Author: Jeff Richardson

by Jeff Richardson

MATCH REPORT – MOUSEHOLE RESERVES vs HELSTON 3rds

MOUSEHOLE RESERVES 3-1 HELSTON ATHLETIC 3RDS

CORNWALL JUNIOR CUP, SECOND ROUND

SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2017, AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole Reserves made their first appearance of the 2017/18 season at Trungle Parc following the refurbishment of the ground, all previous home fixtures having been played at Marazion.

The weather was perfect after last week’s encounter with Storm Brian, both sides played attractive football throughout the 90 minutes, and the facilities and pitch were in pristine condition.  Kick-off was delayed by about 20 minutes as the referee was caught in a hold-up following a Road Traffic Accident on the A30.

This cup tie brought together Mousehole Reserves who are top of the Trelawny League Division One with 20 points from 9 games, against Helston Athletic 3rds who play in the Premier Division following promotion as champions of Division One last season and currently sit just below halfway with 9 points from 8 games.

And it was a test against higher-division opponents that The Seagulls passed well, with another competent and confident all-round squad performance in front of a good turn-out of home supporters.

The hosts mounted numerous attacks on the Helston goal from the start and dominated play in all departments.  The ice was broken in the 25th minute when a through ball from Jamie Robinson found Chris Bullock who was clipped in the penalty area and then converted the resultant penalty for 1-0.

A short while later strong appeals for a penalty were turned down in favour of a corner when Michael Fitchett was tumbled over in the box, and from the corner Joe Davies’ superb strike from outside the box cannoned just over the top of the crossbar.

Helston started strongly after the break without seriously troubling goalkeeper Adam Robathan, while at the other end the midfield trio of Lee Robinson, Jamie Simmonds and Nathan Goodspeed all had chances, but were not able to increase the score.

Shortly after coming on as a substitute for Tom Patrick, Jamie Simons was on the end of an accurate cross to place a fine header into the net to make it 2-0.

As both sides started to use their substitutes in the final period of the game, Helston’s positive attacking play resulted in fine saves in succession by Adam Robathan, before the ball was bundled into the net from a corner to halve the arrears at 2-1.

But as the clock ticked down, Jamie Simons made the game safe with his second goal and Mousehole’s third, as he latched on to a through ball and ran into the box to  beat the keeper.

Mousehole now progress to Round 3 of the Cornwall Junior Cup on 25th November, which sees the East and West leagues combine into a single draw (date of draw not yet known).

Mousehole Reserves’ squad:  Adam Robathan, Jamie Robinson, Joe Davies (captain), Lee Robinson, Tom McGarry, Harry Tonkin, Jason Simmonds, Nathan Goodspeed, Michael Fitchett, Tom Patrick, Chris Bullock, Louis Main, Jamie Simons, Liam Collinson, Tom Hooper, Matthew Howes

by Jeff Richardson

MATCH REPORT – HELSTON LADIES vs MOUSEHOLE WOMEN

HELSTON LADIES 2-9 MOUSEHOLE WOMEN

CORNWALL WOMEN’S LEAGUE

SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2017, AT KELLAWAY PARK

Third-place Mousehole Women faced a tough-looking challenge on Sunday when they visited second-place Helston Ladies, but followed up their run of three away victories at Penryn, Illogan and Porthleven with another decisive victory to continue their excellent start to the season.  In so doing, The Seagulls became the only team in the League with a 100% record and are now just three points behind leaders St Agnes with two games in hand.

Mousehole started brightly, putting early pressure on Helston and setting the tone for the game.  In the early stages, the visitors were in control but the Helston goal led a charmed life, with chances being created and just going wide, some good saves from the keeper, and on one occasion a cross from the right deflected on to the bar by a defender.  Seagulls’ goalkeeper Lyndsey Mayers at the other end had little to do, but when Helston did threaten they forced her into a diving save to the right.

Sophie Wilson opened the scoring for Mousehole with a shot from 25 yards out, the ball striking the inside top of the post and giving the keeper no chance.  It was soon 2-0 when Emily Hardaker headed in at the far post, and Sophie Wilson then added a third before half time.

Mousehole started the second half in the same vein, soon going 4-0 up, this time a cross from Katy Barker being turned into goal by the Helston defender.  The hosts didn’t give up though and pounced on an error in the Mousehole defence to make it 4-1.  Sophie Wilson got her hat-trick and Mousehole’s 5th when Megan Davison beat the offside to roll the ball through for Sophie to score.

