MOUSEHOLE 3-1 HOLSWORTHY

PENINSULA LEAGUE WEST DIVISION

SATURDAY 17^TH MARCH 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole secured their season’s ninth home win in the League to maintain their remarkable 100% home record and gain a vital three points to move back up into third spot in the table.  But Holsworthy, who had beaten Mousehole resoundingly by 4-0 at Upcott Field at the end of September, made the hosts work hard to achieve their victory and in the last few minutes came close to a previously unexpected equaliser.

The Seagulls had recent arrivals, former Helston Athletic club captain Jamie Thomson and ex-Ludgvan midfielder Ryan Holland, making their debuts, while Paul Williams deputised for the unwell Steve Parker-Billinge in goal, Josh Otto started, and Liam Andrew was serving a one-match suspension after his sending-off in the Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final.

Mousehole had the first chance after just three minutes when Connor Davey blazed over a great chance on the run, and visiting goalkeeper Ryan Walter was then forced into two good saves.  But Holsworthy came back with a near-post shot into the side netting, followed by an important close-range save by Paul Williams from Dan Wilson.  At the other end Calum Elliot advanced from deep to send a 25-yard left-foot shot past the near post, and on 40 minutes Mousehole went ahead with a freak goal when a defender’s clearance in a crowded penalty area cannoned off the unsuspecting Jake Andrew and nestled in the corner of the Magpies’ net.

In the second half The Seagulls’ patient passing in front of a massed defence paid off in the 72^nd minute when half-time substitute Kevin Lawrence threaded a pass through the proverbial eye of the needle where top-scorer Luke Johnson cut inside from the left corner of the box and fired hard and low inside the far post from 15 yards.  With the home side now well on top, Ryan Walter produced an outstanding double-save to block Luke Johnson’s shot and substitute Jordan Adlard’s follow-up from close range in the 81st minute.

This spurred the visitors on to attack, creating a fast breakaway on 82 which required Paul Williams to save a one-on-one chance, and then earning a penalty after a trip by Calum Elliot a minute later.  Williams beat out the penalty but Carlo Chandler turned the loose ball into the net for 2-1 to set up a tense finish to the match.  With the hosts reduced to 10 men after Johnson went off after prolonged injury treatment, Holsworthy had a long-range drive just clear the crossbar on 90 minutes.  But another of Mousehole’s substitutes, Paulo Sousa, made the game safe in the 5^th minute of added time, when he was fouled clumsily on the edge of the box, and curled a perfect free kick over the wall and inside the near post.

The promotion race remains tight, with the Seagulls now three points behind Liskeard Athletic from the same number of games, equal on points with Porthleven and two ahead of Millbrook, but with the last two teams having played two and three fewer games, respectively.  Of Mousehole’s remaining 11 League games, 7 are at home and 4 away, with the next fixture at home this Saturday (24^th) at 3pm against Elburton Villa who are currently in seventh place, nine points behind Mousehole with four games in hand.

Mousehole: Paul Williams, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (captain), Calum Elliot, Chris Prout, Josh Otto, Jamie Thomson, Ryan Holland, Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew, Connor Davey.  Substitutes:  Kevin Lawrence (for Tyler Tonkin, 46), Jordan Adlard (for Jamie Thomson, 75), Paulo Sousa (for Connor Davey, 75)

Scorers:  Mousehole – Jake Andrew (40), Luke Johnson (72), Paulo Sousa (90+5);  Holsworthy – Carlo Chandler (83)

Referee:  Nigel Nicholls.     Attendance:  80.

 

Mousehole AFC and the Endorsed Academy have announced an exciting new pre-season annual tournament, which will be launched on 20^th/21^st July featuring Premiership clubs Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town as well as Championship club Bolton Wanderers, together with Mousehole’s First team and their 18-23 year old Elite group.

Ambassador Jason Blunt, now based in Yorkshire, aims to ensure that the new annual Cup competition will provide Mousehole’s players with real competition in preparation for the 18/19 season: “We are delighted to be able to welcome these fantastic clubs to West Cornwall, and we owe them huge thanks for helping to launch our new annual cup competition. We will be inviting football fans from across the county and beyond to get involved and support our drive to raise standards and awareness of Cornish football.”

