MOUSEHOLE 0-1 ST BLAZEY

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE WEST

SATURDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC

Despite dominating possession for the entire match and creating a hatful of chances, Mousehole’s much-depleted line-up suffered a home defeat against a St Blazey side who were playing under new management following a poor sequence of results.

After their headline-making 2-0 win in the League Cup at higher-level Newquay the previous Saturday, The Seagulls started without six players who would normally feature on the team sheet, but continued to play an attractive brand of football that could have enabled them to build a substantial winning margin.

The visitors’ ‘keeper Dale England, returning from suspension, got back just in time to prevent a cute Will Vouama chip crossing the line as early as the 3rd minute.  Tom Patrick’s cross-cum-shot just eluded Gerens James in front of goal on 8 minutes, a Billy Curtis header from Vouama’s free kick went just over on 12, Craig Wilcox’s left-wing cross was scuffed away from inside the six-yard box on 16, and Wilcox and James were both close in the same attack on 18.

St Blazey were fortunate to escape punishment when defender Paul New pushed Referee Matthew Carney in a dispute over a free kick award, and their luck continued in the 35th minute when, completely against the run of play and in a rare foray over the halfway line, Josh Harris lobbed in a speculative 30-yard cross from the left which floated just inside Dom Angove’s far post.

The action continued at the other end, with newcomer Lorenzo Gerimi hitting the bar in the 41st minute with a superbly executed free kick, as the visitors’ uncompromising tackling earned them two yellow cards in quick succession. And more chances were created before half time, Billy Curtis mis-connecting from a low cross and Will Vouama’s weaving run blocked by the ‘keeper.

The second half continued in the same vein, Vouama putting a clear chance wide in the 54th minute, Craig Wilcox having a header cleared off the line 10 minutes later, and on 67 the closest yet to a goal as Vouama’s 30-yard free kick smacked against the far upright with ‘keeper England a stranded onlooker.

St Blazey were content to sit back in their own half, but unexpectedly surged forward in the 76th minute and would have doubled the lead in true ‘smash and grab’ fashion had it not been for a great tip-over by Dom Angove from a goalbound 25-yard drive.  And three minutes later, the young ‘keeper was booked for colliding with the speedy Harris just outside the penalty area in another breakaway.

Mousehole continued their bombardment, England rescuing his side with a finger-tip reaction save from a Gerens James’ close-range header and moments later from an angled drive by substitute Sam Shulberg, who was then millimetres away from nodding in Craig Wilcox’s cross in the 90th minute.

Judging by their celebrations at the final whistle, St Blazey will feel that this resolute performance has brought to a halt their disappointing start to the season, and it earned them a joint-top “SWPL team of the week” in a public poll – but it could have been a very different story had The Seagulls managed to convert just a fraction of the chances created.

The defeat leaves Mousehole in 8th place in the Division One West table with a 50% points haul from their opening seven League games a quarter of the way into the season, having won three, drawn two and lost two.

Their next fixture is a Cornwall Senior Cup 1st Round home tie this Saturday (6th October) against Premier Division Millbrook at Trungle Parc, kick off 2:30pm, with extra time and penalties to decide the outcome if necessary.  Millbrook were promoted at the end of last season as West Division champions, and have made a good start at the higher level with six wins from 13 games to occupy 7th place in the table.

The Seagulls return to League business the following Saturday (13th) when Bude Town visit Trungle Parc (3pm).

Mousehole v St Blazey:  Dom Angove, Billy Curtis (captain), Ryan Andrew, Adel Gafaiti, Tom Hands, Lorenzo Gerimi, Kaid Hamza, William Vouama, Tom Patrick, Craig Wilcox, Gerens James.

Substitutes: Jamie Devine (for Kaid Hamza, 46), Sam Shulberg (for Tom Patrick, 72), Paul Williams, Louis Graham.

Referee: Matthew Carney.     Attendance: 108.

NEWQUAY 0-2 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE CUP, sponsored by Walter C Parson Funeral Directors

FIRST ROUND TIE, AT MOUNT WISE, SATURDAY 22^ND SEPTEMBER 2018

An early and a late goal enabled The Seagulls to pull off the result and performance of the first round of the League Cup with a richly deserved win at Premier Division Newquay to earn a second round tie at another higher-league side Sticker on 20^th October.

Mousehole have become something of a cup specialist side in recent times, and indeed Saturday’s win was the third in a row against The Peppermints in as many seasons.  But they had to show all their many qualities, playing for nearly an hour with ten men after Luke Hunter’s dismissal in an unfortunate incident late the first half.

Newquay had been forced into several changes after two gruelling fixtures in a week, firstly their own headline-grabbing 1-0 win at Western League Premier side Buckland Athletic in the FA Vase, followed by a 4-1 home league defeat at the hands of title favourites Tavistock.  Mousehole also shuffled the pack, with player-manager Calum Elliot directing from the sidelines during the first of a three-match suspension, youngsters Dom Angove in goal and Tom Hands in defence, and striker Jake Andrew deployed in midfield.

