Rowe and David Bartlam (Assistants)

Attendance: 270

Mousehole vs Godolphin Jan 2020
by Jeff Richardson

HUGE WIN FOR MOUSEHOLE AS THEY WARM UP FOR FRIDAY’S BIG MATCH

MOUSEHOLE 10-0 GODOLPHIN ATLANTIC

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY 2020

AT TRUNGLE PARC

A four-minute hat-trick for Amara Bakayoko, a brace apiece for Glenn Gabriel and Hayden Turner, a rare goal each for defenders Jamie Devine and Billy Curtis, a host of missed chances and a series of goalkeeping heroics by Ethan Fearn – these were the highlights of Saturday’s emphatic win that keeps The Seagulls in third place ahead of Friday evening’s much-anticipated clash with League leaders Heston Athletic.

This was Mousehole’s second double-digit win of the season – the other being a 10-0 win away at Dobwalls in October – and condemned the G-Army, who are relying on several Reserves players as they struggle with First team numbers, to their fourth consecutive defeat with 32 goals conceded, 22 of them at home.

A minute’s applause took place before kick-off as a mark of respect to popular former player Luke Johnson whose long-term partner 25-year old Natalie Faulds died recently after a short illness.

On a bitterly cold but bright sunny afternoon, Mousehole mastered the wet surface well with their customary mixture of short and long passing, movement and speed, using the full width of the pitch and causing the visitors’ defence constant problems on the turn.

Godolphin had just two worthwhile attacks in the match, but did come close when Ben Colquhoun got on the wrong side of Mark Richards in the 6th minute to shoot just wide of the far post, and on 68 minutes Seagulls’ substitute Tom Hands made a great tackle to prevent Joe Stone breaking through with an unexpected dash forward.

Other than that, it was the proverbial ‘one way traffic’ as Mousehole completely dominated proceedings and in a more clinical mood might even have doubled the eventual scoreline.  Ethan Fearn in the Godolphin goal was arguably the man of the match despite letting in ten, producing defiant saves from Billy Curtis on 17 and 74, Amara Bakayoko on 23, 28, 31, 62 and 76,  Rheiss McClean on 29, 67 and 73, Glenn Gabriel on 38 and 41, Tallan Mitchell on 50 and 58, and Hayden Turner on 60.  On top of that, Tallan Mitchell, Amara Bakayoko and Mark Richards all missed the target from close range and several other likely chances were cleared away at the last moment.

Given the balance of play, the G-Army will have been relatively pleased to reach the half-time interval at only three goals in arrears, and then to have got well inside the last ten minutes only 6-0 down, but they were completely overwhelmed in the final stages as the super-fit and hungry Seagulls notched up a further four goals to boost their all-important goal difference. 

Glenn Gabriel opened the scoring in the 18th minute with an angled 15-yard shot deflected on to the far post and into the opposite corner of the net.  He then tucked away a simple chance three minutes later after Fearn had pushed away Hayden Turner’s effort on goal.  The same thing happened in the last action before the break, this time Turner quickest to the ball after Rheiss McClean’s shot was partially blocked by the keeper.

It was 4-0 on 59 minutes as Jamie Devine came up from his under-utilised defensive duties to plant an 8-yard header into the roof of the net from Gabriel’s corner.  Five minutes later Tallan Mitchell made it 5-0, beating Fearn for once with a careful side-footed shot after McClean’s threaded pass put him through one-on-one.  Hayden Turner scored the sixth goal – taking his tally to six goals in three matches since joining from St Austell – sprinting in on goal to wrong-foot Fearn with a shot rolled inside the near post. Mousehole’s 100th goal of the season in League and Cup competitions.

Amara Bakayoko then grabbed the headlines with a three-goal salvo in the 85th, 87th and 89th minutes, the first two stroked home after perfect assists by Turner and Gabriel, and the third from the penalty spot following a foul on Turner, who himself was on a hat-trick.  And winger Bakayoko – now with a remarkable 18 goals under his belt – almost got a fourth straight away only for his fierce 15-yard drive to be somehow kept out by Fearn’s foot.  Captain Billy Curtis took the score into double figures in the last minute, claiming his third goal of the season after chesting Tom Hands’ shot into the net in a crowded penalty area.

Mousehole’s next match will be a totally different proposition, as table-topping Helston Athletic visit Trungle Parc on Friday evening (7.30pm).  The Blues have already beaten The Seagulls twice this season – a League win by 3-1 at Kellaway Park in October and a 2-0 success at Trungle Parc in the Cornwall Charity Cup in November.  But, like Helston, Mousehole have suffered only one League defeat, so Jake Ash’s men should need little motivation on the night.  Helston are currently 10 points ahead of Mousehole from the same number of games and recently set a League record for consecutive wins, currently standing at 19.

With a large crowd expected for this floodlit fixture, spectators are asked to arrive early to avoid likely traffic congestion and to follow the directions of stewards on the approach to the ground.