Ezra Chapman, Chairman of the Endorsed Group, praised Jason Blunt for his hard work in organising the new tournament. “Jason has been working as an ambassador for the club and Academy to help realise our goals. The Endorsed Cup is credit to Jason’s tireless effort and achievement: it brings huge profile to what we are set to achieve, and will help show the young players of Cornwall the standards they can aspire to. Jason will continue to focus on the Endorsed Cup and Pro Club relations while also coaching at another Academy in Yorkshire to get his feet regularly back on the football field, and we anticipate that our continuing relationship will prove even more fruitful over the coming seasons.”

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Newlyn-born Blunt left his role as Under-23’s manager with Championship club Leeds United to join Mousehole last June with a specific brief to establish the club’s own Academy, and drive forward the first stage in The Seagulls’ ambitious long-term plan to develop in a progressive and sustainable way. In the first eight months since then Mousehole have set up eight youth teams, aiming to grow to 20-plus teams for the 2018/19 season, and have stimulated great interest and demand in the area. Blunt has utilised his wide-ranging contacts in the game to offer playing opportunities at Mousehole to young footballers released from pro clubs and to organise highly successful weekend visits to West Cornwall by Leeds United’s youngsters and more recently Leeds United Ladies, as well as footballing weekends for Mousehole’s youth teams away at Barnsley and Manchester City Academies.

Chapman concluded: “We are continuing to work on a number of initiatives across the club and Academy, and I’m sure we’ll be making more announcements in the coming weeks – watch this space!”

MOUSEHOLE RESERVES 5-1 LANNER

WHIRLWIND SPORTS TRELAWNY LEAGUE, DIVISION 1

SATURDAY 3^RD MARCH 2018, AT MARAZION

 It was a beautiful afternoon at Marazion in contrast with the recent adverse weather conditions, and a sizeable crowd – with the numbers boosted as a result of many postponed matches locally – turned out for The Seagulls’ first home league fixture of the year.

Mousehole quickly achieved dominance and within minutes of the kick off Chris Bullock drove in a shot that just skimmed over the Lanner crossbar.  Shortly afterwards the same player made it 1-0 with a header from a well-placed cross.

As the game progressed Lanner defended stubbornly, breaking down many of the hosts’ attacks.  At the other end a superb free just outside the Mousehole box beat Paul Williams in goal but fortunately for the home side the ball rebounded off the upright.

Mousehole made the most of this close escape to go 2-0 into the lead.  After a good passage of play found Michael Fitchett free on the right wing, he entered the Lanner penalty box and was tumbled over by a defender, with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.  Chris Bullock converted the penalty for his second goal of the afternoon.  Mousehole continued in control, with Lee Robinson prominent in mid-field and Jamie Simons making good runs down the left.

Lanner continued in the second half as they had finished the first period with some excellent defending in the face of numerous Mousehole attacks, one of which featured an overhead kick wide of goal by Michael Fitchett.

The visitors were once again unlucky not to score as a shot came back off the post, but it was not long before they were rewarded for their efforts, following some slack defending by the Mousehole defence.

At only 2-1 in arrears, Lanner were playing some good football, while Mousehole were going through a lean spell.  However another attack saw Chris Bullock brought down in the penalty box, and he stepped up to score his second penalty of the afternoon and complete his hat-trick.

With The Seagulls then moving up a gear, some good work by Matt Howes and Tyler Tonkin found an unmarked JJ Simmonds on the edge of the box and his shot made it 4 – 1.  This was quickly followed by a similar move, with Josh Storey dummying a defender to allow Jamie Simons to make it number 5 with a close tap in.

This was an entertaining fixture, a good all-round team effort and a well-earned victory against formidable opponents whose good play belied their lowly league placing.

The win puts Mousehole at the top of the table with 35 points, one point ahead of Hayle but with four games in hand.  The next scheduled league fixture is away at Threemilestone on 17^th March, followed by a home game against Constantine on 24^th.

