ALL READY FOR CLARETS ON SATURDAY!

In arguably their biggest game of the season, Mousehole have the opportunity to see how they measure up to the standards of a higher-league side when Premier Division Launceston visit Trungle Parc this Saturday (30^th) for a League Cup 3^rd round tie, kick-off 2pm.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for the victors to progress to the quarter-finals and a winnable-looking home tie against Division 1 East mid-table side Teignmouth.

The Seagulls have already won prize money from League Cup sponsors Walter C Parson Funeral Directors for being the longest-surviving Division 1 West side in this year’s competition, having won 3-2 at league leaders Ludgvan in the first round and claiming a Premier Division scalp by beating Camelford 1-0 at home in the second.

The Clarets however are having one of their best seasons for a decade in the Premier Division.  They are currently in 7^th place, with Sam Davey the third top scorer in the Division on 19 goals.  They have played three times in December, beating Division 1 West side  Liskeard Athletic in the Senior Cup 4-1 at home, then in the League losing 4-1 at Helston Athletic but last time out two weeks ago going down narrowly 1-0 at league leaders Plymouth Parkway.

By contrast Mousehole have played five games during the month, all at home, and have won them all with a goal aggregate of 17 against 2, starting with a 5-1 victory over RNAS Culdrose in the Senior Cup, followed by 2-1 over then-league leaders Liskeard, 4-0 over both St Dennis and Porthleven, and a Boxing Day ‘local derby’ 2-0 defeat of Penzance.

This will be the third game to be played at Trungle Parc in seven days during a spell of very wet weather.  Early indications are that the pitch has been worked on and recovered well since the pounding it took on Boxing day – when the fixture was one of only three in the Division to get the go-ahead – and it looks like the investment in a drainage scheme during the summer is already paying handsome dividends.

Kick off is at 2pm and the tie will be decided if necessary by extra time and penalties.

Next Saturday (6^th January) Mousehoe are in Cup action again when they take on Cornwall Combination side West Cornwall in the Senior Cup 3^rd Round (2pm).

 

 

 

MOUSEHOLE 2-0 PENZANCE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

TUESDAY 26^TH DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

SEAGULLS FLYING HIGH IN FOURTH PLACE AFTER MAGPIES DEFEAT

Match Programme Boxing Day vs Penzance

A late goal in each half gave Mousehole the Boxing Day ‘local derby’ victory over Penzance, with players of both sides deserving great credit for putting on a competitive contest in horrible wet and windy conditions on a rain-soaked pitch.

Mousehole’s investment in improved drainage during the summer paid off with the game being only one of three in the Division to survive the weather, the others being at Bude and St Blazey.  And the three points enabled Mousehole to gain their tenth consecutive home win in all competitions and their third ‘clean sheet’ in a row, to move up the League table to fourth place.  Penzance are now in 10^th place, 9 points behind Mousehole but with three games in hand.

The large crowd of 279 – the highest in the Division this season – saw both sides go close in the opening period, with Steve Parker-Billinge in the home goal producing important saves in the 25^th and 28^th minutes, and Paolo Sousa and Bradley Wills missing the target on 25 and 34 at the other end.

But Mousehole dominated the last few minutes of the half and took the lead on 44 minutes.  ‘Keeper Dom Angove had just made a great block from Sousa’s drive on 43, when in the next attack Jordan Adlard let fly fom 25 yards and the ball swerved and dipped into the far top corner.  There was still time for Angove to excel when he tipped over a fierce long-range Calum Elliot free-kick in added time.

It was again nip and tuck after the interval in worsening conditions, Mousehole’s Jake Andrew shooting wide from close in after a defensive mix-up on 64 minutes, but former Seagull Lewis Caspall coming within millimetres of an equaliser as he was on the end of Penzance’s best move of the match with a superb left-foot drive that beat Parker-Billinge but came back off the crossbar on 67.

