ELBURTON VILLA 3-1 MOUSEHOLE
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST
SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2017, AT HAYE ROAD
Mousehole’s fourth and last League journey of the season across the Tamar proved to be a highly frustrating day all round, as they were without half a dozen squad members and suffered a coach breakdown a few miles from the ground which caused a late arrival, a delayed kick-off, little warm-up time and a late-evening return back home.
On top of that, they were on the wrong end of a couple of controversial refereeing decisions before going down to their sixth defeat of the season, having picked up just one point from 12 in their matches in Devon – a 3-3 draw at Plymstock, preceded by defeats at Plymouth Marjon (2-0) and Holsworthy (4-0).
A win would have propelled The Seagulls above their hosts and several places up the table, and the signs looked good in a promising first half in which Luke Johnson twice and Danny Park brought the best out of goalkeeper Jack Dixon early on, and Connor Davey drove against the crossbar after an opening created by Kevin Lawrence. But a big moment came after half an hour when Danny Park’s sharp left-wing cross was turned away with both hands by a covering defender inside the box, only for referee Andrew Glanville to wave play on. After the interval, Connor Davey again came close from Calum Elliot’s cross and Max Hill turned a low corner just wide at the near post.
A game-changing moment came after 55 minutes when the home side benefitted from a highly contentious penalty decision to go ahead against the run of play. Goalkeeper Steve Parker-Billinge had got down to a through ball with both hands just ahead of the speedy Robbie Dale, with the Villa man’s momentum causing him to collide with the keeper, forcing the ball out for a corner. But referee Glanville chose to award a penalty from 30 yards away and despite several minutes of protest during which he refused to consult with his better-placed linesman, the decision stood and Simon McClements took advantage of his side’s good fortune to thump home the spot kick.
Elburton dominated the next 10 minutes, Steve Parker-Billinge tipping over a goalbound shot, before Jed Smale’s low shot inside the post from 20 yards in the 65th minute, after Mousehole had been dispossessed in midfield, doubled their lead.
And 2-0 became 3-0 when top scorer Nick Aplin was first to the loose ball from close range after a shot from the right had been deflected across goal.
To their credit, Mousehole battled on after conceding three goals in 20 minutes, and Calum Elliot scored his first goal for the club, a free-kick from 20 yards to the right of centre that arrowed into the far top corner on 90 – the best goal of the match, but scant reward for the team’s performance against the odds.
Scorers: Mousehole – Calum Elliot (90). Elburton Villa – Simon McClements (55, pen), Jed Smale (65), Nick Aplin (75).
Referee: Andrew Glanville. Attendance: 56.
Mousehole have no more away League games until 24th February as they catch up on the sequence of fixtures played away from Trungle Parc during a period of refurbishment. This Saturday (25th) it’s Plymouth Marjon’s turn to make the long journey when they travel for a League match with a 2.15 kick off. The following Saturday (2nd December) RNAS Culdrose are the visitors, with the Combination League’s bottom-but-one side looking to create a major upset in the Cornwall Senior Cup 2nd Round (2pm).