Mousehole Reserves’ squad v Lanner:  Paul Williams, Joe Davies(captain), Lee Robinson, Tom McGarry, Harry Tonkin, Jason Simmonds, Michael Fitchett, Chris Bullock, Jamie Simons, Matthew Howes, Josh Storey, Tom Hooper, Tyler Tonkin, Tom George

DOBWALLS 0-0 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, WEST DIVISION

SATURDAY 24^TH FEBRUARY 2018

AT LANTOOM PARK

 After 11 consecutive wins in League and Cup competitions, second-place Mousehole had to settle for a solitary point at fourth-bottom Dobwalls, and despite the consolation of earning their 10^th ‘clean sheet’ of the season they will be reflecting how to turn their superiority into wins against physically aggressive and defensively-minded opponents.

The management duo of Simon Westlake and Ben Washam made their former club Plymstock United a hard team to beat, and they have brought similar battling qualities to this Dobwalls squad.  The Seagulls certainly knew they were in for a difficult afternoon when first Paulo Sousa and then captain Billy Curtis were flattened by flying tackles in the opening period – the latter incident resulting in a 5-minute long treatment session on the pitch – but without any sanction from referee Clements.

Despite being knocked out of their stride, Mousehole still created enough chances to score in both halves.  Chris Prout drove an early 25-yard free kick millimetres over the bar, Will Vouama had a goalbound shot tipped over by goalkeeper Bruce Shields, Liam Andrew headed just wide from a corner, and Paulo Sousa shot straight at the ‘keeper when well placed.

Dobwalls were content to hold on to the point they started with, rarely venturing forward and relying on set pieces to get the ball anywhere near the visitors’ goal.  But Mousehole made a slow start to the second half and were relieved to see a chance go over the bar after a sudden break, virtually Dobwalls’ only serious attack during the 90 minutes.  The Seagulls experienced an increasingly frustrating last half hour, with the hosts pulling all players back into the final third to deny space.  Jake Andrew headed over when Luke Johnson’s cross for once found him in front of goal and then in the last minute a right-sided free kick skimmed through quickly to Billy Curtis a few feet out but he turned the chance over the bar.

The draw moves Mousehole down to fourth place, with their six promotion rivals – currently separated by 10 points – having the opportunity to play ‘catch up’ with their League games in hand this weekend while The Seagulls are in Cup action.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Billy Curtis (captain), Liam Andrew, Calum Elliot, Chris Prout, Kevin Lawrence, Jordan Adlard, William Vouama, Connor Davey, Jake Andrew, Paulo Sousa.   Substitutes:  Luke Johnson (for Connor Davey, 64), Steven Ziboth (for Jordan Adlard, 75), Tyler Tonkin, Jamie Thomson

*This Saturday (3^rd) Mousehole face their third Cup quarter-final in recent weeks when East Division Teignmouth visit Trungle Parc in the SWP League Cup (kick off 2:30pm).  Teignmouth are currently in mid-table in their Division but with several games in hand over most teams above them, at least partly because of their outstanding Cup success this season.  Like Mousehole, Teignmouth are undefeated in Cup competitions, and have already won through to the semi-finals of the Devon Premier Cup.  To reach Saturday’s League Cup quarter-final tie, they beat two West Division sides away, and then Penzance at home.  In all, they have won 7 Cup ties, 5 of them away, so the forthcoming encounter is likely to be both fascinating and close.  Mousehole reached this stage with an away win over West Division leaders Ludgvan followed by two home wins over Premier Division sides Camelford and Launceston.  The winners of Saturday’s tie will face a Premier Division side – one of Falmouth Town, Godolphin Atlantic, and either Tavistock or Plymouth Parkway, in the semi-finals on 20^th/21^st March.

*In the Cornwall Senior Cup, Mousehole’s reward for their quarter-final 5-0 win over Premier Division Newquay is a semi-final tie next Wednesday (7^th March) against another Premier Division side St Austell, at Bickland Park, Falmouth Town FC, kick off 7:30pm.  The tie will be Mousehole’s first-ever appearances in the Senior Cup semi-finals, whereas St Austell have won the Cup three times in the last nine years and 14 times overall.  The other semi-final brings together Saltash United and Torpoint Athletic, with the Final to be played at St Blazey on Easter Monday.