The Magpies pressed forward in the closing stages and The Seagulls’ defence had to be at its best to deal with a series of wind-assisted in-swinging corners and to block several half-chances in the box.  The game became stretched as Mousehole created chances on the break, and it was Paolo Sousa’s third goal in two games that made the game safe as he made space for himself before calmly placing a left-footed shot inside the far post from 15 yards in the 89^th minute of normal time.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Josh Otto, Kevin Lawrence (captain), Bradley Wills, Jordan Adlard, Luke Johnson (Connor Davey, 64), Jake Andrew, Paolo Sousa.  Unused substitutes:   Caleb Marsden, Billy Curtis, Josh Nicholls, Matt McIlroy

 

Penzance:  Dom Angove, Matt Laithwaite, NathanHampton (Kyle Hampton, 70), Frazer Cadman (captain), Daniel Lord, Joel Allen, Paul Robertson, Mark Vercesi, Ed Wilton, Lewis Caspall, Joel McWilliams (Ronnie May, 45).  Unused substitutes:  Finn Robinson, Jodie Hampton

Scorers:  Jordan Adlard (44), Paolo Sousa (88)

Referee: Kevin Knowles.     Attendance: 279

MOUSEHOLE v PENZANCE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

BOXING DAY MORNING, KICK OFF 11am

AT TRUNGLE PARC, PAUL 

The Seagulls face The Magpies in the latest annual festive derby, with the home side 6^th in the League table and the visitors in 9^th, six points behind but with three games in hand.

Mousehole have won all nine of their home games this season, six in the League and one in each of the Cup competitions, and in each of their last three matches have beaten a team in the top six, including then League leaders Liskeard Athletic and two 4-0 wins in a row against St Dennis and, on Saturday Porthleven.

Penzance however are having a much better period than last season, when at the end of the year they were bottom of the League but got enough points after that to finish second-last, still in the second relegation spot but ultimately reprieved because of club decisions in the divisions above and below.  This campaign they have beaten three sides at the top, Liskeard and Millbrook away and Porthleven at home, and, without a fixture on Saturday, their last match on 16^th December was a 6-2 away win at Plymstock United, which followed an 8-1 home win over Bude Town.

In the Cup competitions, Penzance are still in the  Cornwall Senior Cup (away at Falmouth on 6^th January) and Cornwall Charity Cup (here at Trungle Parc again in the quarter-finals on 10^th February).

Penzance’s personnel include eight who were Seagulls a year ago, while Mousehole include four ex-Magpies.

The full-colour, advert-free match programme costs £1, containing among other things a cash prize ‘lucky number’, lots of information about this match and a ‘look behind the scenes’.

Spectators arriving by car are strongly advised to be in the ground early to avoid congestion.

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 PORTHLEVEN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 23^RD DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

SUPER SEAGULLS UP TO SIXTH AFTER SECOND 4-0 SUCCESS IN A ROW

Mousehole started the second half of the League season by gaining a second consecutive 4-0 win to take their home record to nine wins out of nine and move up to sixth place in the table, in perfect preparation for the ‘local derby’ against Penzance at Trungle Parc on Boxing Day.

Having now beaten three sides above them in their last three games – leaders Liskeard Athletic, St Dennis and now Porthleven – The Seagulls find themselves on equal points with fourth place St Blazey and fifth place Porthleven, both of whom however have better goal differences.

In an evenly contested first half in which Jake Andrew had chances with two off-target headers from close range and Luke Johnson scuffed wide from in front of goal, Mousehole took the lead on 36 minutes shortly after a tactical change had seen Paolo Sousa and Luke Johnson switch wings.  It was Sousa who then came inside from the right to turn defenders this way and that, before planting a low left-footed shot from 22 yards that skidded just inside goalkeeper James Wignell’s near post.

Porthleven’s half-time team talk was wrecked within eight minutes of the restart as they conceded two goals.  Firstly Bradley Wills strode through to round Wignell and slot home for 2-0 on 50 minutes, and then Paolo Sousa’s clever footwork enabled him to do the same on 54, both chances created after Kevin Lawrence had intercepted the ball in midfield and threaded perfect passes between Porthleven’s big defenders.

Substitutes Connor Davey and Matt McIlroy came on with dramatic impact on 71 minutes, Davey’s darting run on the left and low cross to the far post being side-footed home by McIlroy for the fourth goal within seconds of their appearance, the move having again been set up by Kevin Lawrence.