Helston pulled another one back before Mousehole scored two more quick goals, Megan Edwards going through to finish after the keeper fumbled under her pressure, and Sophie Wilson notching her 4th of the game.  Tamara de Silva then scored from a very acute angle after some good work down the left, and Katy Barker finished the scoring by tapping in after rounding the keeper.

Next Sunday (29th), Mousehole Women play their first home game of the season when mid-table St Teath are the visitors to Trungle Parc, kick off 2.30pm.

Team:  Lyndsey Mayers, Lucy Brown, Lyndsey Williams (captain), Emma Hurworth, Tamara de Silva, Katy Barker, Claire Hitchens Todd, Sophie Wilson, Scarlett Clouter, Emily Hardaker, Jo Barker.  Substitutes (all used):  Megan Davison, Megan Edwards, Flo Davies Kirsop, Lena Mannon, Robyn Ashurst

Mousehole scorers:  Sophie Wilson (4), Emily Hardaker, Megan Edwards, Tamara de Silva, Katy Barker, Helston OG.

by Jeff Richardson

MATCH REPORT – MOUSEHOLE vs DOBWALLS

MOUSEHOLE 4-1 DOBWALLS

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, WEST DIVISION

SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2017, AT TRUNGLE PARC

Match Programme vs Dobwalls

 Only two West Division fixtures went ahead on Saturday – the other being on Plymouth Marjon’s artificial surface – and in Mousehole’s case the investment in a new drainage and pitch resurfacing scheme over the summer months paid immediate dividends in enabling the club to host its first home League game of the season after playing the first 9 matches away from home.

Despite the atrocious weather conditions, the match was never in doubt, with the new pitch easily coping with the heavy overnight rain and the torrential downpour that beset the second half.

The high wind blowing diagonally across the ground made accurate passing and ball control difficult, but Mousehole adapted much the better to the conditions and swept into a 3-0 lead just after the half-hour mark.

In the 10th minute, Tyler Tonkin’s long pass down the right-hand touchline put Luke Johnson in behind his marker, and the low cross was met by Caleb Marsden arriving on the far side of the six-yard box to side-foot home.

It was 2-0 after 25 minutes, as Matt McIlroy created the space on the edge of the box for a left-foot drive that squirmed under goalkeeper Jack Horsewell’s body.

Tyler Tonkin then scored the proverbial ‘scorcher’ in the 32nd minute when his rising drive from the right-side of the area arrowed into the far top corner.

Two minutes before half-time Dobwalls pulled a goal back against the run of play when Billy Curtis’ slip on the wet surface allowed Bentley Alacantra to run on and fire home.

The second half was a different story, with Dobwalls on the front foot in the hope of getting back in the game, but apart from two great saves from Steve Parker-Billinge in the opening and closing minutes – one a close-range block and the other a tip-over from a long-range shot – the weather was the winner, disrupting the pattern of play while at the same time testing the resilience of the players.

The alert Luke Johnson finally put paid to any prospect of a Dobwalls comeback in the last minute when he intercepted a pass deep in the visitors’ defence and slid the ball past the exposed Horsewell.

This was Mousehole’s fourth win in the last five matches, after two league wins away at Bude and Wadebridge followed by the home upset against Camelford in the League Cup, and Saturday’s three points lifts The Seagulls three places to 14th place, with 15 home and 7 away games to come.

The next two away League games are both on the far side of Plymouth, firstly at 15th-place Plymstock United this Saturday (28th) and then at 6th-place Elburton Villa on 18th November.  There then follows an amazing sequence of 11 home League games stretching until 17th February, during which The Seagulls will be expecting to pick up the necessary points to climb the table after a challenging start to the season.

In the meantime, Mousehole’s next match at Trungle Parc is an intriguing local derby with high-flying Ludgvan in the first round of the Cornwall Charity Cup on Saturday 4th November, kick off 2.30pm.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Max Hill, Billy Curtis (captain), Liam Andrew, Kevin Lawrence, Connor Davey, Jordan Adlard, Luke Johnson, Matt McIlroy, Caleb Marsden.  Substitutes:  Byron Wood (for Tyler Tonkin, 53), Jake Andrew (for Matt McIlroy, 64), Danny Park (for Connor Davey, 71).