On a wet and dark afternoon, but starting with the wind in their favour, Mousehole were immediately on the offensive and took the lead after only two minutes.  William Vouama created and finished the chance all by himself with a piercing 40-yard run past several opponents, a calm side-step round ‘keeper Adam Dower and a rolled shot past the wrong-footed covering defender on the line.

The visitors were soon at it again with swift attacks down the flanks and Dower had to make diving saves to keep out shots by Steven Ziboth and Vouama in the 4^th and 6^th minutes.  Newquay made their first threat on 18 when the skilful youngster Ollie Walker made a promising chance for himself but was shut out by a determined defence.  Back came Mousehole and the Vouama-Ziboth combination resulted in Dower again foiling the latter in a one-on-one on 20 minutes, and shortly afterwards Dom Angove denied Walker with a smart save, before Ziboth and Jake Andrew came close in quick succession to doubling the lead.  The end-to-end action continued with Ryan Andrew making a crucial interception when dangerman Walker again looked likely to equalise, followed by Angove’s superb diving save to keep out Perez’s fierce drive from the edge of the box and preserve Mousehole’s lead.

He game was brought to a halt in the 38^th minute after Mousehole’s Luke Hunter felled Harry Tilston in the centre of the pitch with an over-the-ball tackle on the slippery surface.  Both teams left the pitch while the injured player was eventually carried off a stretcher and taken to hospital by ambulance (the injury was later confirmed as not a broken leg as had at first been feared).  Before the game resumed referee Paul Kempen issued the red card for Hunter, leaving Mousehole to play with ten men for the remainder of the match.

The Seagulls continued to work hard to deny Newquay the opportunity to make the extra man count.  But this was certainly no backs-to-the-wall performance, as Mousehole remained positive and looked the more likely to score, with Gerens James putting a close-range header wide from a great Billy Curtis centre on 48 and just failing to connect with Steven Ziboth’s low cross along the six-yard line on 56.  The craft and speed of Paulo Sousa, Ziboth and Vouama kept the worried Peppermints’ back line fully occupied, with Dower yet again rescuing his side in a one-on-one in the 59^th minute.

The home side finally got a sight of goal on the hour with a header just wide, but it was not until late on that they looked likely to score and take the game into extra time.  In quick succession in the last five minutes Angove came out smartly to defuse a dangerous situation, a right-wing cross-cum-shot whistled just past the far post, and some resolute defending cleared away a goalmouth scramble.

With the speedy Craig Wilcox on as substitute up front, Mousehole’s tactics worked perfectly with a classic second goal on 90 minutes as Newquay pressed upfield.  The battling Jake Andrew won an important header in midfield, setting up Steven Ziboth who in turn slid the ball inside for Wilcox to take it in his stride 30 yards out and race through the gap to fire home past the advancing ‘keeper.  There was still time for Dom Angove to demonstrate his shot-stopping prowess with a double save in the second minute of added time, to earn his side a clean sheet and complete a thoroughly deserved whole-team victory.

Mousehole return to home league action this Saturday (29^th October, kick off 3pm) with the visit to Trungle Parc of St Blazey, who have recently changed manager after a poor start to the season.  The Seagulls will be looking to improve on their current sixth place in the table, having won three, drawn two and lost one so far.

The following Saturday (6^th October) it’s cup weekend again, this time in the Cornwall Senior Cup, in which Mousehole made a historic run to the final in May.  Last season’s promoted champions Millbrook are the visitors, having made a reasonable start to life in the Premier Division to occupy a mid-table position.

Mousehole v Newquay:  Dom Angove, Billy Curtis (captain), Ryan Andrew, Adel Gafaiti, Tom Hands, Luke Hunter, Paulo Sousa, Jake Andrew, William Vouama, Gerens James, Steven Ziboth.  Substitutes:  Craig Wilcox (for Gerens James, 80), Sam Shulberg (for Steven Ziboth, 90+1).

Mousehole scorers:  William Vouama 2, Craig Wilcox 90.

Referee:  Paul Kempen.

 

SEAGULLS DOMINANT BUT DEFEATED AT PORTHLEVEN

PORTHLEVEN 3-2 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

WEDNESDAY 5^TH SEPTEMBER, AT GALA PARC

Something had to give when Mousehole visited Porthleven with both sides boasting a 100% record, but it was the home side who rode their luck and made the most of their chances in a dramatic local derby to edge the victory and go to the top of the West Division table.

Mousehole put in arguably their best performance of the season with some scintillating periods of attacking football, but they missed a penalty, hit the Porthleven woodwork three times, and forced ‘keeper Jason Robertson into a number of outstanding saves, while gifting The Fishermen all three goals through unforced errors at crucial times in the match.

Mousehole signalled their positive intent when Craig Wilcox and Will Vouama – the latter returning after attending higher-league trials – fashioned an opening on three minutes from the right of goal but Steven Ziboth had his shot cleared off the line.