Mousehole v Godolphin Atlantic:  Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Steve Burt, Tallan Mitchell, Rheiss McClean, Amara Bakayoko, Hayden Turner, Glenn Gabriel

Substitutes:  Tom Hands (for Jamie Devine, 65), Jonny Ludlam (for Steve Burt, 75), James Butler (for Rheiss McClean, 75), Ben Harding

Scorers:  Glenn Gabriel 18’ (1-0), 21’ (2-0); Hayden Turner 45’ (3-0), 78’ (6-0); Jamie Devine 59’ (4-0); Tallan Mitchell 64’ (5-0); Amara Bakayoko 85’ (7-0), 87’ (8-0), 89’ pen (9-0); Billy Curtis 90’ (10-0).

Officials: Charlie Philpot (Referee), Paul Barker & Callum Gilman (Assistants)

Attendance: 59

Hayden Turner Mousehole AFC
by Jeff Richardson

SEAGULLS MAKE GOOD START TO SECOND HALF OF SEASON WITH ANOTHER THREE POINTS

MOUSEHOLE 2-0 ST BLAZEY

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 11TH JANUARY 2020

AT TRUNGLE PARC

The second half of the league season saw Mousehole retain third place in the table with an efficient rather than spectacular win over St Blazey, which completed a league double after the 4-1 away success in August.

The top four teams also won on Saturday, having between them lost only five games out the 80 played so far.  As the competition for the top two promotion places builds up, Mousehole are definitely in the running, with the fewest games to play against fellow contenders and 10 of the remaining 18 fixtures at home.

On a windy and drab afternoon, the game will be remembered for two clinically sharp finishes by Hayden Turner and an unlucky dismissal for the visiting keeper with the score already 2-0.

Hayden Turner has now scored four times in two appearances since signing from St Austell where he had already netted 22 goals.

St Blazey had lost just once in their last ten games and that form continued as they pressed Mousehole all over the pitch in a hard-working display, and they might have made the contest closer but for a magnificent save by home keeper Cory Harvey in the first half and the failure to make the most of late breakaway chance.

The visitors had the misfortune to be reduced to ten men in the 39th minute when keeper Liam Joyce was unluckily issued with a straight red card, as referee Luke Wilkes applied the ‘letter of the law’ after consulting his assistant.  Joyce came out to catch a lofted through ball held up in the wind at the last moment and ended up marginally outside the penalty area. 

St Blazey were fortunate to have substitute keeper Brodie Cole on the bench, and although he was immediately beaten when Paulo Sousa’s free kick came back off the post, he did enough for the rest of the match to keep the scoreline down and give his side a a chance of getting back into the game.

Mousehole opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Amara Bakayoko laid the ball into the path of Hayden Turner 30 yards from goal, and the striker’s control, speed and composure took him through the middle of the visitors’ defence to slot the ball past the advancing Joyce.

At the other end, Cory Harvey made a flying save three minutes later to push round the post Levi Landricombe’s fierce drive that looked destined for the far corner, and on 20 minutes Mark Richards made a great block to deny the Jack Alexander a clear shooting chance from 15 yards.  Landricombe then tested Harvey again with a 25-yard free kick as referee Wilkes was kept busy with the visitors’ successive loud claims for handball. 

Mousehole survived the period of pressure and their quick thinking and movement led to a second goal on 32 minutes.  Breaking forward as speed, Tallan Mitchell touched a superbly weighted through ball between the two central defenders for Hayden Turner to win the sprint and roll the ball into the empty net after skipping round the keeper.

St Blazey’s ten men started the second period in determined fashion, coming close with a cross-cum-shot floating past the far post on 50, and Alexander in on goal after dispossessing Jamie Devine on 56 but producing a wayward pass instead of shooting.

Mousehole regained control of the play and in a three minute period Cole was forced to save from Glenn Gabriel and Hayden Turner, and Scott Imade fired wide with the keeper out of position, while St Blazey had one last chance from a breakaway, with Landricombe firing high and wide from a promising position.

In the last minute, Hayden Turner showed his qualities by darting through into space, and after taking the ball round the keeper his shot from a difficult angle avoided the defender on the line but just missed the far post – and a deserved hat-trick.

Mousehole now have three more home league matches in a row, starting with the visit of Godolphin Atlantic this Saturday, kick off 3pm. The Newquay-based strugglers are in a relegation dog-fight with 14 points from 22 games, and have conceded 22 goals without scoring in their last three matches.

Then follows the much-anticipated home game against Helston Athletic on Friday 24th January (7.30pm).  Helston currently lead the table after recording a record-breaking 19 consecutive league wins and are the only side to have beaten Mousehole this season.

On Saturday 1st February, current bottom-of-the-table side Sticker visit Trungle Parc (3pm), before the Cornwall Senior Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday 8th February, with the draw due to be made this Tuesday, 14th January.

