Tavistock 3-0 Mousehole

Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Tuesday 10^th August 2021

At Langsford Park

Summary:

After the magnificent FA Cup performance against Helston on Saturday, an unfortunate combination of circumstances led to The Seagulls’ first defeat of the season against a strong Tavistock side playing their first home game of the campaign.  With Covid, illness and injury depriving the squad of key personnel and requiring players to occupy unfamiliar positions, an on-field injury with the scoreline at 0-0 caused further re-organisation for the last hour of the match. The battling Seagulls also hit the woodwork twice, created a lot of chances, and had a goal disallowed – so, all in all, this wasn’t their day.

Match preview points:

Mousehole are without captain Billy Curtis, Mark Richards, Kyle Fraser and Sean Roberts.  Midfielder Max Gilbert is at right-back and winger Callam Mconie at left-back, with Jack Rhead making a start up front and striker Mark Goldsworthy one of three outfield players on the bench.  The squad has been stretched to the limit!

Tavistock have played three away games so far, losing to Saltash and winning against Ilfracombe in the League, coupled with an FA Cup success at St Austell.  Prolific ex-Saltash goalscorer Ryan Richards, now with Torpoint Athletic, is a dual-signed substitute.

The action:

2 minutes: Mousehole half-chance.  A long diagonal pass by Andy Elcock sets Hayden Turner free on the left and his low cross is scrambled away from Jack Rhead at the near post

10 minutes:  Close for Tavistock. A long left-sided corner is headed back at the far post and bounces off the bar

13 minutes:  Close again.  The hosts use their height advantage well from another corner.  This time a downward header is cleared from in front of goal.

19 minutes:  Excellent move by Mousehole from deep defence.  Hayden Turner and Tallan Mitchell run at pace through The Lambs’ midfield and deep into opposition territory, but keeper Josh Oak just beats Jack Rhead to the one-on-one chance.

22 minutes:  Mousehole hit the post.  Hayden Turner goes off on a high-speed run to give himself a shooting chance, but the left-footed strike from just inside the box is touched by Oak on to the far post and out for a corner

Midway through the first half: Mousehole are putting together some good patterns of play.  Tavistock are more direct, but no less threatening.

27 minutes:  Another Mousehole chance.  Hayden Turner supplies a left-wing cross and Josh Magin heads over the angle from 8 yards

30 minutes:  Josh Otto is injured and leaves the field,  Mousehole are playing with ten men.

32 minutes:  Tallan Mitchell and Jack Rhead break together quickly but the final pass in front of goal is intercepted

33 minutes:  Mousehole substitute – Josh Otto is replaced by Mark Goldsworthy, who will play centrally up front, with Jack Rhead moving wide, winger Josh Magin occupying the right-back berth and Max Gilbert taking up a centre-back position.  This means Jamie Devine is now the only recognised defender in the back four!

34 minutes:  Andy Elcock takes a quick free-kick to create a great chance for Jack Rhead, but the home defence closes ranks

35 minutes:  Hayden Turner drives over from 30 yards

36 minutes:  Now Andy Elcock tries his luck but is wide from 25 yards.  Mousehole seem unaffected by the enforced changes – maybe attack is the best form of defence?

40 minutes:  GOAL FOR TAVISTOCK.  A short pass 20 yards out finds a gap in the centre of the defence and LIAM PRYNN is through on goal, firing low into the net from around the penalty spot.  The Lambs have the lead but it’s somewhat against the recent pattern of play.

44 minutes:  Hayden Turner’s cross is clutched under the angle of post and bar by Josh Oak

Half-Time:  Tavistock 1-0 Mousehole.  The makeshift Mousehole side has done well in the circumstances, but Tavistock have converted their one clear chance. 