Scorers:  Mousehole – Caleb Marsden (10), Matt McIlroy (25), Tyler Tonkin (32), Luke Johnson (90).  Dobwalls – Bentley Alacantra (43)

Referee:  Charlie Philpott

by Jeff Richardson

MATCH REPORT – MOUSEHOLE RESERVES vs MAWNAN RESERVES

MOUSEHOLE RESERVES 4-1 MAWNAN RESERVES

TRELAWNY LEAGUE, DIVISION 1

SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2017, AT MARAZION

Mousehole put in a superb all-round squad performance which was duly rewarded with a well-deserved victory and the three points to maintain their position at the top of the Division 1 table.

Full credit is due to both teams in trying to play football in a competitive but respectful manner in extremely difficult conditions.  ‘Storm Brian’ was a major influence during the 90 minutes, the gusting and swirling wind making ball control almost impossible at times.

After winning the toss, Mousehole opted to play into the wind.  On 7 minutes, and after a Mawnan attack, the ball was won in midfield, Nathan Goodspeed found a gap in the Mawnan defence, where Chris Bullock capitalised, latching on to the pass and putting The Seagulls into the lead.

Mawnan equalised soon afterwards, when a wind-assisted free kick from just inside the Mousehole half and close to the touchline sailed straight in for 1-1.

Back came the hosts, and Harry Tonkins’ free kick from midway in the Mawnan half was slotted into the back of the net by Michael Fitchett to restore the lead at 2-1 with 15 minutes gone.

Mousehole should have scored another couple of goals in the first half, but a combination of Mawnan’s good goalkeeping and good luck kept the score to 2-1 at the interval.

With the wind behind their backs, The Seagulls started to dominate the second half with some excellent defensive and mid-field work, but several opportunities to increase the lead failed to materialise.

Mawnan produced some good attacking play and came close to a goal of their own.  But as the game progressed, with the wind increasing in strength and accompanied by some heavy rain, it was Mousehole who took control.  Firstly, Jason Simmonds had a cracking shot rebound from the upright, and then, after a great team move, a high ball in the Mawnan penalty box was controlled and volleyed in by Jamie Simons for 3-1 on 71 minutes.  Finally, to cap a great performance in horrendous conditions, Tom Patrick had a fantastic run in from the left-hand side, beating several defenders to score the fourth with 88 minutes gone.

A huge vote of thanks is due to those responsible for preparing the pitch, which looked good and played well, and to the Marazion committee for providing the hospitality for both teams and for manning the tea-hut.

Mousehole squad:  Adam Robathan, Jamie Robinson, Joe Davies (captain), Lee Robinson, Tom McGarry, Harry Tonkin, Jason Simmonds, Nathan Goodspeed, Michael Fitchett, Christopher Bullock, Tom Patrick, Louis Main, Jamie Simons, Liam Collinson, Ben Chapman

Referee:  Paul Birch

Mousehole Reserves’ next fixture is at home against Helston Athletic 3rds in the Junior Cup this Saturday (28th), kick off 2pm.

by Jeff Richardson

MATCH PREVIEW – MOUSEHOLE v DOBWALLS

This Saturday (21st October) The Seagulls play their first home League fixture of the season in the South West Peninsula League Division 1 West, against Dobwalls (3pm).

Mousehole are second-bottom of the 17-team West Division table, having played all 9 of their League fixtures away – with 2 wins (at Bude and Wadebridge), 2 draws (at St Dennis and Porthleven) and 5 defeats (at Millbrook, Wendron, Liskeard, Plymouth Marjon and Holsworthy), scoring 17 goals and conceding 29.

Dobwalls have played 10 league games, winning 4 and losing 6, with a similar goals record to Mousehole and an identical minus-12 goal difference, and stand 4 places and 4 points above The Seagulls.  Their away form (3 wins, at Bude 2-1, Holsworthy 2-1 and Elburton 4-1) is better than their home form (defeats 2-1 to Millbrook, 8-1 to Wadebridge, 4-3 to Ludgvan and last Saturday 4-0 to St Blazey).

Dobwalls changed managers earlier this season, with Craig Holman replaced by Simon Westlake and Ben Washam, who were Kevin Richards’ assistants at Premier Division Godolphin Atlantic until recently, and previously at fellow West Division club Plymstock United.

Mousehole will approach the game with some confidence after securing three wins in the last four games, including the noteworthy 1-0 ‘upset’ against higher-league Camelford last Saturday in the League Cup (that victory earning The Seagulls a third-round tie at home against another Premier Division side, top-6 Launceston, on 30th December).