 

*In the Cornwall Charity Cup, after Mousehole’s 4-0 quarter-final win against Penzance, they have been drawn against Liskeard Athletic in the semi-finals, held at neutral venues – to be announced in due course – on 10^th and 11^th April. The other semi-final is St Blazey against Wadebridge Town, and the Final is scheduled for 9^th May.

CONSTANTINE 0-3 MOUSEHOLE RESERVES

TRELAWNY LEAGUE sponsored by Whirlwind Sports, DIVISION 1

SATURDAY 17^TH FEBRUARY 2018

AT TREBARVAN RECREATION GROUND

This was the first League game of 2018, with all previous fixtures postponed because of adverse weather conditions.  The match started with blue skies and sunshine, but the more familiar grey skies and rainfall didn’t take long to re-appear.  It was fairly evident from kick-off that the team were a little on the rusty side following a prolonged period with no games.

But a foul midway in the Constantine half enabled Harry Tonkin to pitch the free kick into the penalty box and find the head of Chris Bullock, with the ball going narrowly over the top of the crossbar.

Both teams were playing some good end-to-end football on a quite heavy pitch but with no significant attempts on goal.

Tom McGarry had an outstanding run with excellent footwork, but his final cross was not capitalised on.

It was not until the 30^th minute that another free kick in a similar position to the previous one was again pitched into the penalty box by Harry Tonkin, and this time the ball trickled into goal following a rebound from the legs of Josh Storey.

Some five minutes it was 2-0 after some neat work from the backs and mid-field found Caleb Marsden on the wing, and he evaded a couple of tackles to get into a great position and score.

The second half saw both teams showing plenty of endeavour and again playing entertaining end to end football, but Paul Williams in the Mousehole goal had a very quiet time between the posts.

With the score still at 2-0, Mousehole introduced a number of replacements towards the 70^th minute and all those on the team sheet participated in the fixture.

Caleb Marsden rounded off a successful afternoon after dropping down from the First team squad, with his second and The Seagulls’ third in the 84^th minute following good work from mid-field.

16-year old Josh Storey also got useful game time after being on the fringes of the First team and demonstrated his excellent future prospects with an impressive performance.

However, the key feature was that this was another very good all-round team display, with the useful three points consolidating second place in the Division, two points behind leaders Hayle Reserves but with three games in hand, a massively better goal difference, and a total of nine games left.

Mousehole squad:  Paul Williams, Joe Davies (captain), Lee Robinson, Tom McGarry, Harry Tonkin, Jason Simmonds, Michael Fitchett, Tom Patrick , Chris Bullock, Jamie Simons, Matthew Howes, Jamie Robinson, Kyle Bickmore, Caleb Marsden, Josh Storey, Tom Hooper

*Mousehole Reserves’ next game is a home League fixture on Saturday 3^rd March against Lanner

MOUSEHOLE 6-0 WADEBRIDGE TOWN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 17^TH FEBRUARY 2018

AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole collected three vital points and gave their goal difference a massive boost with a commanding performance against Wadebridge Town on Saturday as they continue to consolidate their position among this season’s promotion candidates.

With results working out favourably elsewhere, The Seagulls have climbed up to second place in the table, and although they have played more games than their six main rivals behind them, they will argue they have got the points in the bank and will have a less congested fixture programme in the later stages of the season.

Saturday’s win completed a League ‘double’ against The Bridgers, and it was against this opposition that manager Kevin Richards was in charge for his first game in early October.  Since his appointment, Mousehole have played a total of 18 games in the League and the three Cup competitions, winning 16 of those, drawing one and losing one, and in the last three matches they have beaten Premier Division Newquay, local rivals Penzance and now Wadebridge Town with an aggregate tally of 15 goals scored and none conceded.

