MOUSEHOLE RESERVES 7-2 PENRYN ATHLETIC RESERVES

WHIRLWIND SPORTS TRELAWNY LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION

SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2019

AT TRUNGLE PARC

Mousehole Reserves made it a very happy start to the new year by leapfrogging their opponents into third place in the table with an astonishing second half turnaround after being 1-0 in arrears at the interval.

The Trungle Parc pitch was in fantastic condition and the clubhouse hospitality was top notch for both spectators and players.

On a cold afternoon both sides took a while to settle down into a rhythm and both had opportunities to score, Dom Angove in the Mousehole goal making a great diving save to deny Penryn the opening goal.  Mousehole were slowly taking control of the game, but the quality of crossing and passing needed a little bit of fine tuning.  Against the flow of play the visitors took full advantage of a misjudgement to go ahead in the 27^th minute.  Mousehole rallied but a strong Penryn defence stood firm to preserve their first half lead.

Whatever the nature of The Seagulls’ half time team talk, it paid early dividends in dramatic fashion with five goals in the first fifteen minutes. Within two minutes a cross from the left by Joe Davies found the head of JJ Simmonds for Mousehole to draw level.  Another two minutes and a second goal arrived as a Nathan Goodspeed cross again from the left was headed in by Caleb Marsden.  After some excellent chasing down Michael Fitchett found JJ Simmonds who ran through the Penryn defence to take the score to 3-1 in the 54^th minute.  Jamie Simons then added a fourth in the 58^th minute, and minutes later JJ Simmonds’ perfect pass found Fitchett charging through Penryn defence and around both defender and keeper for goal number 5.

Penryn came back with a goal in the 64^th minute to make it 5-2, but four minutes later a Jamie Simons cross found Callum George, who slotted in Mousehole’s 6th.  After a spate of substitutions around the 70^th minute mark, the home side continued on the attack, with Jamie Simons completing the scoring in the 84^th minute, though the action continued with the Penryn keeper forced into a fine save a minute later to deny Caleb Marsden.

The game had been all the more enjoyable because of the excellent refereering of Steve Annis, with both teams getting on with playing a good standard of football – and it was also a pleasant surprise for the airwaves to be free of constant verbal interference.

For Mousehole, this was another creditable all-round team performance, with the defence playing a full part in the victory.  A fifth league win in a row, scoring 23 goals and conceding only 5, lifts them up to third place in the Premier Division in their first season after promotion.

The next fixture is this Saturday (12^th January), a 4^th Round Bond Cornwall Junior Cup tie against league leaders Penwith Exiles at Mounts Bay School, kick off 2pm.  Mousehole will be looking to avenge their narrow single goal defeat by their local rivals at Trungle Parc earlier in the season.

Mousehole Reserves:  Dom Angove, Jonathan Fitchett, Jason Simmonds, Michael Fitchett, Nathan Goodspeed, Joe Davies (captain), Benji Ward, Jacob Trudgeon, Tom Hooper, Caleb Marsden, Harry Tonkin, Alex Nixon, Jamie Simons, Callum George, Tom Hands.

PLYMSTOCK UNITED 1-1 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 29th DECEMBER 2018

AT DEAN CROSS

Mousehole reached the halfway point of their League campaign with an away point against a Plymstock side who stood one point ahead from three games more, and proved to be the usual difficult opponents on their own pitch.

The energetic hosts created the better of the first half chances, with Seagulls’ keeper Jason Robertson blocking a fierce drive which ricocheted on to the crossbar and over in the 37th minute.

The second half was a different story, as Mousehole retained more of the ball and made serious inroads into Plymstock’s previously solid defence.

Steven Ziboth put the visitors ahead with a low shot into the far corner from 12 yards after Steve Burt had broken through from midfield to set up Hermann Niamke for a pass across the area.

But the lead lasted barely two minutes as a right wing cross was met with a simple downward header by Connor Rush from a central position eight yards out.  Plymstock briefly stepped up the pressure and came close twice after robbing Mousehole in the final third.

But the last 25 minutes belonged almost entirely to The Seagulls as they pegged the home side back in their own half.  Billy Curtis shot over after Steven Ziboth’s drive had been blocked in a crowded goalmouth on 70 minutes.  Two minutes later Gerens James’ header from Paulo Sousa’s cross just cleared the crossbar.