48 minutes:  Mark Goldsworthy is put through by Tallan Mitchell but the early Mousehole chance is thwarted by a great last-man tackle

49 minutes:  GOAL FOR TAVISTOCK.  It’s 2-0, the simplest of goals.  With the Mousehole defence expecting the ball to be floated into the box from a 30-yard free-kick left of centre, a short pass outside the edge of the wall gives the unmarked JOSH GRANT a clear sight of goal and he duly shoots low into the far corner of Cory Harvey’s net. 

55 minutes:  Ten minutes in, and understandably Tavistock are playing with a lot of confidence.  Goals a few minutes either side of half-time have now completely changed the game.  Nevertheless, Mousehole are still playing their way, as they look for a breakthrough.

58 minutes:  GOAL FOR TAVISTOCK.  On the break, a well-judged chipped pass puts TALLAN BURNS into space on the left and he places a superb left-foot volley into the far corner from 15 yards.  Now three goals in a little over a quarter of an hour of play.

59 minutes:  Tavistock close again.  They’re really testing The Seagulls’ defensive qualities with fast-paced attacks.  This time, left-back Josh Robins overlaps but drives wide of the far post

67 minutes:  A ‘nearly’ moment for Mousehole:  Jack Rhead bustles his way past two defenders on the right and puts a low cross into the box where Mark Goldsworthy leaves it for Tallan Mitchell whose first-time drive from 15 yards flashes just over the bar.

68 minutes:  Mousehole substitute – Steve Burt is replaced by Silas Sullivan who goes to left-back, enabling Callam Mconie to join the attack

69 minutes:  Tavistock appear to have taken note of the threat from Mousehole and have retreated into a more defensive formation, with just Prynn up front.  With 20 minutes left, they’re battening down the hatches.

70 minutes:  Hayden Turner yet again outpaces the Lambs’ defenders on the left and his low cross is just out of reach of Mark Goldsworthy at the far post

80 minutes:  Ten minutes left and Mousehole continue to dominate possession, but the home defence is remaining solid

84 minutes:  Mousehole substitute – Jack Rhead is replaced by Charlie Willis

86 minutes:  Mousehole hit the woodwork again.  Hayden Turner almost produces a replica of his magnificent second goal against Helston, hitting a dipping right-foot shot from near the corner of the box that hits the face of the crossbar with keeper Josh Oak beaten.  Maybe that suggests it’s not going to happen this evening?

89 minutes:  Hayden Turner has another goalbound shot deflected wide

90 minutes:  Andy Elcock lashes in a 20 yarder which the flying Josh Oak tips over

90+1:  The home keeper is in action straight after, going full length to push Callam Mconie’s shot round the post

90+2:  Mousehole are making a strong finish to the match, showing great character.  Mark Goldsworthy pounces on a loose ball in front of goal and prods it into the net, but it’s offside.  That just about sums it up!

Full-time:  Tavistock 3-0 Mousehole.  Huge credit for the depleted Seagulls squad, despite the result.  The return match at Trungle Parc at the end of the month is likely to be different!

Mousehole starting X1 (and used substitutes): Cory Harvey (captain), Max Gilbert, Josh Otto (Mark Goldsworthy), Jamie Devine, Callam Mconie, Steve Burt (Silas Sullivan), Tallan Mitchell, Andy Elcock, Josh Magin, Jack Rhead (Charlie Willis), Hayden Turner. Other substitute: Piran Jones (GK).

Officials:  Scott Robinson (Referee), with Nuria Boney & Stuart Kane (Assistants)

Attendance: 219

Next for Mousehole:

This Saturday, 14^th August:  Home v Street AFC, Western League Premier Division, Trungle Parc, 3pm

• The Somerset club, known as The Cobblers, play at the Tannery ground, after the local shoe-making industry
• Long-established members of the Western League, they were Premier Division champions in 2018 but took voluntary demotion after one season in the Southern League despite a creditable 8^th place finish
• They are the only Premier Division club who, like Mousehole, play in green kit
• In the FA Cup they lost 8-0 away at Fareham, and also lost two home league games, 4-0 v Exmouth and 3-1 v Brislington
• This midweek they won 4-1 away at bottom club Bridport

Then:

Next Wednesday, 18^th August:  Away v Saltash United, WLP, 7.30pm

Followed by: Saturday 21^st August:  Home v Plymouth Parkway, FA Cup Preliminary Round, 3pm

Mousehole 3-1 Helston Athletic

Emirates FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round

Saturday 7^th August 2021

At Trungle Parc

Mousehole capped a first-ever appearance in the 150^th anniversary season of the FA Cup with a well-earned victory in a thrilling contest against ‘old foes’ Helston Athletic in front of a huge crowd of 469 – the largest home attendance in living memory for a competitive fixture and the third-highest of the weekend’s 174 Extra-Preliminary Round ties.

The scoring:  1-0 Hayden Turner 32’, 2-0 Andy Elcock 53’, 2-1 Stuart Bowker 63’, Hayden Turner 3-1 85’

Match details:

Preview points:

• It’s a dry, sunny, breezy afternoon – weather fit for this momentous occasion
• There’s a great turn-out of boys and girls from Mousehole Youth Academy – wearing the shirt numbers of the players, they accompany the team on to the pitch, conduct themselves impeccably and clearly enjoy their role in the introductory fist-bumps with match officials and Helston players
• Mousehole are without Kyle Fraser from the League win at Millbrook on Tuesday, but ex-Helston striker Mark Goldsworthy has sufficiently recovered from his pre-season head injury to be named as a substitute. 
• Helston have former Seagull Tom Hands in defence, but are missing local lad Josh Storey from their midweek home draw with Saltash United.

The action:

1 minute: Helston have the wind at their back. They’re instantly on the attack – Kai Cornish whips in a low cross from the left just ahead of Billy Tucker in front of goal

6 minutes: An identical move at the other end – Hayden Turner’s cross just evading Josh Magin

8 minutes:  Play is held up as a dog wants to get in the action at the Solomon Browne end

10 minutes:  The visitors have a dangerous-looking free kick 25 yards out and central, but Cory Harvey punches out Billy Tucker’s fierce drive

11 minutes: Helston are pressing hard all over the pitch – Mousehole haven’t yet been able to put together any pattern of play

12 minutes: Mousehole defence blocks a goal-bound shot after a pull-back from the bye-line

13 minutes:  Tallan Mitchell slides in a low cross for Mousehole but keeper Marko Radovanovic dives on the ball to snuff out the danger

14 minutes:  Dramatic moment as Stu Bowker chases a typical long ball and chips the ball past the onrushing Cory Harvey towards an open goal before a huge collision 20 yards out.  The ball goes wide of the far post but both players are lying flat out on the turf.  Memories of a similar incident in a previous Mousehole v Helston clash which was abandoned with Harvey then hospitalised

19 minutes:  With both casualties fit to continue, Cory Harvey is yellow-carded for his part in the incident and a free kick has been awarded in a great position for the visitors – but Billy Ticker’s lobbed attempt clears the bar by some distance

20 minutes:  Bowker is still up for it and fires past the far post from 18 yards

Half way through the first period – Helston are creating quite a momentum and  winning a good proportion of 50/50 challenges

23 minutes:  Half chance for Mousehole – Tallan Mitchell robs Lewis Tonkin deep into Helston territory on the left but his cross is too close to Radovanovic

24 minutes:  Another Helston long ball puts Bowker in with a chance but Cory Harvey is both quick and brave to get there first

25 minutes: Tallan Mitchell’s jinking run gives him a sight of goal but Radovanovic again reads the cross-shot well

26 minutes:  Signs of Mousehole beginning to get a better grip on the game.  Helston commit a series of fouls in the space of a couple of minutes and receive a warning from Referee James Long as they complain loudly about his decisions.