In front of a 100+ crowd, Steve Parker-Billinge had to make an early save from Jake Williams at the expense of a corner, but it was Mousehole who opened the scoring in the 10^th minute when Jake Andrew turned on a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box to poke home under Ben Rosevear’s body in the visitors’ goal.  And the scorer became provider on 32 when his low cross from the right was stroked in, again from the six yard line, by Paulo Sousa.

The Bridgers’ 23-goal marksman Dan Jennings had been kept very quiet until the opening minutes of the second half when his pace took him clear down the right but no-one was on hand to take advantage of his dangerous low cross.  At the other end, Rosevear made a point blank save from Steven Ziboth, before Jake Andrew scored his second goal of the game – and his fifth goal in the last two matches – with a spectacular volley inside the far post from a wide angle on the right after 60 minutes.  Two minutes later Steve Parker-Billinge had to tip over a sharp 12-yard drive from Paul Reed, but very little was seen of the visitors as an attacking force after that as they were pressed back and opened up repeatedly by Mousehole’s passing and movement throughout the last half hour.

Jake Andrew came close to a second successive hat-trick on 74, hitting the bar from newcomer William Vouama’s pass, before Luke Johnson drove in low for 4-0 on 76 as The Bridgers’ overworked defence failed to clear.  After substitute Chris Prout had hit the post with a typical 25-yard drive, Paulo Sousa got his second from close range for 5-0 on 85, and although left back Callum Bertrand ventured forward in search of a consolation goal on 88, it was Mousehole who competed the scoring in the last minute as Luke Johnson switched to the left wing and converted a through ball with a perfect lob.

The Seagulls now have 13 League games left this season, with 8 at home and 5 away.  Six of those 13 games are against teams in the top 7, with home and away ‘doubles’ against current Division leaders Ludgvan (who have not applied for promotion), and against St Blazey, and home fixtures against Elburton Villa and Millbrook.

Meanwhile, this Saturday (24^th) Mousehole face their first away trip since 18^th November – 12 games ago – when they travel to fourth-bottom Dobwalls (3pm).  The club is running a 53-seater supporters coach to the match, leaving Penzance Bus Station at 12:15pm at a cost of £5 per person.

After that, their next two matches are both Cup ties, with the SWP League Cup quarter-final tie against East Division Teignmouth at Trungle Parc on Saturday 3^rd March (2:30pm), followed in midweek by their first-ever appearance in the Cornwall Senior Cup semi-finals when they face Premier Division high-fliers St Austell at Falmouth Town’s Bickland Park on Wednesday 7^th March (7:30pm).

Mousehole v Wadebridge:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (captain), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Kevin Lawrence, William Vouama, Paulo Sousa,    Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew, Steven Ziboth.   

Substitutes:  Chris Prout (for Steven Ziboth, 64), Kayne Trevaskis (for Jake Andrew, 74), Omar Dialo (for William Vouama, 79), Connor Davey, Yeshe Briar

Scorers:  Jake Andrew (10, 60), Paulo Sousa (32, 85), Luke Johnson (76, 90)

Referee:  Mike Glanville.    Attendance: 105

*Mousehole’s home League fixture against Holsworthy has been brought forward from Easter Monday to Saturday 17^th March (3pm)

MOUSEHOLE v WADEBRIDGE TOWN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 17^TH FEBRUARY 2018

AT TRUNGLE PARC, PAUL, KICK OFF 3PM

Mousehole return to League action for the first time in over seven weeks this Saturday when Wadebridge Town are the visitors for a 3pm kick off.

The Seagulls’ last League fixture was the Boxing Day local derby 2-0 win against The Magpies of Penzance, and since then they have played four matches in three Cup competitions, all at home, and have won them all:  2-0 against West Cornwall FC and 5-0 against Newquay both in the Cornwall Senior Cup, 2-1 against Launceston in the League Cup, and, last Saturday, 4-0 against Penzance in the Cornwall Charity Cup.

The Cup victories have earned Mousehole two semi-final appearances in March and April – in the Senior Cup for the first time on record, and in the Charity Cup, which they won two years ago. And there’s still a quarter-final tie in the League Cup to come, against East Division Teignmouth in two weeks’ time on 3^rd March.

