HOLSWORTHY 4-0 MOUSEHOLE
SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2017
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST
AT UPCOTT FIELD
After the weather-affected postponement at St Blazey in midweek, The Seagulls, with two away wins in a row including an impressive performance in the League Cup at previously-unbeaten Ludgvan, took a depleted squad on their longest journey of the season in search of league points on Saturday, and came away empty-handed against an Holsworthy side showing signs of improvement after being sucked into the relegation mix last season.
Mousehole were without the services of Kevin Lawrence, Connor Davey, Yeshe Briar, Joshua Storey and new arrival Ralph Katikaza, but had newcomers Danny Park and Paolo Sousa in the starting line up.
The West Devon Magpies were gifted a simple goal after only 2 minutes when Williams’ attempted clearance bounced off the advancing attacker for a simple tap in. It was 2-0 to the home side on 9 minutes when an angled free kick was headed up in the air for a far-post nod in from close range. As the visitors were threatening to break back into the game, an unfortunate third goal arrived minutes before half-time after a misplaced pass in midfield had exposed The Seagulls’ defence.
Mousehole persevered in the early part of the second half without being able to penetrate a well-marshalled defence content to sit on a comfortable lead. But after a couple of near-misses in the Holsworthy goalmouth, including a Bradley Wills swerving free kick that hit the crossbar, any further hopes of a comeback were cut short when captain Billy Curtis was forced off with a head injury after a brave challenge that earned James Dart only a yellow card for a dangerous-looking lunge.
The Seagulls played out the last 15 minutes with only 10 men after having used all three substitutes, and conceded again two minutes from time when another misdirected pass left a wide-open space for an easy fourth goal.
Mousehole’s next game is on this Sunday’s ‘Leeds United Day’ at the new-look Trungle Parc, when they play a friendly (2.30pm) against a talented young team likely to include some of the future stars of the Premier League.
Then on Tuesday (3rd) The Seagulls travel for a league fixture away at Wadebridge Town (kick off 7.30pm), followed by a blank day on Saturday 7th October with a bye in the first round of the Cornwall Senior Cup.
The following Saturday (14th October) Mousehole play this season’s first competitive home match on the new pitch when Premier Division Camelford visit for an intriguing League Cup second round tie.
Mousehole: Paul Williams, Billy Curtis (captain), Max Hill, Liam Andrew, Danny Park, Bradley Wills, Tyler Tonkin, Luke Johnson, Paolo Sousa, Jorome Slew, Josh Otto
Substitutes: Matt McIlroy (for Paolo Sousa), Matt Moody (for Tyler Tonkin), Caleb Marsden (for Danny Park)
Referee: Scott Sayer
Attendance: 108
Hopefully the results will change with a settled side never very good when the side is changing every game good luck for the rest of the season