29 minutes:  Great chance for Mousehole:  Tallan Mitchell again engineers space on the left of the box and lifts a cross into the middle for the unmarked Josh Magin, but he heads straight into Radovanovic’s arms from six yards

30 minutes:  Contrasting styles – Helston are pumping long wind-assisted balls down the middle and Mousehole are gaining confidence in possession

32 minutes:  GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE.  Mousehole 1-0 Helston Athletic.  Billy Curtis provides a low cross from the right which wrong-foots the defenders in the box, leaving HAYDEN TURNER to strike right-footed low inside the post from ten yards. 

36 minutes: Ryan Turner’s shot from an angle is well covered by Cory Harvey, but the Helston man has injured himself in the process and needs treatment

38 minutes: Helston’s Archie Reay is fortunate to get only a yellow card for a dubious tackle on Tallan Mitchell

43 minutes:  The alert Cory Harvey dives on the ball, with Ryan Turner falling over the prostrate keeper and claiming a penalty – Referee Long is not impressed! 

45+3:  A quietish period of play as Mousehole look to see out the half and preserve their lead.  Helston are being loudly encouraged from the sidelines.

45+7:  Half-Time:  Mousehole 1-0 Helston Athletic.  A very energetic 50-odd minutes full of action and incident – you can’t take your eyes off it.  An amazing attendance of 469 is announced.  The prospects: you can bet on Helston coming out fired up for the second half.

53 minutes:  GOAL – MOUSEHOLE 2-0 HELSTON. Helston concede yet another free kick, this time Lewis Tonkin illegally halting Tallan Mitchells’ promising run 20 yards out and earning himself a yellow card.  ANDY ELCOCK’s direct shot beats the defensive wall and the keeper’s dive to zip low into the net for Mousehole’s second goal.

54 minutes:  Back come Helston and Bowker’s lofted attempt from 20 yards lands on the roof of the net with Cory Harvey covering

58 minutes:  RED CARD FOR HELSTON:  Lewis Tonkin brings down Hayden Turner in full flight and shows his displeasure at the Referee’s decision to award a free kick – an almost inevitable yellow card (his second in five minutes) sees the young defender dismissed.  Surely this is now an uphill battle for the visitors – two goals down and still 30+ minutes to play with ten men?

59 minutes:  Mousehole substitute – Sean Roberts is replaced by Mark Goldsworthy

63 minutes: GOAL FOR HELSTON.  Mousehole 2-1 Helston Athletic.  Improbably, the ten men are back in the game!  A misplaced Seagulls pass in midfield leads to STU BOWKER finding space 30 yards out with the back line exposed, and he instantly drives a superlative left-foot shot into the top right corner despite Cory Harvey’s best efforts

64 minutes:  Billy Curtis’ right wing cross is hacked away a few feet from the Helston goal line

70 minutes:  Helston have put in a powerful five-minute spell, causing Mousehole to back pedal

71 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Josh Magin is replaced by Callam Mconie

74 minutes:  Helston very close to an equaliser.  From a corner, Stu Bowker turns on the dropping ball and looks certain to score with his favoured left foot from inside the six-yard box, but Cory Harvey pulls off a defiant block to keep his side in the lead

75 minutes:  Helston are playing as well with ten men as they did earlier with eleven.  The Bowker goal has changed the complexion of the game more so than did the red card, but the visitors are undoing much of their good work by conceding too many unnecessary free kicks

82 minutes:  At last Mousehole regain the initiative and begin to stretch the Helston defence with attacks down the flanks.  Billy Curtis’ right wing cross in front of goal is just out of reach of his advanced team-mates

85 minutes:  GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE.  Mousehole 3-1 Helston Athletic.  Hayden Turner has just been announced as ‘Mousehole Man of the Match’ and he further justifies the award by driving a fierce dipping right-foot from the left corner of the penalty area inside the far post past a helpless Radovanovic.  Four great goals in the match so far.

88 minutes:  Helston substitute Jackson Penhallurick makes a good run into the Mousehole box but his low shot from 15 yards is beaten out by Cory Harvey – another very important save!