But the Wadebridge match marks an ideal opportunity to pick up vital League points, as the team – with a 100% winning record at home this season, and beaten only once since 23^rd September – look to finish in the highest possible position to justify the club’s recent promotion application.

The current standings show Mousehole in 5^th place, with 30 points from 18 games, and with only seven points separating the six teams around them.  The Seagulls have played up to three games more than their rivals and have the worst goal difference of all except one – but their winning run means the points are already banked and they will have a relatively less congested fixture programme towards the end of the season.

Wadebridge Town, meanwhile, after a superb table-topping winning start to the season, have won only twice – both against bottom club Bude Town – in their last 13 League matches and now are in 12^th place with 20 points from 16 games.  But they have in their ranks Dan Jennings, who has already notched up  21 goals to be way ahead at the top of both the West and the East Division ‘golden boot’ tables.

The forthcoming match will have some significance for Seagulls’ manager Kevin Richards as his first game in charge was the midweek away fixture at Wadebridge on 3^rd October, a 3-1 victory with two goals from Bradley Wills and one from Caleb Marsden.

Next Saturday (24^th February) Mousehole face their first away game since 18^th November when they travel to Dobwalls for another important League fixture (3pm).

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 PENZANCE

CORNWALL FA CHARITY CUP – THE DURNING-LAWRENCE CUP

QUARTER FINAL TIE

SATURDAY 10^TH FEBRUARY 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC

 Mousehole reached the semi-finals of the Cornwall Charity Cup with their second win of the season over Penzance, this time with all four goals coming from the Andrew brothers, including a hat-trick for Jake and three headers in total.

The Mousehole squad included ex-Penzance players Jake and Liam Andrew, Tyler Tonkin and Connor Davey, while Penzance had former Seagulls Dom Angove, Matt Laithwaite, Frazer Cadman, Lewis Caspall and assistant player-manager Mark Vercesi on the team sheet, led by manager Wayne Quinn who had brought unprecedented double-winning success to the Trungle Parc club.

The Boxing Day league clash between the local rivals had ended in a hard-fought 2-0 win for The Seagulls, but Saturday’s encounter turned out to be a less close contest, with the home side asserting their dominance in the second half.

The match started in cold drizzle on a soft surface which became gradually stickier, though still perfectly playable, and there was plenty of action to keep the large crowd of 187 occupied.

Mousehole had a brisk opening and came close in the first 20 minutes with two shots hitting the woodwork.  But it was The Magpies who very nearly took the lead in the 25^th minute when Lewis Caspall had a fierce shot with his favoured left foot beaten away at close range by Steve Parker-Billinge in the home goal, and from the resultant corner the well-placed Dan Horler volleyed wide at the far post.

Those near-misses became significant shortly afterwards when Mousehole took the lead after 31 minutes, Jake Andrew putting a powerful header into the roof of the net from six yards from Connor Davey’s pinpoint cross from the left.  And there was nearly a second goal on 35 minutes when a surging run by Luke Johnson put Jake Andrew in one-on-one with Dom Angove in the visitors’ goal only for the alert ‘keeper to make a brave and vital block.

Dom Angove was again in action shortly after the re-start with an agile catch from Billy Curtis’ cross, while on 52 minutes Lewis Caspall at the other end showed his special skills on a difficult surface, weaving his way in from the left and sliding a dangerous pass into the box which Paulo Sousa cleared with a goal-saving interception.  This was Penzance’s last serious threat on the home goal, as Mousehole started to take control of the game with possession football and restrict the visitors to the occasional foray forward.  On 54 minutes, Kevin Lawrence lofted the ball from the left towards the far post where Liam Andrew raced in to thunder a header into the net from 10 yards for a 2-0 scoreline.  And two minutes later it was 3-0 as Jake Andrew was in the right place to tap in a low cross from close range after Luke Johnson had done some great work on the right.  Substitute Steven Ziboth created The Seagulls’ fourth and final goal, picking up a short clearance from Parker-Billinge and sprinting 70 yards with an outstanding burst of speed past covering defenders to the far byeline where he chipped a centre across goal for Jake Andrew to head in for his hat-trick.