Meanwhile, in the SWP (Walter C Parson) League Cup, Mousehole will travel in the quarter-finals on Saturday 29th February to Premier East side Bovey Tracey, who won 6-3 at West division Dobwalls in their delayed third round tie at the weekend.

Mousehole v St Blazey: Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Scott Imade, Tallan Mitchell, Tyler Tonkin, Amara Bakayoko, Hayden Turner, Glenn Gabriel

Substitutes: Jonny Ludlam (for Tyler Tonkin, 76), James Butler (for Scott Imade, 85), Tom Hands (for Glenn Gabriel, 88), Ben Harding, Jake Ash

Scorer: Hayden Turner (8, 32)

Officials: Luke Wilkes (Referee), Dave Dodman & Reg Hooper (Assistants) Attendance: 96

Gareth O’Neill Mousehole AFC
by Jeff Richardson

MOUSEHOLE AFC STRENGTHEN PLANS FOR THE FUTURE WITH APPOINTMENT OF HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Mousehole AFC are delighted to announce they have strengthened their management and coaching team with the appointment of Gareth O’Neill to the club’s new role of Head of Athletic Performance. 

The 34-year old Northern Irishman, a dual-qualified strength & conditioning coach and chartered physiotherapist, has spent over ten years in four different countries practising two diverse yet inter-related professions of performance enhancement and sports rehabilitation. 

Gareth’s new position with The Seagulls will operate alongside his existing roles with the Cornish Pirates in RFU Championship Rugby and in his business GoPhysio SW.  His wealth of experience includes work in the Irish Premier League, youth and U21 international football and elite Gaelic Football.  He is also currently an official supplier to the FA as a strength & conditioning coach with the England Cerebral Palsy Football team in preparation for the Nations Cup Tournament in Sardinia, Italy, in May 2020.

Mousehole senior Committee member Ben Gibson says Gareth O’Neill’s appointment is exactly in line with the club’s positive culture: 

“The creation of the post of Head of Athletic Performance builds on Mousehole’s promising progress after promotion to the Peninsula Premier League this season, and underpins the club’s plans for further development.  It also fulfils the club’s obligation to provide medical care as well as opportunities for athletic improvement.  With experience of working in both youth and adult sport, Gareth will focus on all club players’ physical development and performance during their long-term pathway from youth to senior football, and onwards towards higher levels.  We are extremely fortunate to have Gareth’s unique expertise on board at the club – his attitude and professionalism have fitted in perfectly and we have no doubt he will make a major contribution to the club’s future.”

Commenting enthusiastically on the appointment, Mousehole’s First Team Manager Jake Ash said:

“This is a massive boost to not only the first team, but the whole football club.  Gareth’s work with the first team this season has been an integral part of our coaching programme, and he has very quickly become an irreplaceable member of our team.”

“His knowledge and ability to create precise personalised running and gym-based programmes across the whole squad – based on GPS analysis, S&C testing and tailored feedback – is a vital part of what we do.  As a result, we have a group of players who are capable of playing with the intensity and in the style we want them to.”

“The introduction of his Injury Reduction warm ups and Post-Match recovery protocol have proved amazingly effective in reducing our player injury stats, while as coaches we benefit greatly from the information Gareth provides in the Post-Match medical report and Weekly Injury clinics. Communicating clearly about player injury status, rehab stage and availability gets our players back on the pitch as quickly as possible and allows us to plan better for training and games.”

“Not only that, Gareth is a huge asset for us in promoting the image of the club and successfully attracting the likes of Tallan Mitchell and Hayden Turner who can see what he can add to their game.”

Director of Football Operations Adam Fletcher added:  “Mousehole have already seen several players rise up the footballing pyramid as a result of the club’s coaching strategy.  And we are now attracting some of the top local talent.  Also, we expect over the next few years to see some real progression from our impressive youth section, which comprises over 200 players all of whom benefit from the club’s coaching philosophy.  Gareth O’Neill’s appointment will add massively to what we can offer to anyone with the ambition to progress, whether it’s to put themselves in the shop window for playing at a higher league through our links with pro clubs, or to come with us as part of our own upward journey.  On top of this, we’ve just secured a partnership with a local gym, which provides the additional benefit of state-of-the-art facilities and expertise.”

Speaking of his new role, Gareth O’Neill explained: “It’s a privilege to be involved with Mousehole AFC on this joint venture in helping to create a genuine centre of expertise for Cornish football.  In doing so, I’ll be launching GoPhysioSW from Trungle Parc in March 2020, offering physiotherapy services, injury rehab, strength & conditioning and personal training for sports teams, athletes and the general public alike.  The long-term plan will then be to expand GoPhysio SW into a new premier private performance and rehab facility in South West Cornwall, based on-site at Mousehole AFC’s Trungle Parc.”  (Gareth O’Neill can be contacted online via GoPhysioSW, Facebook or Instagram.)