In the meantime, Dobwalls’ away form will provide a stern test on Saturday – they won at Trungle Parc in April after a draw at Lantoom Park earlier – and Mousehole will have to be at their best if they are to start accumulating League points and take advantage of the start of the long run of home games lying ahead.

 

 

 

 

by Jeff Richardson

Match Report – Camelford 14th October 2017

MOUSEHOLE 1-0 CAMELFORD

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE CUP sponsored by Walter C Parson Funeral Directors

SECOND ROUND TIE

SATURDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2017, AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole pulled off the major upset of the second round of the League Cup on Saturday, beating higher-division opponents Camelford 1-0 in their first competitive fixture at the re-furbished Trungle Parc after playing their first ten matches away from home – and in so doing achieved their first ‘clean sheet’ of the season.

This was The Seagulls’ third win in four games after league victories at Bude Town and Wadebridge Town, and after an earlier against-the-odds 3-2 win at table-topping Ludgvan in the first round they now eagerly await a third round tie on New Year’s Day (with the draw to be made this week).

Both teams had players missing from their regular match-day squads.  Mousehole were without the unavailable Bradley Wills and top scorer Jorome Slew, but Liam Andrew was fit after a broken nose suffered in the recent Leeds United ‘warm up’, Tyler Tonkin retained an unaccustomed right back position for the second match, recent signing ex-Helston Athletic defensive midfielder Jordan Adlard made his second start, and Connor Davey was available to return to the line-up.

Camelford fielded a team comprising several players who represent Cornwall Under-18s, including influential midfielder and County captain Charlie Hambly.

Each side had recorded two league wins, two draws and five defeats, and in keeping with the form guide the game was closely contested on the day between two evenly matched teams.

Mousehole started the game on the front foot, with Liam Andrew, Jordan Adlard and Matt McIlroy all coming close to opening the scoring within the first 15 minutes, but the visitors came back into the game, putting two presentable chances over and then being denied on 38 minutes by goalkeeper Steve Parker-Billinge’s spectacular diving save from a curling free kick from 25 yards.

The second half resumed with attacking play by both sides, Caleb Marsden firing wide for The Seagulls after a break from halfway on 49 minutes, captain Billy Curtis acrobatically clearing a goalbound header off the line under pressure at the other end after 55, and The Camels’ excellent young goalkeeper Luke Gwillam making a superb save to keep out Luke Johnson’s fierce drive on 62.

The breakthrough came in Mousehole’s favour after 70 minutes when Luke Johnson made another driving run past two defenders down the right and his square pass was calmly side-footed in from 15 yards by Matt McIlroy.

MOUSEHOLE’S SCORER MATT MCILROY (9) THANKS LUKE JOHNSON FOR THE PASS FOR HIS MATCH-WINNING GOAL, WITH CONNOR DAVEY (LEFT), JOSH OTTO (PARTLY HIDDEN) AND LIAM ANDREW (RIGHT) ADDING THEIR CONGRATULATIONS, WHILE CORNWALL UNDER-18s GOALKEEPER LUKE GWILLAM (IN YELLOW) COLLECTS THE BALL OUT OF THE NET

To their credit the visitors responded in great style, and an eventful five minute spell saw a decisive point in the match when Steve Parker-Billinge produced a magnificent point-blank double-save to prevent a certain equaliser, followed by more close calls as a shot just went past the post and the alert Max Hill then blocked a possible chance.

Having weathered the storm with resolute defending, the hosts wasted chances to seal victory with a couple of fast breaks, and Matt McIlroy was then thwarted by Gwillam before hitting the post with a 20-yard free kick.  But it was the Premier Division side who almost took the game into a further half hour of extra time when a header across goal trickled narrowly wide on 85 minutes, and in the final act of a fascinating match a difficult close-range chance was scooped over the bar deep into added-on time.

Manager Kevin Richards has now won his first two matches since taking over as Mousehole’s first team boss and along with Academy Director Jason Blunt will be looking with confidence to take the side’s recent form and new-found resilience into the next run of fixtures.  This Saturday (21st) Mousehole play their first League match of the season at Trungle Parc when Dobwalls are the visitors (3pm).

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (captain), Max Hill, Liam Andrew, Jordan Adlard, Kevin Lawrence, Connor Davey, Luke Johnson, Matt McIlroy, Caleb Marsden

Substitutes:  Josh Otto (for Caleb Marsden, 50), Danny Park, Yeshi Briar, Joshua Storey

Scorer:  Matt McIlroy (70)

Referee:  Mike Glanville

Attendance:  68