In an eventful last ten minutes, a plausible penalty appeal for a foul on Hermann Niamke was turned down, two corners in quick succession resulted in a shot blocked and a header marginally wide, while in a rare foray over the halfway line a Plymstock free kick from 30 yards just missed the target.

Back in the home side’s penalty area, some desperate defending kept out three goalbound shots in a row, including one hacked off the line when it looked like an added-time winner.

In the end, Plymstock were glad to hear the final whistle, while Mousehole would have wished for another five minutes.

The Seagulls end the year in sixth place, with 7 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats, having played 9 of those fixtures away, and with several games in hand on four of the five teams above them.

The second half of Mousehole’s season is full of positive expectation as they settle into a controlled passing style, aim to make the most of their nine home games including against all of the current top four, and look forward to the prospect of promotion to the new Step 6 League in the summer.

The Seagulls are without a game next Saturday as their originally scheduled opponents Wadebridge Town are in Senior Cup action, so the next fixture is at home against Bere Alston United at Trungle Parc on Saturday 12th January, kick off 2:15pm.

Mousehole:  Jason Robertson, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (captain), Mark Richards, Tom Hands, Steve Burt, Lez Cela, Paulo Sousa, Hermann Niamke, Gerens James, Steven Ziboth.

Substitutes: Luke Hunter (for Mark Richards, 46), Kevin Nicholson (for Tyler Tonkin, 68), Kingsley Burrows, Sam Shulberg, Ryan Andrew.

Scorers: Mousehole – Steven Ziboth, 50.   Plymstock – Connor Rush, 52.

Referee:  Stuart Ash.

LISKEARD ATHLETIC 1-1 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 24^th NOVEMBER 2018, AT LUX PARK

 In an entertaining game and a superb advert for Cornish football at Step 7, a goal just two minutes from time enabled Liskeard to escape with a draw after Mousehole had looked to be heading for all three points to close the gap on the league leaders.

The Seagulls would have probably been satisfied in advance with this result, against a team who have won ten and drawn one of their eleven matches this season, but it is a measure of their progress and ambition that they came off at the end with a real sense of disappointment.

This competitive clash on a wet pitch was ably refereed by Marc Whaley, who turned a deaf ear to the frequent protests from the home players and bench, while booking two players for a series of midfield fouls, Steve Burt from Mousehole and Liskeard’s captain Jack Podmore.

Mousehole’s top scorer Gerens James was missing from the starting line-up through illness, and the hosts’ James Lorenz, the Division’s runaway leading 28-goal marksman, was withdrawn injured 15 minutes from time.

The games started at a fast pace with five clear openings created within the first eight minutes.  Paulo Sousa shot over in the first attack after a slip by Liskeard’s goalkeeper Jamie Blatchford and three minutes later squared the ball for Hamza Kaid who shot wide.  At the other end, Jarrad Woods drove over from range and then had the visitors’ keeper Dom Angove at full stretch with a swerving left-sided free kick, before James Lorenz again used his pace to put a great low cross in front of goal with no-one near enough to touch it in.

The excitement continued with Calum Elliot’s drive towards the top corner pushed out by Blatchford for a corner on 15 minutes, while Lorenz produced another darting run and dangerous low cross on 17.  Paulo Sousa drifted a 20-yard free kick just past the angle on 24 and Calum Elliot’s searching cross was sliced over his own crossbar by Dylan Peel in front of goal on 27.

The visitors lost centre back Mark Richards through injury on 33 minutes, with captain Billy Curtis moving into the centre of defence and Tyler Tonkin coming on at right back, a change which drew Lorenz in from the left side into the middle, where he proved to be less effective.  The Seagulls continued to gain the upper hand, with Hamza Kaid shooting wide twice on 38 and 43, and Kevin Nicholson curling wide in the last minute of the half after the hosts had failed to clear a corner.

Mousehole started the second half on the front foot and took a deserved lead in the 50^th minute.  Nicholson and Elliot cleverly exposed the right side of Liskeard’s defence with some sharp inter-passing, leaving Paulo Sousa to trick his way past two defenders to slot into the corner from 15 yards.