Mousehole vs St Austell Jake Ash
by Jeff Richardson

LIVELY START TO THE NEW YEAR AS MOUSEHOLE TRIUMPH AGAINST LEAGUE LEADERS

MOUSEHOLE 3-2 ST AUSTELL

CORNWALL SENIOR CUP

sponsored by RGB Building Supplies

FOURTH ROUND TIE

SATURDAY 4TH JANUARY 2020

AT TRUNGLE PARC

The opening fixture of 2020 saw The Seagulls put in a spirited performance to beat the league leaders and reach the quarter-finals of the Cornwall Senior Cup.

This was the third encounter of the season between the two teams, the previous two league games ending in 1-1 draws but with Mousehole close to taking all  three points on both occasions.

This time, Mousehole were well on top in the first half, but half a dozen chances or near-misses, and one defensive error at the other end, led to an improbable 1-1 scoreline at the interval.  In the second half St Austell came back strongly into the match, but in a feisty finale and a dramatic period of added-on time Mousehole got the winning goal their overall play deserved. 

Manager Jake Ash made five changes to The Seagulls’ starting line-up, with Kieron Toland, Lez Cela and Rheiss McClean unavailable, Tallan Mitchell suspended and Hayden Turner cup-tied.

On a bright and cool afternoon with the pitch in very good condition for the time of year, Mousehole took an early lead as midfielder Scott Imade pounced on a miskick in The Lillywhites’ central defence from Glenn Gabriel’s low cross and prodded home the loose ball from 10 yards in the 4th minute.

It might have been 2-0 in the 21st minute, central defender Jamie Devine making a surging run into the box with the aid of a slick one-two with Imade, and squaring the ball across an open goal just too far ahead of Gerens James.

James was getting into some good positions and came close four times in 7 minutes as the visitors’ defence were put under extreme pressure, heading Amara Bakayoko’s cross over from 6 yards on 24, having a goalbound shot deflected over on 27, a close-range drive blocked on 30 and another chance put over a minute later.

St Austell showed a flash of attacking instinct in the 32nd minute when Mousehole gave the ball away in midfield for danger-man Dan Perryman to drive just wide from 20 yards.  But another bit of casual play gifted the visitors an equaliser on 35 minutes.  Will Tinsley seized on a risky clearance by Cory Harvey to move down the right and cross for the unmarked Chris Reski to convert an easy chance from 8 yards.

Back came Mousehole, with Bakayoko only able to find the side netting when well placed on 38, and having shot deflected just past the post on 41.  At the other end, Perryman was inches away from a low right-wing cross to the far post in a rare St Austell foray upfield, while the half came to a close with The Seagulls disappointed by two refereeing decisions.  Firstly Gerens James’ near-post header into the net from a Bakayoko cross was ruled offside, and shortly afterwards Bakayoko was sandwiched between two defenders when through on goal only for play to be waved on.

After the interval, Mousehole still looked the more threatening of the two sides, but a fascinating sprint duel was emerging between the home side’s Mark Richards in central defence and lone striker Perryman, with the latter determined to keep Cory Harvey busy in goal.

The lurking Gerens James put Mousehole back in front in the 57th minute, tapping over the line from a couple of inches at the far post after Bakayoko’s cross-cum-shot had beaten keeper Jason Chapman and struck the woodwork.

With The Lillywhites now pressing upfield the game became an exciting end-to-end affair.  Gerens James’ just missed the far post with a turn and shot on 60 minutes, while Dan Perryman with an instant drive in minimal space from 18 yards on 68 minutes forced Cory Harvey into the first of three vital saves.  And with the game opening up, Chapman made a great block from Bakayoko as Mousehole broke forward three-on-two from the halfway line in the 76th minute. 

In the 77th minute, Harvey made a spectacular save from Perryman’s top-corner drive from 10 yards, but a minute later St Austell scored the equaliser that had looked likely for some time, substitute Jack Hooper side-footing home as Perryman cushioned a back-post header across the six-yard line.  In the 85th minute Hooper then nearly snatched another goal with a low shot saved by Harvey as Mousehole lost possession 25-yards out.

An exciting game of football turned sour in the 86th minute after a fierce tackle in midfield by St Austell’s Martin Watts prompted an on-pitch melee as  tempers boiled over.  After several minutes, Referee Matthew Carney issued three red cards – to Watts for the tackle, Gerens James for retaliation and visitors’ manager Chris Knight for his active involvement in the fracas, while Jake Ash also received a yellow card for continuing his conversation with the referee.

With added-on time came added drama.  Winger Amara Bakayoko scored his 15th goal of the season to make it 3-2 on 90+3 minutes, stroking the ball into the net from Paulo Sousa’s careful pull-back after the speedy defender had made a great run into the penalty area to latch on to a superb defence-splitting pass from midfield.  And on 90+5 Dan Perryman so nearly took the game to extra time with a low six yard shot, but Cory Harvey again won the battle with an agile diving save to hold the ball on the line.

