Mousehole’s club secretary and Kit Man was featured in a recent article on the Southern League website.

Actor and writer Daniel Tatarsky, known for roles in The Death of Stalin and Suffragette, has found one of his most fulfilling roles volunteering at the club. Since moving to the area a few years ago, he has taken on responsibilities as kit man and club secretary, juggling busy matchday duties like coordinating with referees, opposition officials, and managing kits.

Tatarsky says volunteering has helped him integrate into the community, meet new people, and feel part of something bigger. While demanding at times, he finds the work deeply rewarding. He encourages others to get involved, noting that non-league clubs rely heavily on volunteers and that opportunities are available through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.

Mousehole are currently seeking matchday volunteers and women’s team coaches, and Tatarsky stresses that any time given—big or small—makes a real difference.

Read the full article here: https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk/search

Moushole 2 – 1 Larkhall Athletic

Words by Daniel Tasker

Games between Mousehole and Larkhall are always close-run affairs regardless of their league positions and this game was no exception. Last season saw a one nil home win for the Seagulls, who gained a point away from home thanks to a late equaliser with five minutes to go. The result of this match was decided even later and made for a thrilling end to a proper football battle under grey skies.

Mousehole began the match boasting a one hundred percent home record so far this season and the ITP crowd could have been forgiven for thinking this would be a regulation win for the men in white. The visitors had other thoughts and, backed by a strong wind, they dominated the chances in the first forty-five. Whilst Mousehole had sixty percent possession Larkhall had an equivalent share of the chances.  That it was goalless at the break was more of a relief to Mousehole than Larkhall but the whilst chances had been created there weren’t any that would register high on the Xg charts.

The biggest controversy of the first half was regarding a seeming kick in the head by Larkhall’s Jack (Goodall) on Mousehole’s Jack (Symons). The home bench were apoplectic but the referee and his assistant had missed any deliberate intent whilst watching the ball. It was maybe no coincidence that it was the two Jacks who picked up the half’s two yellow cards.

The second half should have begun with a Mousehole barrage on the Solomon Browne end but going against the wind it was Larkhall who made the break through. A slick counter attack saw the ball end up on the right wing. From there it was cut back across the box to an unseen Harvey Flippance who slid it home.

Mousehole heads dropped momentarily having conceded their first goal at home this season but the upset seemed to ignite a previously absent sense of urgency. Cheered on by an under-average sized but enthusiastic crowd the men in white and green began to make inroads and the chances began appearing. Few were clear cut with the blue shirted visitors happy to throw themselves in the way of anything that moved.

The game turned after seventy minutes when the aforementioned Jack Goodall received the red card many thought he should have seen in the first half. This was for a second bookable offence and came two minutes after the arrival of Mark Goldsworthy.

With Goodall gone, and Goldie on, the pressure going forward increased and the fair-haired veteran levelled the scores in typical fashion after seventy-three minutes. A corner from the right caused chaos in the box. The ball bounced around like a puppy in a field of squirrels but when it fell to the right foot of Goldsworthy the shenanigans ended as he placed it carefully between onrushing legs and into the net.

That strike was his fiftieth in a Mousehole shirt and was celebrated as such by him, his team mates and the crowd but this was a job only half done. The Seagulls had a one hundred percent record to maintain and so the waves of attacks continued as the home side sought the winner. It did make them liable to a counter-attack which meant that the neutral observer may have felt a winner could come at either end.

When the referee indicated five minutes of time added on it seemed like the sands of time would rush too quickly for a positive outcome in either team’s favour but finally the Larkhall resistance with only ten men took a toll on their physical resources. With only seconds left on the clock a Larkhall throw in from the left back only found Ed Harrison’s head. He nodded it to Gene Price who, first time, found Max Cook. The Cookie Monster rolled a pass forward to the half centurion Goldsworthy who played a one two with Price before playing a precise pass to Liam Prynn on the penalty spot. As the referee reached for his whistle to end the match, Predator-Prynn controlled the ball, spun and shot in one movement sending the ball in to the far corner of the goal and sending the crowd into delirium.

It would be hard not to feel sympathy for Larkhall. They deserved a point but in football you don’t always get what you deserve and as Prynn knee-slid into the corner in celebration the home fans didn’t care about fairness. They were simply delighted to see another home win for the Seagulls. There’s not long to enjoy these three points as Tavistock arrive on Tuesday but it made for a great evening.

The club is pleased to provide supporters with a full squad update, including the latest on injuries, new arrivals, departures, and recent trialists.