Midfielder Woods remained Liskeard’s most influential player, creating a chance on 56 minutes with a great cross and then setting up Lorenz to shoot wide from the edge of the box on 74.  In the meantime Billy Curtis’ firm header from Elliot’s corner beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by Sam Gilbert, as the pulsating action continued.

But the league leaders fought back with a counter-attack equaliser on 88 minutes, after Mousehole lost possession high up the pitch. The ball was quickly switched through midfield to Lyle Johnson 20 yards out and his lofted shot sailed high into the net to prompt jubilation both on and off the pitch.

It looked ominous for Mousehole two minutes later as substitute Tom Cleveland burst through one-on-one, but Dom Angove did extremely well to narrow the angle and dive on the goalbound shot.  But to their huge credit Mousehole came back and were mightily close to a winner of their own in added-on time when first Blatchford made a flying save to keep out Calum Elliot’s fierce drive from inside the box, and then Lorenzo Qerimi fired wide from 18 yards.

Despite dropping two points on home soil, Liskeard celebrated the result as if they had won, as they chalked up their 12^th league fixture without loss to leave them 11 points ahead of Mousehole having played one game more.

Mousehole are in local derby cup action this Saturday (1^st December) as they take on Penzance at Penlee Park in the first round of the Cornwall Charity Cup, kick off 2pm with extra time and penalties if necessary.  The Seagulls have lost only once in the last eight matches since the end of September, whereas The Magpies suffered a surprising 3-2 league defeat at lowly Bude Town on Saturday after gaining a highly creditable home draw 1-1 against Liskeard Athletic the week before.

Mousehole:  Dom Angove, Billy Curtis (captain), Ryan Andrew, Mark Richards, Kevin Nicholson, Steve Burt, Lorenzo Qerimi, Luke Hunter, Paulo Sousa, Hamza Kaid, Calum Elliot.

Substitutes:  Tyler Tonkin (for Mark Richards, 33), Tom Hands, Sam Shulberg, Paul Williams

Mousehole scorer:  Paulo Sousa, 50.

Referee: Marc Whaley.

 

 

 

 

 

Mousehole’s central defender Adel Gafaiti has been signed on a full-time professional contract by League Two club Yeovil Town.  Gafaiti, capped at Under-20 level by Algeria, spent four years at Norwich City before joining Glasgow Rangers, then went abroad to play in the Premier Division in Ukraine, before moving to west Cornwall earlier this season with the aim of re-launching his professional career in England.

Gafaiti’s decision to join Endorsed Academy and its partner club Mousehole AFC was based on the offer of daily top-class coaching and a growing network of contacts with pro clubs.  And it has worked out well, all round.  His consistently strong and elegant performances at Mousehole soon brought the inevitable interest from higher-league clubs, and at the same time the move illustrates how Mousehole AFC and Endorsed Academy can nurture and develop talent and provide the springboard for progression.

The French-born 24-year old spent a week at Yeovil, training with The Glovers’ first team squad and impressing throughout .  After his international clearance came through he went straight into Yeovil’s League Two starting line-up at Macclesfield last Saturday and earned positive reviews despite his team’s defeat.

With Yeovil Town’s proven track record of developing young players under Darren Way and his management team, Adel Gafaiti is in a great position to fulfil his ambition to re-build his promising career.  The Glovers’ boss, commenting on the club’s website, has high praise for his latest recruit:  “Adel is a whole-hearted and committed player with a hunger and desire to win.  He has impressed me from the moment he joined us at Huish Park and shares the values we hold within the squad.  I’m looking forward to working with Adel on a regular basis and am excited to see his continued development.”

Having moved seven steps up the football pyramid, Gafaiti looks back positively on his time at Mousehole, saying:  “I  can’t speak highly enough of Mousehole and the Endorsed programme for giving me with the perfect platform to get back into the pro game.  The club and programme are run as well as any pro club I’ve been involved with.  It’s also a great place to live, and everyone connected with the club is so positive, kind and supportive.”

Endorsed Academy’s manager Sam Shulberg, himself a former Yeovil Town coach, acted as the go-between for the move and reckons there will be more to come.  “We of course wish Adel all the best and will be keeping a close eye on his progress.  His move has alerted other EFL clubs that we are serious about creating pathways through to the pro game.  So there is every opportunity at Mousehole/Endorsed for young players with talent – and the right attitude and determination – to better themselves, whether they are starting out at this level or dropping down a few leagues in order to step up again.”