Mousehole now return to League action with four home league matches in a row, starting this Saturday (11th) against St Blazey (3pm), followed on Saturday 18th by Godolphin Atlantic Newquay (3pm), then Friday night floodlit football at home against Helston Athletic on 24th (7.30pm), and the visit of Sticker on Saturday 1st February (3pm).

The quarter final ties for the Cornwall Senior Cup take place on Saturday 8th February with kick offs at 2pm.  Six quarter-finalists are Premier West clubs, with, alongside Mousehole, Saltash United  (winners 3-1 at Camelford), holders Falmouth Town (3-0 at Dobwalls), Liskeard Athletic (2-1 at home against St Ives Town), Wadebridge Town (with a penalty shoot-out win at Pendeen Rovers), St Blazey (4-0 home win versus St Cleer), and the two Premier East clubs Millbrook (3-1 at St Day) and Torpoint Athletic (6-1 at Wendron United).

Mousehole v St Austell: Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Steve Burt, Scott Imade, Tyler Tonkin, Amara Bakayoko, Gerens James, Glenn Gabriel

Substitutes:  Jonny Ludlam (for Tyler Tonkin, 80), James Butler, Tom Hands, Ben Harding, Jake Ash

Referee: Matthew Carney

Attendance: 124

by Jeff Richardson

SEAGULLS OVERPOWER MAGPIES TO CLAIM BOXING DAY DERBY WIN

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 PENZANCE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

BOXING DAY, THURSDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2019

AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole reached the half-way point of the league season with a comfortable 4-0 win over local rivals Penzance in front of the biggest Trungle Parc crowd of the season who braved the wet and windy conditions.  After heavy overnight rainfall, Referee Kevin Knowles declared the pitch playable an hour before the mid-day kick off, and the decision was well justified as the surface stood up remarkably well and an entertaining 90 minutes of football followed.

Out of the first 19 league matches, The Seagulls have now won 13, drawn 5 and lost just one (away at Helston Athletic) to sit in third place in the table, but with the top six all having played a different number of games, the teams occupying the two promotion positions are unlikely to become clearer until later in the season.

Manager Jake Ash was without three key midfielders – the unavailable Lez Cela together with Tallan Mitchell and Steve Burt suspended after cumulative yellow cards – but welcomed new signing Hayden Turner the 22-goal striker from St Austell, and recalled defender Tyler Tonkin into a midfield role.

Mousehole dominated possession from the start, but Penzance’s squad of youngsters with a sprinkling of older heads deserved great credit for getting to half-time only one goal in arrears.  But in the second half the continuous flow of traffic towards the visitors’ goal was too much as the hosts confirmed their overall superiority albeit with just three further goals, leaving the Magpies with the consolation that their hard work and tenacity avoided a potentially much bigger defeat.

The hosts created five chances in the opening ten minutes but were foiled by obstinate defending until Amara Bakayoko’s low cross from the right skimmed into the net via the far post in the 11th minute.  The experienced Barrie Wyatt in the Penzance goal then rescued his side with good saves to deny Bakayoko and Rheiss McClean, before the visitors broke over the halfway line with menace for the first time in the 36th minute, Daryl Richards denied by Mark Richard’s last-ditch tackle and the follow-up cross just eluding Morgan Kewn at the far post.

Penzance were now seeing more of the ball and triggering the occasional fast break, but Bakayoko came close to doubling the lead in the 38th minute with a shot blocked from six yards, and Billy Curtis ventured upfield from the back to curl a left-footed chip just past the angle a minute before the interval. 

Penzance started the second half on the front foot, Anton Oliver clipped by Jamie Devine when in a promising position 30 yards out, with the swerving free lick presenting home keeper Cory Harvey with a rare piece of action.

Newcomer Hayden Turner produced a burst in from the left on 51 minutes only to be thwarted by the alert Wyatt, but he had to wait only a few minutes more for a debut goal, showing speed and composure to stroke Rheiss McClean’s defence-splitting pass into the net on 58 for a 2-0 scoreline.

Amara Bakayoko made it 3-0 with his 14th goal of the season in the 70th minute, a low 18-yard shot inside the post in the 70th minute , and with Mousehole now in complete control of the play McClean’s 20-yard drive was expertly tipped over by Wyatt on 72. 

It was 4-0 in the 81st minute when Hayden Turner scored another high-class goal, showing great vision and control to turn into the net a waist-high cross by McClean from the left in the 81st minute.

Substitute Glenn Gabriel threatened further goals in the 85th and 86th minutes when one shot was blocked in front of goal and another from 25 yards zipped just wide.