Injury & Squad News

• Jack Calver – Jack is currently awaiting MRI results. We are all hopeful of a positive outcome and look forward to seeing him back in action soon.
• Hayden Turner – Hayden picked up an ankle injury away at Bideford. He is expected to return to action in October as his recovery continues.
• Josh Bissett – Josh is progressing well in his rehabilitation and is set to begin running again in the coming weeks.
• Paulo Ranalli Sousa – Paulo has rejoined the squad following a period of absence due to the passing of his father. He is working hard to regain full match fitness and we are delighted to see him back on the pitch.

New Signing

We are pleased to confirm the permanent signing of Judah Tawiah.
Judah impressed during his trial period, which included a loan spell at St Blazey where he found the net. Having already featured three times for us, Judah has shown his quality and will be an excellent addition to the squad.

Departures

• William Oduwa – William has accepted an opportunity at Step 3 with Farnham Town. We thank him for his time with us and wish him every success in the next stage of his career.
• Tyrell Dawes – Tyrell has been released in order to gain regular game time and rebuild his match fitness. We also wish him well as he looks for the right opportunity to continue his development.

Trialists

Both George Brough and Ethan Smith completed trial periods with the club. While they will not be signing permanently, we thank them for their efforts and commitment during their time with us, and wish them the very best moving forward.

Mousehole 6 – 0 St Day

Cornwall Senior Cup – Round One

WORDS BY DANIEL TASKER

The Seagulls have never won the Cornwall Senior Cup; it’s something that our friends over in Falmouth never remind us of because that would be churlish. On a clear chilly night this season’s cup campaign began with a convincing win over a plucky St Day side looking resplendent in their grey second kit.

Mousehole welcomed back two veterans: Mark Goldsworthy, making his first start since his shoulder operation took the skipper’s armband whilst Paulo Sousa started on the bench but joined the fray in the first half when Ed Harrison limped off with an Achilles problem. That both these stalwarts scored was the icing and cherry on a tasty cup-cake.

It was clear from the start that whilst the visitors were eager to impress, the gap in league status was going to be too much for a cup shock. With over three quarters of possession belonging to the home team it was not a surprise that is was only thirteen minutes before the first goal came. A nice move down the right ended with a cross from Max Cook finding Liam Prynn in the box. He controlled it and span before smashing it home with his left peg.

Less than ten minutes later the same combination made the second goal, this time the cross was from deeper and the finish was a first time looper over the keeper. Fifteen minutes later and it was game over. Max Cook got his hat trick of assists when he rolled the ball towards Prynn. The ginger magician dummied it to allow Ed Harrison to take a touch and smash home.

The only blot on a good evening was Harrison suffering an ankle injury to go with his shiner from Saturday. Whilst this was not what anyone wanted it did enable an early return to action for our Portuguese plotter Paulo. He slotted in like he’d never been away.

Whilst St Day showed the occasional classy touch, they only created two chances in the first half and neither caused Lewis Moyle to raise an eyebrow. No one would have blamed Mousehole if they’d played out the second half at a stroll but Jake Ash had asked them to go at full pace and they started the second half like a team that was a goal behind.

Two early goals came thanks to this burst of vitality. The first was courtesy of a George Brough pass across the six-yard box. It was met by a grateful Sousa, scoring from a yard out. The fifth came four minutes later and was not a classic. Tallan Mitchell picked up a pass from Judah Tawiah outside the box. He cracked a drive towards the top left corner, on its way it hit Goldie in the face and went in the bottom right corner. The veteran number nine doesn’t care how he scores and this strike took him to forty-nine for the Seagulls.

The scoring was wrapped up in stoppage time. Mitchell getting a second assist when he pulled the ball back to the edge of the box for Tim Nixon to steady himself and fire home.

Six goals, a clean sheet and progress to the next round of the cup. The league is the target this season but a comfortable win will bring succour to the hearts of a team that has been troubled on its travels but revels in the comforts of home. With two league games at ITP coming up in quick succession this will was a good time to build confidence.

Frome 1-0 Mousehole 

Words: Daniel Tasker

The last time these two teams met was in the play-off semi-final at the end of the 2023/24 season. On that occasion Frome won very comfortably by three goals against a Mousehole team for which the game seemed a match too far after a brilliant first season at this level.

When the teams lined up here their starts to the season were rather contrasted. The Robins had a one hundred percent record in the league and were unbeaten in all competitions. Whilst the Seagulls have a matching record at home, their away form has seen zero return from three away trips.

Bearing in mind those stark statistics it was no surprise that the early exchanges saw the home team well on top. It took the hosts just two minutes to register their first attempt at goal, with a curling effort sailing just inches past the left post of Ollie Chenoweth, and they didn’t stop there, the next few minutes saw numerous shots directed towards Chenoweth’s goal, with no real sign of a Mousehole response.