The Fishermen were vulnerable to the ball being played quickly on the ground and Mousehole continued to fashion chances to add to an already impressive scoreline, but the visitors came close to reducing the arrears near the end with a header that went narrowly wide and a one-on-one shot superbly saved by the previously untroubled Steve Parker-Billinge.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (Billy Curtis, 58), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Josh Otto, Jordan Adlard, Kevin Lawrence, Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (Connor Davey, 71), Jake Andrew (Matt McIlroy, 71), Paolo Sousa.  Substitutes:  Caleb Marsden, Josh Nicholls

Scorers:  Paolo Sousa (36, 54), Bradley Wills (50), Matt McIlroy (72).

Referee:  Tim Burley.     Attendance:  81

• Next up is the Boxing Day match at Trungle Parc against Penzance (kick off 11am), who are three places and six points behind Mousehole but with three games in hand.  Spectators are advised to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion at the ground.

 

• Arguably Mousehole’s biggest game of the season takes place this coming Saturday (30^th) when higher-division Launceston – currently in 6^th place in the Premier Division and 20 places above Mousehole in the ‘pyramid’ –  are the visitors for a League Cup 3^rd round tie (2:00pm kick off).  The fixture has lots of added interest as it is an opportunity for Mousehole’s developing squad to measure themselves against another Premier Division side, having already disposed of Camelford in the 2^nd round, as well as the chance to earn a home tie in the quarter-finals against Division 1 East mid-table Teignmouth.

 

• Mousehole are in Cup action again the following Saturday (6^th January) in the Cornwall Senior Cup 3^rd round (2pm) against Camborne-based lower-league side West Cornwall who are currently 10^th in the 20-team Cornwall Combination League in their first season after promotion from the Trelawny League Premier Division as champions.

 

 

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 ST DENNIS

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 16^TH DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

MATCH PROGRAMME ST DENNIS

Recording their eighth consecutive win to maintain their perfect home record, Mousehole were on top form on Saturday with a convincing win over St Dennis, who started the game one place and three points ahead in the League table.  And despite dominating for the full 90 minutes, The Seagulls just failed to get the extra goal that would have seen them climb above their visitors into sixth place.

Both sides had several players unavailable, Mousehole without amongst others Max Hill (with a long term injury), Jordan Adlard (serving a one-match suspension) and captain Billy Curtis, but were on the front foot straight from the kick off and took the lead after 98 seconds when Bradley Wills drove a low left-footed shot in off the far post after great set-up work by Paolo Sousa.  Sousa on the left and Luke Johnson on the right constantly troubled The Saints back line, and Johnson’s driven cross was headed firmly in by Jake Andrew at the near post on 18.  The same scorer made it 3-0 after 39 minutes with a side-foot finish at the far post from Bradley Wills’ searching cross.  And on the stroke of half-time Luke Johnson’s dangerous ball in from the right sailed into the far top corner for 4-0.

Having been over-run by Mousehole’s passing and movement in the first 45 minutes, St Dennis withdrew into a more defensive formation in the second half in an attempt to limit further damage.  The Seagulls continued to press, with the game being played almost entirely in the visitors’ half, and had it not been for goal-line clearances, missed chances –  with Jake Andrew coming close to a hat-trick on several occasions – and some courageous goalkeeping by young ‘keeper Kieran Broadfield, the score could well have been at least doubled.  In the last ten minutes, St Dennis ventured forward for the first time and Carl Rickard forced goalkeeper Steve Parker-Billinge into a diving save, his only serious action of the afternoon.

Having achieved home wins against both League leaders Liskeard Athletic and top-six St Dennis in successive games, Mousehole face another interesting challenge this Saturday (23^rd) when local rivals Porthleven, currently in fourth place, visit Trungle Parc, kick off 2:15pm.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (sub Matt McIlroy, 79), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Caleb Marsden (sub Josh Otto, 26), Kevin Moon, Kevin Lawrence (captain), Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (sub Connor Davey, 70), Jake Andrew, Paolo Sousa.  Substitutes:  Josh Nicholls, Danny Park.