Mousehole: Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Tyler Tonkin, Reiss McClean, Kieran Toland, Amara Bakayoko, Gerens James, Hayden Turner

Substitutes: Glenn Gabriel (for Tyler Tonkin, 61), Tom Hands (for Gerens James, 80), Scott Imade (for Hayden Turner, 87), Mikey Flores, Jonny Ludlam

Penzance: Barrie Wyatt, Callum George, Keelan England, Sam Buckley, Tyler Buckley, Gary Bell, Jacob Cleverly, Andreas Staynes, Daryl Richards, Anton Oliver, Mawgan Kewn.

Substitutes: Nathan Taylor, Josh Turner, Ben Whiting

Scorers: Amara Bakayoko (11, 70), Hayden Turner (58, 81)

Officials: Kevin Knowles (Referee), Anita Gittins & Adam Price (Assistants)

Attendance: 236

For Mousehole, 2019 has been a landmark year, with promotion to the Premier West League to play at the highest-ever level in the club’s history, ongoing ground improvements including the installation of floodlights, and a developing reputation for high-quality coaching that is attracting some of the best talent in the region.

For 2020, the club’s resolution is to continue the momentum of recent developments, including a challenge for promotion to the next level (Step 5 of the non-league system), and work to bring Trungle Parc up to the standards required by the higher league.

The New Year fixtures start on Saturday  4th January with a home fourth-round tie in the Cornwall Senior Cup against current league leaders St Austell, with a 2pm kick off.  The two sides have already drawn 1-1 in both league matches this season, so a close encounter is expected.

Then follow four consecutive home league matches, against St Blazey on Saturday 11th January, Godolphin Atlantic on Saturday 18th,  Helston Athletic on Friday 25th (7.30pm), and Sticker on Saturday 1st February. 

by Jeff Richardson

WINGERS’ GOALS HELP SEAGULLS TO VALUABLE THREE AWAY POINTS

CAMELFORD 1-2 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2019

AT TREFREW PARK

After a late-morning pitch inspection, Mousehole’s game at Camelford was declared to be ‘on’, so The Seagulls were able to complete their last scheduled away league game until mid-February and won thanks to first-half goals by wingers Rheiss McClean and Amara Bakayoko.

On a difficult soggy surface and in a strong wind, a scrappy game was played out, with referee Tony Rogers issuing a liberal collection of yellow cards to both sides, but despite being some way below their best Mousehole came away with a hard-earned three points to keep them in 4th place in the table.

With a run of six home league games now in front of them, Jake Ash’s team have a great opportunity to strengthen their challenge for one of the top two promotion places.

Winger Rheiss McClean gave the visitors an early lead, beating one man on the edge of the penalty area before zippin a low right-footed shot low into the net in the 5th minute to reach a double figure tally of goals for the season.

The home side came back with quick attacks, Joe Reeve firing straight at keeper Corey Harvey when well placed in the 10th minute, and Mark Richards scooping the same player’s shot off the line when the keeper failed to get distance with a punched clearance on 14.  But a minute later The Camels drew level from a disputed penalty after Steve Burt’s sliding tackle to halt Kian Burns’ penetrating run from halfway was deemed to be a foul.  Ed Harrison equalised from the spot and Corey Harvey was then sin-binned for continuing his discussion with the referee  

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Captain Billy Curtis took over in goal but had relatively little to do as The Seagulls managed possession well during Harvey’s period on the sidelines that extended to 15 minutes.

Restored to a full eleven, Mousehole regained the lead on 35 minutes after Tallan Mitchell’s cross produced two close-range chances, with Amara Bakayoko finally doing enough to get the ball over the line for his 12th goal of the campaign.

In a second half of no real quality or pattern of play, Camelford’s attempt to get back into the game suffered a setback in the 80th minute as tough-tackling Andy Boxall was sent off for a second yellow card.  The ten men responded on the front foot but rarely made threatening inroads into the final third.  Rather,

Mousehole created several late breaks from their own half but substitute Glenn Gabriel failed to convert gilt-edged one-on-one chances in the 83rd and 90th minutes.

The sequence of home games starts this Thursday evening (19th) with a 7.30pm kick-off against Falmouth Town.  The 6th-place visitors are 8 points behind Mousehole from the same number of games.  The two sides drew 0-0 at Bickland Park in early August, Mousehole’s first-ever game at Step 6 after promotion, with The Seagulls on top for most of the first 70 minutes but then coming under pressure in the closing stages.  The attendance on that occasion was an impressive 253, and with Falmouth’s sizeable away following, supporters are advised to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion in the vicinity of Trungle Parc.

Mousehole then host Penzance for the traditional Boxing Day ‘local derby’, kick-off 12 noon, with another big crowd expected.

January 2020 then sees four consecutive home games – against St Austell on Saturday 4th at 2pm in the 4th round of the Cornwall Senior Cup; and then league fixtures against St Blazey (Saturday 11th, 3pm), Godolphin Atlantic  (Saturday 18th, 3pm) and Helston Athletic (Friday 24th, 7.30pm).