With the clock hitting the thirteenth minute, the hosts took the lead. A dangerous looking cross from Frome’s David Duru resulted in an attempted clearance from Mousehole captain on the day James Ward. Unfortunately it sailed over the head of Chenoweth and nestled in the back of the net. 

The waves of Frome attacks continued but a strong rearguard with Jacob Kevern, making his first start of the season alongside debutant Judah Tawia held them at bay. Whilst the men in blue, Mousehole were sporting a new all navy away kit, stopped the leaks at the back, they could not find a way to trouble the Frome goal.

One nil at the break felt like a good half for the visitors and the home fans were maybe slightly disappointed that a late Duru effort sailed into the car park as a two-goal lead was what they felt they deserved.

Frome had been helped in the first half by a strong wind so there was optimism in the travelling ranks that a change of ends might bring a shift of momentum. As it turned out, the second half, with the sun now out, was a damp squib with few efforts at either end. This could well be the first match in living memory where Mousehole failed to register a shot on target.

The home team huffed and puffed but could not find a way through the thick blue line. Just when they were about to settle for one nil, Mousehole were reduced to ten men when Tallan Mitchell picked up an avoidable second yellow card. This gave the men in red additional impetus but in truth the Seagulls never looked like being breached again.

So another loss on the road but, overall there were many positives. A defensive performance which deserved a draw, this was a step in the right direction for Mousehole on the road and lays down a template for the rest of the season.

Bideford 3 – 1 Mousehole

Words by Daniel Tasker

The film Groundhog Day features a melancholic Bill Murray in a world where every time he wakes up he is back at the start of the same day. It becomes a loop that he can’t break out of. Your reporter knows how Murray feels. Watching the Seagulls lose away in the cup to a team they had just beaten by three goals in the league made Murray’s dilemma feel like a walk in the park.

The statistics suggest that when you score the first goal you have a ninety percent chance of not losing and an eighty percent chance of winning but in the FA Trophy Mousehole managed to defy those odds and exit their second cup competition in just a couple of weeks.

The league game against the Robins had been a tight affair where Mousehole were lucky to be ahead at half time but ran out deserved winners. In the repeat fixture Mousehole were lucky to be only one goal down at half time and the second half again saw deserved winners, this time it was Bideford.

A bright start to the match saw Mousehole on top and it was no surprise when they took the lead. It was a beautifully worked goal. A period of sustained pressure saw the green and whites loading the box but there wasn’t much space. Eventually the ball landed at Ed Harrison’s feet on the right corner of the area, he rolled it forward to Gene Price in lots of space. Price steadied himself before delivering a hip high cross along the six-yard line. Hayden Turner flicked his foot and clipped the ball into the far side of the goal.

For the visiting fans this was a lovely moment but sadly it was as good as the day got and the joy itself lasted barely two minutes. The equaliser came in familiar fashion with the Seagulls unable to defend a set piece. On this occasion it was a long throw from our right, Bideford won the first touch and it fell to their man on the edge of the box. He was facing away from goal but managed to swivel and strike perfectly in to the top corner. It was a great finish but the ball shouldn’t have reached him.

Bideford took the lead less than ten minutes later. When a threatening Mousehole attack ended due to a sloppy offside concession the home keeper was unimpeded when sending a searching ball forward. Some really nice work by the reds on the edge of the box bamboozled a back tracking defence and when the ball was relayed to their space-rich centre forward he only needed one touch to move the ball out of his feet before planting it past Ollie Chenoweth.

The rest of the half was about damage limitation and a desperate attempt to keep the difference to just one goal. That Mousehole managed this, playing into a very strong wind was a victory of sorts and the general feeling was that the second half would see the visitors come on strong and snatch the tie.

Those feelings were blown away by a determined home defence who managed to stifle every effort made by Mousehole and restrict them to just two shots in the second half. The first of those, had it gone in, would have been a momentum shifter. Liam Prynn was set free for a one on one, the sort of chance that the strawberry-haired poacher usually gobbles up but here the keeper advanced quickly and smothered the effort. 

With time running out Mousehole were caught out by another set-piece, this time a corner, although strictly speaking it wasn’t directly from it. The corner itself was cleared but not far enough and the ball was recycled to the Bideford left wing. He sent in a well-angled cross which was turned home by a centre forward in too much space.

With ten minutes to go Mousehole suddenly awoke and created two great chances but neither was taken and the visiting fans were left to memories of great opening ten minutes.  

JOIN US FOR TRAINING

WEDNESDAYS 8-9.30pm @ Mounts Bay Academy 3G pitch.

Sessions are run by Mark Trevail and members of the Mousehole Mens First Team.

We’ve had lots of new faces joining us recently which we LOVE. So there’s never been a better time to give football a go.