90 minutes:  Mousehole are slowing the game down and sensibly retaining possession, but the visitors still get forward and gain two corners in a row

90+2 minutes:  Mousehole substitute Callam Mconie has a good chance coming in from the right to create a better angle, but hits the side netting with his usually reliable left foot

90+3 minutes:  Full -Time Mousehole 3-1 Helston Athletic.  A pulsating end-to-end fiercely competitive and value-for-money FA Cup tie, with the debutant Seagulls progressing to the Preliminary Round and a home tie against Southern League Step 4 side Plymouth Parkway in two weeks’ time.

Mousehole starting XI (and used substitutes): Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Jamie Devine, Josh Otto, Steve Burt, Andy Elcock, Tallan Mitchell, Sean Roberts (Mark Goldsworthy), Josh Magin (Callam Mconie), Hayden Turner.

Other substitutes: Charlie Willis, Silas Sullivan, Piran Jones (GK)

Match officials:  James Long (Referee) and Mark Hosking & Dean Kitley (Assistants)

Attendance: 469

Next for Mousehole:

Tuesday 10^th August: Away v Tavistock, Western League Premier Division, 7.45

• Venue: Langsford Park, Crowndale Road, Tavistock PL19 8JR.
• Tavistock won their FA Cup tie on Saturday, 3-2 away at St Austell
• This is their first home game of the season. In WLP, they have won away at Ilfracombe (2-1) and lost away at Saltash (2-0).

Saturday 14^th August: Home v Street AFC, WLP, 3pm, Trungle Parc

• Street have lost both their home League games, v Brislington (3-1) and Exmouth (4-0)
• They lost 8-0 away at Step 5 Fareham Town in the FA Cup on Saturday

Mousehole 5-0 St Blazey

Pre-Season Friendly at Trungle Parc

Scorers: Callam Mconie (32), Hayden Turner (34), Tallan Mitchell (40), Tallan Mitchell (59), Sean Roberts (89)

Mousehole, recently promoted to the Western League, hosted their former South West Peninsula rivals in an entertaining encounter full of interest and endeavour, with 80 spectators at an immaculate Trungle Parc watching their first live football since last December.

Manager Jake Ash’s squad included mostly familiar faces, with two recent arrivals in winger Callam Mconie signed from Newquay and left-sided wing-back Kyle Fraser from Porthleven, together with Ethan Elwell goalkeeping understudy, but striker Mark Goldsworthy was absent through illness.

St Blazey, with a new management team under experienced manager Phil Lafferty and a re-shaped side containing some well-known names, are widely tipped to do well and challenge for the single promotion place available this season.

The game was uneventful for the first half hour, with plenty of tough tackling, but burst into life with three goals in eight minutes.

Mousehole took the lead when Callam Mconie swerved a left-footed free kick from 25 yards low inside the near post on 32 minutes, and then two minutes later Tallan Mitchell led a high press to present Hayden Turner with a goal from an angled shot for 2-0.  The same pair combined in a neat one-two on the edge of the box for Tallan Mitchell to side foot low into the far corner on 40 minutes.  At the other end Cory Harvey made a good low save from a 10-yard drive and Neil Slateford just missed the far angle for the visitors before the interval.

Just before the hour, Tallan Mitchell exploited the space 30 yards out to score his second goal with a low shot inside the post, but the visitors then came back into the game with some promising attacks and a couple of missed half-chances.  Right at the end, Sean Roberts marked his comeback after a lengthy injury lay-off when he completed the scoring with a header following a fine left-sided break engineered by Jamie Devine.

Mousehole starting line-up:  Cory Harvey, Billy Curtis, Mark Richards, Josh Otto, Kyle Fraser, Steve Burt, Tallan Mitchell, Andy Elcock, Callam Mconie, Hayden Turner, Josh Magin.

Substitutes used:  Sean Roberts, Jamie Devine, Ethan Elwell (GK), Jude Boyd, Charlie Willis, Silas Sullivan

Next up in the pre-season schedule is the visit to Trungle Parc of Jason Blunt’s i2i Academy on Friday evening (9^th July) with a 7pm kick off.