Mousehole at Camelford:  Corey Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Lez Cela, Steve Burt, Tallan Mitchell, Amara Bakayoko, Kieran Toland, Rheiss McClean

Substitutes:  Glenn Gabriel (for Lez Cela, 72), Gerens James (for Amara Bakayoko, 87), Scott Imade, Sam Shulberg, Ben Harding

Mousehole scorers:  Rheiss McClean (5), Amara Bakayoko (35)

Officials:  Tony Rogers (Referee), Dave Green and David Sellars (Assistants)

by Jeff Richardson

‘MIXED FEELINGS’ AS MOUSEHOLE DRAW AT LEAGUE LEADERS

ST AUSTELL 1-1 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE – PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2019

AT POLTAIR PARK

A point away from home against the team at the top of the table would normally be a cause for celebration, but in truth this was a game Mousehole should have won convincingly.

The Seagulls took an early lead and played against ten men for nearly an hour, but despite a huge amount of possession they were wasteful in the final third, and late in the game an error at the back let the home side back into the match for an improbable equaliser.

The draw lifts Mousehole up one place into fourth above Bodmin Town on goal difference, but still 11 points behind St Austell with four games in hand.

The Lillywhites’ Dan Perryman had a great chance to put the home side ahead in the 5th minute, but lobbed over from distance after Mousehole keeper Corey Harvey half-blocked a misdirected back pass.

Kieran Toland then put the visitors into the lead in the 8th minute, swerving a great free kick from the corner of the penalty box high inside the far post, for his 25th goal of the season.

Back came St Austell and Harvey had to dive full length to keep out a downward header from a free kick, while at the other end Amara Bakayoko mishit  a reasonable chance wide from 10 yards on 18.

In the next minute, Toland had a wonderful chance to double the score but headed Tallan Mitchell’s free kick sideways from just a few feet out.

The home side were using their aerial power to good effect, with a header from a long throw striking the bar in the 21st minute.  But they nearly conceded an own goal on 24 when Lez Cela’s free kick skimmed off a defender’s head and millimetres past the post.

In the 32nd minute, Mousehole’s best move so far split the defence to give Bakayoko a clear run on goal but he hastily shot over from inside the box.

The Lillywhites were reduced to 10 men in the 36th minute, Martin Giles receiving a straight red card from Oliver Willcocks for stamping on Steve Burt after a tussle in midfield.

With their superior numbers and possession, Mousehole came close to another goal in the period before the interval, Tallan Mitchell having two shots saved by  Jason Chapman in the home goal and firing just wide with the keeper beaten.

In the meantime, the home side retreated into massed defence, a formation they maintained for most of the rest of the match, with an occasional threat from long throws and Hayden Turner’s set pieces.  One 25-yards free kick in the 39th minute was just wide of the near post with Harvey stranded.

Mousehole continued on top from the start of the second half, Cela testing Chapman on 48, Toland scooping over a close-range chance at full stretch from Bakayoko’s cross on 62, and Rheiss McClean volleying wide on 65.

St Austell’s survival strategy nearly paid off in the 67th minute when Turner’s floated corner was scruffily cleared away, but they were very fortunate in the 70th minute when Mitchell arrived late in the box to nudge Bakayoko’s pulled back cross into the net, only for the assistant referee Winkworth to flag controversially for offside.

With Mousehole swarming around the edge of the penalty area but unable to make headway against The Lillywhites’ rearguard, Toland resorted to a long-range shot over the bar in the 76th minute, and the risk was becoming clearer that the hosts might just mount a late threat.  And so it happened.  A long downfield ball out of defence in the 78th minute for the tireless sole striker Dan Perryman to chase was allowed to bounce into the box where the hitman slotted a great low angled shot across Corey Harvey into the far corner.

Buoyed by that score, St Austell stood firm in defence, Mitchell firing just over on 80, Bakayoko close on 88 with a cross-cum-shot, and Toland heading the wingman’s cross over on 90.  The home side and their supporters celebrated at the final whistle as if they had won, whereas for Mousehole a draw felt like a defeat.

Although having lost only once in the League this season – away at Helston Athletic – Mousehole have now recorded a division-equalling five draws from 17 games so far.  Those draws – away at Falmouth, Porthleven and home against Wadebridge, as well as a ‘double’ draw against St Austell – were all matches which they dominated for large periods and could have won with better finishing.  Manager Jake Ash and his coaching team know they will need to put that right as a priority, in order to keep the promotion challenge on track.

This coming Saturday (14th December, 3pm) Mousehole travel to Trefrew Park to face 9th place Camelford, looking for a league double over the side they beat 3-2 in August in their ‘milestone’ first home game after promotion to the highest playing level in their history.

After that comes an amazing sequence of seven home games in a row lasting until February.

  • Falmouth Town are the visitors for a floodlit encounter on Thursday 19th December (7.30pm)
  • Penzance complete the 2019 fixtures in the traditional Boxing Day ‘derby’ game with a 12-noon kick off
  • The new year starts with yet another match against St Austell, this time in the Cornwall Senior Cup fourth round on Saturday 4th January at 2pm
  • Then follow four League games against St Blazey, Godolphin, Helston (on Friday 24th January) and Sticker.