All abilities welcome to join. First session free of charge (then £3 per session)

Drop us a DM if you’re coming.

https://www.facebook.com/mouseholewomenfc/

Mousehole AFC are delighted to announce the launch of a new initiative this autumn designed to strengthen links between the club’s first team and the local community.

As part of the scheme, all youth players from the club’s eight youth teams will be offered a free season ticket for the 2025/26 Southern League campaign. Each youth player will also be entitled to bring along one accompanying adult free of charge, ensuring that families can enjoy first team football together at Interiora Trungle Parc.

The offer is not limited to existing youth players. Local schools will also be invited to take part, giving even more young people and their families the chance to experience the excitement of live football at one of Cornwall’s leading clubs.

Club Secretary Daniel Tasker said:

“We are extremely excited about this initiative. It is something the club have talked about for a while and we’ve seen how other clubs around the country have flourished as a result of this sort of offer. The youth are vital to our club both in terms of players coming through the ranks and as fans.

Our recent Family Day showed how great it is to get a good crowd in, enjoying the game together. We had all ages from six months to ninety years. We want to be a family club for all the community, and this is a big step towards that.”

The scheme reflects Mousehole AFC’s ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment at Interiora Trungle Parc while also inspiring the next generation of players and supporters. With the excitement of Southern League football on display, the club hopes to see record numbers of local families in the stands this season.

The fixtures’ computer had thrown up a double-double header for the Seagulls starting with the matches against Brixham and now followed up by a similar pairing with Bideford. Against Brixham we won in the league and lost in the FA Cup. Here we started with a win in the league and we await the fixture in the FA Trophy. The first half of the repeat was an exact repeat in the scoreline with a three-goal victory and a clean sheet but it could have been very different.

The first half saw Mousehole dominate possession but the visitors were ahead on almost every other metric. They had more chances, and their chances were better. They should have taken the lead when their centre forward was sent through for a one on one with Ollie Chenoweth. Against almost every keeper in the Southern League this would have been a goal but our last line of defence is more of a wall than that. He hurtled out, smothered the shot and held on to the ball. This was as good as goal and was celebrated as such in the main stand.

A few minutes later Mousehole took the lead. Charlie Davis is the set piece coach and he would have been purring to see one of his training ground moves pulled off to perfection. As Hayden Turner readied himself to take a wide free kick on the left, near the corner flag, the plus six footers were lined up at the far post but that was not the plan. Jack Calver was lurking unmarked in the ‘D’ and he received a short pass from the hitman. His first touch, a deft one, took him past the onrushing defender; his second touch, a thunderbolt, left the ball in the back of the net.

It was more than Mousehole deserved but football is a cruel game and just deserts are not always provided and so it was that the Bideford eleven left the field at half time feeling somewhat aggrieved to be behind. The home dressing room was not just relieved to be ahead,they were grateful not to be behind.

The second goal in a game is often vital and it proved to be so again here. The early chances in the second half again fell to Bideford but it was Mousehole who actually scored. It didn’t come till fifteen minutes from the end when nerves were rather frayed but it allowed the home fans to start relaxing and for finger nails to be saved from further chewing.

It followed a sustained period of pressure after a corner. Bideford could not clear their lines and the ball eventually fell to the feet of Captain Calver. He jinked his way into the box and, rather than unleashing another shot, bobbled the ball to the far post where poacher extraordinaire Tim Nixon pounced to slide the ball home. Game done and dusted but there was still time for three more moments to thrill the bumper Bank Holiday crowd.

Just two minutes later Tallan Mitchell was released into space thanks to a fine through ball from Player of the Match William Oduwa. Mitchell turned his man and sprinted towards the bye-line. He had time and space to look up and pick out Liam Prynn, hovering eight yards out. The Prynnster took one touch to steady himself before belting in the third.

Shortly afterwards the crowd was delighted to see the return of one of Cornish football’s favourite sons; Mark Goldsworthy. Almost nine months after his last appearance and strengthened by a bionic shoulder, Goldie took up his place at the top of the pitch. Within moments he was through on goal and, of course, scored. Sadly, the linesman flagged for offside but it was a moment to bring joy to all to see the golden-haired striker back in white and green.

The final almost-magic moment of a great day came when Hayden Turner won possession just inside his own half. He looked up and saw the Bideford keeper in no-person’s land. One swing of his mighty right boot sent the ball flying over the stricken keeper and into the royal blue sky. The crowd fell silent as time stood still, the ball travelling along a perfect parabola towards goal. No one dared breathe as it fell out of the sky destined for a goal of the season contender…but no. The hitman was millimetres off with his calculations and the ball smashed against the bar and into the grateful hands of the red-faced net guardian.

Another home win, another clean sheet, all celebrated on the terrazzo with a few pints of the cold stuff from our very own beer lorry. A perfect day in the last throws of the Cornish summer.