MOUSEHOLE 2-1 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE CUP

sponsored by Walter C Parson Funeral Directors

THIRD ROUND TIE

SATURDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC

 

‘TEAM OF THE WEEK’ MOUSEHOLE SHOCK PILGRIMS TO REACH LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINALS

 

Plymouth Argyle’s talented young side – the highest placed of the 54 teams in this year’s League Cup competition and with a 100% record in their last five games – made the long journey west as the clear pre-match favourites against a Mousehole side standing in 5th place in the Division below.

But the hosts put on a tremendous performance of teamwork, skill and commitment to earn a fully deserved victory, their fourth ‘giant killing’ against higher-division opponents in this season’s Cup competitions and this time earning the title of Team of the Week in a SWPL public vote.

This was a much anticipated and well attended contest between two teams noted for their passing style of football, and on a superb playing surface it was Kevin Nicholson’s men who outshone the Premier Division leaders in all departments.

Argyle fielded their usual mixture of Academy prospects and players with first-team squad experience, while Mousehole, playing in their dark-blue away kit to accommodate the visitors’ traditional dark-green club colours, were without half a dozen regular squad members who were either cup-tied or injured.

Argyle had progressed to the third round after a bye and a 3-1 away win at much-fancied Tavistock, whereas Mousehole had notched up away successes at Premier Division sides Newquay (2-0) and Sticker (4-0).

Gerens James put Mousehole in the lead on 18 minutes, using his strength and know-how to hold off his marker before turning on to Billy Curtis’ floated cross from the right and firing home from 8 yards.

And the same combination produced the second goal in the 52nd minute, this time with the aid of an error by goalkeeper Mike Collins, who misjudged a wind-assisted cross leaving Mousehole’s top scorer to nod into an empty net from a couple of yards out.

Dom Angove had a quiet afternoon in the Mousehole goal, as his defenders closed the door on every half-chance created by the visitors.  The one exception came on 27 minutes when Alex Battle – the leading scorer in the Premier Division – exploited a generous amount of space 25 yards out to drive firmly into the corner for an equaliser against the run of play.  Two other Argyle players, Callum Dyson and Alex Fletcher, feature near the top of the ‘Golden Boot’ standings as part of an attack that has scored 86 goals in 21 league games, but they were rarely allowed a sight of goal throughout the whole of the 90 minutes.

The result and performance indicates that Mousehole’s squad now has real strength in depth as well as continuity of playing style, which should serve them well over what promises to be a challenging but exciting winter period.

Mousehole will not know their opponents in the League Cup quarter-finals – with those games to be played on or before 28th February – until the draw is made after the completion of the remaining third round ties on Saturday 8th December.

Having just faced the team at the top of the Premier Division, The Seagulls now face the leaders of Division One West as they travel to Lux Park to take on unbeaten Liskeard Athletic this Saturday (24th), kick off at 3pm.  Mousehole are currently 11 points behind the leaders with a game in hand.  Having won their first ten league games outright, Liskeard were fortunate to come away from Penzance with a 1-1 draw last Saturday, after The Magpies played much of the game with ten men and even missed a potential match-winning penalty near the end.

The following Saturday (1st December) it’s local derby cup day – Penzance v Mousehole in the first round of the Cornwall Charity Cup (2pm).

Mousehole v Plymouth Argyle squads:

Mousehole: Dom Angove, Billy Curtis (captain), Ryan Andrew, Mark Richards, Kevin Nicholson, Luke Hunter, Lorenzo Qerimi, Paulo Sousa, Hamza Kaid, Gerens James, Calum Elliot

Substitutes: Craig Wilcox (for Calum Elliot, 72), Tom Patrick, Tom Hands, Sam Shulberg, Jake Andrew

Plymouth Argyle: Mike Cooper, Harry Hodges, Reuben Collum, Adam Randell, Andy Burn, Isaac Burden, Lionel Ainsworth, Jude Boyd, Callum Dyson, Alex Battle, Alex Fletcher

Substitutes: Ben Musselwhite (for Adam Randall, 46), Owen Raven (for Andy Burn, 80).

Scorers: Gerens James 18 (1-0), Alex Battle 27 (1-1), Gerens James 52 (2-1).

Referee: Matthew Carney.     Attendance: 118.