Mousehole at St Austell:  Corey Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Steve Burt, Lez Cela, Tallan Mitchell, Rheiss McClean, Kieran Toland, Amara Bakayoko

Substitutes:  Glenn Gabriel (for Rheiss McClean, 69), Gerens James (for Steve Burt, 83), Scott Imade, James Butler, Sam Shulberg

Mousehole scorer:  Kieran Toland (8)

Officials:  Oliver Willcocks (Referee), Lucy Kane and Darren Winkworth (Assistants)

by Jeff Richardson

RESOLUTE MOUSEHOLE WEATHER THE STORM TO RECORD ‘DOUBLE’ WIN OVER BODMIN TOWN

MOUSEHOLE 4-1 BODMIN TOWN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, PREMIER WEST

SATURDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2019

AT TRUNGLE PARC

It’s a measure of Mousehole’s progress that they recorded a well-earned league double against a very competitive Bodmin Town side, whose impressive recent history rightly puts them among the ‘giants’ of Cornish football.

Since the formation of the South West Peninsula League 12 years ago, the Priory Park club have won a total of 15 major trophies as Premier Division champions, and League Cup and Cornwall Senior Cup winners.

From first whistle to last the crowd who braved the cold, windy and wet weather were treated to a exciting end-to-end contest with both sets of players battling hard to overcome the horrible conditions both overhead and under-foot. 

Bodmin arrived determined to make amends for their 3-1 home defeat by Mousehole in the first week of the season – their former player Jake Ash’s second match as Mousehole’s manager. 

On this occasion, the visitors started strongly in the first 15 minutes, but Mousehole gradually found their feet and keeper Scott Kellow had to make vital saves from Kieran Toland on 18 minutes and Amara Bakayoko on 22. 

Then came two goals in nine minutes.  Rheiss McClean found a tiny amount of space in a crowded penalty area 12 yards out to poke the ball right-footed into the corner to put the home side ahead in the 25th minute, but the visitors equalised when centre-back Kai Fisher slid a great 50-yard ball down the right for Ethan Phillips whose pulled-back cross was converted accurately inside the post by Harry Clarke.

With playing conditions ever worsening, the second half was lit up by three memorable goals.  Mousehole regained the lead on 59 minutes, Lez Cela driving forward from halfway to feed Amara Bakayoko just outside the corner of the box, with the wingman bringing the ball inside on to his lethal left foot to crash an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top left hand corner.

Bodmin then enjoyed a 20-minute period of good possession as they pressed forward threateningly for another equaliser, but Mousehole showed great character and concentration with some expert interceptions and courageous blocks to preserve the lead.

And their resilience was rewarded at the other end in the 84th minute when Kieran Toland ran at a retreating back line to square the ball for Lez Cela, who despite being surrounded by defenders skilfully switched the ball on to his right foot to curl a shot from 12 yards off the post for a 3-1 scoreline.

Recent signing Glenn Gabriel came on as a substitute in the 85th minute to keep the visitor’s defence under pressure with his direct running, and within three minutes he had scored the fourth goal, released into space on the right by Steve Burt’s quick pass to home in unopposed on goal and drive the ball firm and low into the far corner.

Mousehole remain in 5th place, now just one point behind Bodmin with two games in hand.  They have also opened up an eight point gap over 6th place Newquay from two games fewer, and ten points over 7th place Falmouth Town from the same number of matches.

Another massive challenge awaits Jake Ash’s side next Saturday when they travel to Poltair Park to face league leaders St Austell.  The two sides drew 1-1 at Trungle Parc earlier in the season in a closely-fought encounter, with The Seagulls coming mightily close to taking all three points.  At the weekend The Lillywhites won 6-0 away at last season’s promoted Division One West champions Liskeard Athletic, and are now 11 points ahead of Mousehole but have played four games more.

After the St Austell game comes an away trip to Camelford (Saturday 14th December, kick off 3pm), followed by no less than seven consecutive home games, stretching through to early February, starting with a mouth-watering floodlit encounter with Falmouth Town on Thursday 19th December (7.30pm) and then the Boxing Day clash with Penzance at 12-noon.

Mousehole v Bodmin Town: Mikey Flores, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Tallan Mitchell, Steve Burt, Kieran Toland, Rheiss McClean, Amara Bakayoko, Lez Cela

Substitutes: Gerens James (for Tallan Mitchell, 46), Glenn Gabriel (for Rheiss McClean, 85), Tyler Tonkin, Scott Imade

Mousehole scorers:  Rheiss McClean (25), Amara Bakayoko (59), Lez Cela (84), Glenn Gabriel (88)

Officials:  George Pattison (Referee), Neil Rudkin & Adam Batchelor (Assistants)

Attendance: 72