Mousehole have now reached the semi-finals of both County cups, having beaten Premier Division Newquay 5-0 in the Senior Cup the week before.  The draws for the semi-finals – in the Senior Cup involving Saltash United, Torpoint Athletic and St Austell, and in the Charity Cup St Blazey, Liskeard Athletic and Wadebridge or Carharrack – are due to be made by Cornwall FA on Tuesday (13^th) live on Facebook at 10am.  The Seagulls have a chance to reach a third semi-final when they play Teignmouth at home on 3^rd March in the League Cup.

Penzance and Mousehole return to League action this Saturday, with Penzance travelling to Plymouth Marjon looking to build on their mid-table position, while 5^th place Mousehole who are 9 points ahead of The Magpies but have played three games more, will be attempting to extend this season’s 100% 13-win home record against  Wadebridge Town (3pm).

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (captain), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Kevin Lawrence, Jordan Adlard, Connor Davey, Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew, Paulo Sousa.  Substitutes:  Chris Prout (for Tyler Tonkin, 56), Kayne Trevaskis (for Connor Davey, 64), Steven Ziboth (for Luke Johnson, 70), Caleb Marsden, Josh Storey

Penzance:  Dom Angove, Rhys Allen, Matt Laithwaite, Frazer Cadman, Dan Lord, Kyle Hampton, Gavin Perraton, Lewis Caspall (captain), Dan Horler, Mark Vercesi, Paul Robertson.  Substitutes:  Joel Allen (for Matt Laithwaite, 57), Ed Wilton (for Paul Robertson, 62), Ronnie May (for Gavin Perraton, 62), Finn Robinson

Scorers:  Jake Andrew (31, 56, 80), Liam Andrew (54)

Referee: George Pattison.     Attendance:  187

MOUSEHOLE v PENZANCE

CORNWALL CHARITY CUP (The Durning Lawrence Charity Cup)

QUARTER FINAL TIE

SATURDAY 10^TH FEBRUARY 2018, KICK OFF 2PM

AT TRUNGLE PARC

This Saturday, The Seagulls and The Magpies will be scrapping for a place in the Semi-Finals of the Cornwall Charity Cup, for which the County FA has selected The Invictus Trust as beneficiary this season.

The Invictus Trust is a local, small, newish Charity established to support Cornish families with a teenager experiencing mental health issues, particularly depression, anxiety and self harm.

Mousehole come into the match on the back of an impressive run in league and cup competitions that includes only one defeat since 23^rd September, a 100% home record, cup victories over three higher-division teams, and a place already secured for the first time in the club’s history in the semi-finals of the Cornwall Senior Cup.

Penzance are having a much better time than in last season’s relegation-threatened campaign, and in the league they are currently in 11^th place, 9 points behind Mousehole in 5^thplace but with three games in hand.  They lost 2-0 (to goals scored in each half by Jordan Adlard and Paulo Sousa) in the Boxing Day ‘local derby’ at Trungle Parc in front of a 279 crowd, but had won 8-1 and 6-2 (away) before that.

The form book favours Mousehole to reach their second semi-final in consecutive weeks, but ex-Seagulls player-manager Wayne Quinn will no doubt be looking to make headlines as the first team to bring the winning run to n end.

The tie will require extra time and penalties if necessary to produce a winner on the day.  The other quarter final ties are Polperro (of the East Cornwall Premier League) versus St Blazey, Wendron United v Liskeard Athletic, and Wadebridge Town v Carharrack (of the Cornwall Combination League).  The Semi-Finals are due to be played at neutral venues on Tuesday 10^th and Wednesday 11^th April, with the Final on Wednesday 9^th May.

For Saturday’s game, admission is only £3 (concessions £1.50, under-16s free), and a full-colour match programme @ £1 (including a cash-prize ‘lucky number’) is available, as are 50/50 tickets, and the usual friendly hospitality in the clubhouse is extended to everyone.