Scorers:  Bradley Wills (2), Jake Andrew (18, 39), Luke Johnson (45)

Referee:  Alan Hoon.    Attendance:  63

*Mousehole teams had a ‘clean sweep’ at the weekend, the Reserves winning 1-0 away against Penwith Exiles to go five points clear at the top of the Trelawny League Division 1; the Thirds beat Madron 6-1 at Marazion in Division 4.

Our Under-9s competed in  the inaugural Endorsed Cup tournament at Trungle Parc on Sunday in what was a very successful afternoon.

*Mousehole Women’s top-of-the-table encounter at St Agnes in the Cornwall Women’s League was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

An exciting encounter lies in store on Saturday (16^th) as Mousehole reach the half-way stage in the League season with the visit of ‘old foes’ St Dennis (2:15pm).

After last Saturday’s superb win over top-of-the-table Liskeard Athletic, The Seagulls have moved up into 7^th place, with a 100% home record – four League and three Cup wins – since resuming fixtures at Trungle Parc in October.

The Saints are currently one place and three points above Mousehole, but with a plus-10 better goal difference. They have been involved in several high-scoring games in League and Cup competitions this season, and have scored four goals in each of their last four fixtures.

The opening game of the season saw St Dennis and Mousehole share the points in a 4-4 draw, a match notable for a Jerome Slew hat-trick for The Seagulls, and a fight-back by The Saints from 4-1 down with 20 minutes to go, aided by a “much-discussed” refereeing decision to award a goal when a long-distance indirect free-kick was carried by the wind straight into Mousehole’ s net.

Saturday’s full-colour advert-free programme contains the season’s results and fixtures, news of the Reserves, Thirds and Women’s teams, the Liskeard match report, a history piece, a quiz, St Dennis factoids, and a cash-prize ‘lucky number’….all for only £1.

MOUSEHOLE 2-1 LISKEARD ATHLETIC

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, WEST DIVISION

SATURDAY 9^TH DECEMBER 2017, AT TRUNGLE PARC

SEAGULLS SWOOP TO DEFEAT LEAGUE LEADERS LISKEARD

 Match Programme Mousehole vs Liskeard

Mousehole’s best performance of the season earned them a richly deserved victory over top-of-the-table Liskeard Athletic, to make it seven home wins out of seven for the season and only one defeat in the last ten matches in all competitions.

The Seagulls were without Bradley Wills, Liam Andrew and captain Billy Curtis, but former Scottish Premier League midfielder Kevin Moon made his debut and Paolo Sousa returned to the squad.

Mousehole made a bright start and dominated the opening exchanges, but suffered a setback when young centre-back Max Hill was forced off with an injury after only 15 minutes. Elliot dropped back into defence to partner Jordan Adlard, with Sousa coming off the bench into midfield.

Liskeard showed why they are top of the league by surviving pressure for the first half hour and then going ahead with their first serious attack.  Jake Rogers prodded the ball over the line from close in after an angled free kick from 25 yards had scuffed its way into the six-yard box.  And they nearly doubled the lead on 34 when the League’s top scorer James Lorenz shot towards an open goal after rounding ‘keeper Steve Parker-Billinge, but the alert Elliot cleared the ball off the line.

Mousehole returned to the attack but were foiled by ‘keeper Josh Gilbert who made a series of outstanding saves in the ten minutes before half-time to deny Moon, Kevin Lawrence, Sousa and Luke Johnson, while Jake Andrew headed narrowly wide and Tyler Tonkin’s drive hit the post.

After another promising opening 15 minutes, the long-awaited equaliser came in the 61^st minute, Connor Davey showing great anticipation to get ahead of his marker in front of goal to turn in Johnson’s low cross after a superb driving run to the byeline past three defenders on the right hand edge of the penalty area.

With Mousehole well on top, Johnson had a goalbound shot beaten out by Gilbert on 67 before the inevitable second goal arrived in the 69^th minute.  Davey was again involved, his shot being half cleared before Andrew hooked the ball in left-footed into the far corner.

Liskeard came back strongly in the last ten minutes, Parker-Billinge producing a vital diving save on 82, and the resolute defence withstanding two threatening free-kicks and deflecting an on-target header from a dangerous corner.

The three points lift Mousehole up to seventh place in the league table, with the next two home games against teams in the top six.  St Dennis, currently in sixth place, are the visitors to Trungle Parc this Saturday (16^th), followed by fourth-place Porthleven on Saturday 23^rd, with both kick-offs at 2:15pm.

Mousehole: S Parker-Billinge, T Tonkin, M Hill (P Sousa, 15), J Adlard, C Marsden, K Lawrence (c), C Elliot, K Moon, C Davey (J Kissee, 83), L Johnson, J Andrew (J Nicholls, 75).   Substitutes:  B Wood, M McIlroy

Scorers:  Mousehole – C Davey (61), J Andrew (69).  Liskeard – J Rogers (30)

Referee:  Luke Wilkes.   Attendance:  66.

 

 

In other Mousehole AFC news:

• Victories for the Reserves and Thirds made it a treble-winning weekend, with the Reserves winning 5-2 at Mawnan to go two points clear at the top of the Trelawny League Division 1, while the Thirds had a Cup win at Probus after extra time and penalties.
• Mousehole Women’s match at Charlestown was postponed, as were all fixtures in the Cornwall Women’s League, so they remain second on goal difference, but with a game in hand, behind last season’s champions St Agnes.  And this Sunday (17^th) St Agnes host Mousehole, kick off 2.30pm
• Mousehole could win themselves a home tie against East Division side Teignmouth, who knocked out Penzance 4-3 on Saturday, in the quarter-finals of the SWP League Cup – if they beat Premier Division Launceston in the 3^rd Round on 30^th December at Trungle Parc.  Mousehole have already earned prize money from League Cup sponsors Walter C Parson Funeral Directors for being the last-surviving West Division side in this year’s competition.

 

This Saturday Mousehole face a big challenge when League leaders Liskeard Athletic visit Trungle Parc for a West Division match (2:15pm kick-off).

Mousehole have won all six games since resuming home fixtures in October after the stadium refurbishment, three of them in the League (against Dobwalls 4-1, Illogan 2-0 and Plymouth Marjon 4-2), together with a victory in each of the three Cup competitions (against Camelford 1-0 in the League Cup, Ludgvan 2-1 in the Charity Cup, and RNAS Culdrose 5-1 in the Senior Cup last Saturday).

The valuable League points have lifted Mousehole up to 9^th place in the table, and a win or even a draw would enable them to overtake Penzance who are on Cup duty.  Manager Kevin Richards has his eye on a good haul of points from the next three pre-Christmas home games – against Liskeard, St Dennis and Porthleven, all of whom sit above The Seagulls – so that maximum advantage can be taken of consecutive home games in the New Year and an attack on the top-six can begin to become a reality.

Liskeard Athletic were relegated four years ago and are having by far their best season since then.  They currently stand at the top of the table level on points with Ludgvan but with a far superior goal difference.  They have lost only once in the last nine League games – against ‘dark horses’ St Blazey –  and last week had a resounding 6-1 win at home to Wendron.  With 17-goal James Lorenz featuring in an attack-minded side having recorded a 7-2 hammering of Mousehole in August, as well as 6 against Wendron and three 4-0 wins against St Dennis, Plymstock and Bude, Mousehole’s defence will need to be at its very best…….but The Seagulls’ midfield and attack is perfectly capable of turning on the style, so a fascinating contest lies in store.

Mousehole will be without captain Billy Curtis who is away, and Josh Otto and Yeshe Briar who are on Cornwall U18s duty against Gloucestershire, but Max Hill will be available, as will Matt McIlroy after serving a 3-match suspension.

Saturday’s match programme includes a wealth of Mousehole-related information, including all results and fixtures, a match report, a good motivational piece by Kevin Richards, and some interesting stuff about Liskeard Athletic – all in glorious colour, an absence of commercial adverts, a cash prize ‘lucky number’ and at a new reduced price of £1 only!!!