MOUSEHOLE 5-0 NEWQUAY

CORNWALL SENIOR CUP, QUARTER FINAL TIE

SATURDAY 3^RD FEBRUARY 2018

AT TRUNGLE PARC

 Mousehole progressed to the last four of the Cornwall Senior Cup (sponsored by RGB Building Supplies) with an emphatic win against their higher-division visitors in one of very few matches in the region to survive the weather.  Already the only Division 1 side to reach the quarter-final stage, this victory earned The Seagulls a first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the County’s top cup competition, where they will face one of the other remaining Premier Division teams at a neutral venue on the evening of either Tuesday 6^th or Wednesday 7^th March.

Mousehole had been defeated only once since September and had won all 12 of their home games this season – including cup victories against two other Premier Division sides, Camelford and Launceston – so Saturday’s result against a side 14 places above in the South West Peninsula League ‘pyramid’ was less of a surprise then the scoreline.  The chief talking point was the difference in performance levels between the two teams as the game wore on, with the home side showing greater energy, desire and fitness levels to complement their customary passing style.

With the strong wind at their backs, Newquay were the dominant force in the opening stages, seeing lots of the ball and pegging the hosts back in their own half.  But in their first attack Mousehole took an unexpected lead in the 14^th minute when Luke Johnson came in from the right-hand side to plant an unstoppable left-footed drive from 20 yards into the far top corner.  Jake Andrew came within millimetres of doubling the lead on 26 minutes with a shot that came back off the underside of the crossbar, but The Peppermints continued to look threatening, although often wasting possession with over-hit passes.  A crucial moment came with almost the last kick of the first half, Tyler Cheshire missing a glaring opportunity to equalise – and change the nature of the half-time team talk – when he scooped hurriedly wide in front of a gaping goal.

Mousehole began to take the upper hand with measured passing after the break, but it was a piece of quick thinking by Kevin Lawrence that brought the second goal on 49 minutes, stealing the loose ball as goalkeeper Zak Roberts delayed his clearance and tapping into an unguarded net.  Tyler Tonkin came up from right back to make it 3-0 six minutes later, this time with a shot hit so hard into the net from 10 yards that the ball rebounded back on to the pitch off the perimeter fence.  As The Seagulls continued to surge forward, Newquay’s under-pressure rearguard was again unable to cope when the alert Paulo Sousa capitalised on hesitancy to waltz round Roberts and stroke home for 4-0, to make it three goals in ten minutes with less than an hour gone.

New signings Kayne Trevaskis and Steven Ziboth came on as substitutes after 61 minutes to cause even more unrest for the visitors, the experienced Trevaskis holding the ball up well at the apex of the attack and 19-year old Ziboth creating havoc with his electrifying sprints down the left.  And it was the young newcomer who was in the right place to convert a low right-wing cross by recent substitute Caleb Marsden on 70 minutes, to make it 5-0 from five different scorers.   In the meantime, The Peppermints were making little headway, but the previously under-employed Steve Parker-Billinge in the Mousehole goal had to be at his defiant best to keep a clean sheet with an smart save from close range near the end.

It’s a cup quarter-final tie again at Trungle Parc this Saturday (10^th), this time in the Cornwall Charity Cup, with another local derby against Penzance, kick off 2pm.  The Seagulls will be looking for a repeat of their 2-0 League success a few weeks ago on Boxing Day, while The Magpies will be hoping to be the side to end their local rivals’ 100% home record.

Mousehole v Newquay:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Billy Curtis (captain), Bradley Wills, Kevin Lawrence, Jordan Adlard, Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew, Paulo Sousa.

Substitutes: Kayne Trevaskis (for Jake Andrew, 61), Steven Ziboth (for Luke Johnson, 61), Caleb Marsden (for Bradley Wills, 67), Connor Davey, Josh Otto

Scorers:  Luke Johnson (14), Kevin Lawrence (49), Tyler Tonkin (55), Paulo Sousa (59), Steven Ziboth (70)

Referee: Derek Hughes.  Assistant Referees: Luke Wilkes & Paul Barker

Attendance: 112