Porthleven went into an unlikely lead in the 5^th minute when Calum Elliot slipped on the edge of the box in possession of the ball, leaving debutant Jack Price to take advantage of his good fortune to run on unopposed and score a simple goal.

The lively Craig Wilcox came close to equalising in the 7^th and 14^th minutes, firstly with a 20-yard shot just wide of the far post and then drawing a fine save from ‘keeper and captain Jason Robertson, who turned out to be Port’s saviour on the night and was named as their man-of-the-match.

As the first half progressed The Seagull’s passing patterns and incisive forward movement pegged the hosts back in their own half for long periods.  After Steven Ziboth had been hacked down on the edge of the box after a typical direct run, Calum Elliot’s free kick on 26 minutes struck the near post and spun out to safety.

And then, three minutes before half time, Mousehole were awarded a controversial penalty when ‘keeper Robertson objected to Gerens James’ close attention by pushing him to the ground, with referee Mark Hosking consulting his assistant to confirm the decision.  However, the ‘keeper atoned for his moment of rashness and earned his side a reprieve by beating out Steven Ziboth’s penalty to preserve The Fishermen’s lead.

And that incident became even more significant when the visitors made the worst possible start to the second half, with Port doubling their lead within a minute of the resumption.  Mousehole conceded possession deep in defence on their left, and a whipped-in cross was headed home by Matt Drummond from very close in.

To their credit, Mousehole regained the initiative and on 53 minutes Gerens James just failed to make proper contact with a good headed chance from a Paulo Sousa cross.  In an ambitious substitution on 54 minutes, defender Ryan Andrew was replaced by striker Jake Andrew to partner James up front, and within four minutes the twin strikers had put The Seagulls back on level terms.  A swift defence-splitting move by Craig Wilcox and Jake Andrew down the right created the space for Billy Curtis to pinpoint a cross into the danger area and Gerens James nodded in for 2-1 in the 56^th minute.  In the next penetrating move, this time down the left, Paulo Sousa darted 30 yards and his low centre was driven first time in off the crossbar by Jake Andrew for a spectacular equaliser on 58, much to the noisy delight of the large away support.

With Mousehole now well on top, Robertson saved superbly from Steven Ziboth and Gerens James, but all the previous good work was undone in totally unexpected fashion in the 64^th minute when in a rare and harmless-looking Port attack, Paulo Sousa clearly handled a cross, and former Seagull Jordan Adlard converted the penalty to make it 3-2.

The Seagulls continued to carve out regular chances, creating the expectation of at least a repetition of last season’s pulsating 3-3 draw.  Both Steven Ziboth and Gerens James hit the same upright and James was inches away with two other efforts.  But Porthleven’s defence stood firm in the face of a barrage of attacks though they still had Robertson to thank for blocking a Ziboth shot from point-blank range after the wingman had tricked his way at speed past several defenders.

At the other end, the home side could have made the game safe with a breakaway in the 87^th minute, but in the end they will have welcomed the sound of the referee’s whistle following five minutes of added time.

Rarely will Mousehole play such exhilarating football for no points reward, and equally Porthleven will be satisfied with a win from only a fraction of the possession and chances.

After four games played, Mousehole go into the home league game against St Dennis at Trungle Parc this Saturday (8th, 3pm) in third place, three points behind Porthleven and Liskeard Athletic, and on level points with Penzance but with a better goal difference.  Porthleven are at home to Dobwalls, while Liskeard are at Holsworthy and Penzance at St Blazey.

Mousehole v Porthleven:  Sam Shulberg, Ryan Andrew, Billy Curtis (captain), Calum Elliot, Paulo Sousa, Max Hill, Luke Hunter, Craig Wilcox, Gerens James, Will Vouama, Steven Ziboth.

Substitutes:  Jake Andrew (for Ryan Andrew, 54), Mze Ida-Yasser, Tom Hands, Tom Patrick, Paul Williams

Scoring:  Jack Price 5 (1-0), Matt Drummond 47 (2-0), GERENS JAMES 56 (2-1), JAKE ANDREW 58 (2-2), Jordan Adlard pen 66 (3-2).

Referee:  Mark Hosking.

Attendance:  115.

SEAGULLS FACE BIG CHALLENGE IN LOCAL DERBY AT PORTHLEVEN

PORTHLEVEN v MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

WEDNESDAY 5^TH SEPTEMBER, 7:30pm

AT GALA PARC (TR13 9LQ)

 Mousehole travel the short distance to Porthleven this evening (Wednesday 5^th, 7:30pm) as two sides with 100% records go head to head in the floodlit local derby, with each intent on preserving their perfect sequence of results.

The teams have won all three of their opening games, after which Porthleven hold a goal-difference advantage of just one, with 14 goals scored and 3 conceded, compared with Mousehole’s 11 for and 1 against.

Porthleven’s goal difference received a massive boost with Saturday’s 8-1 away win over a hastily-assembled Ludgvan line-up.  They had previously won 3-0 on the opening day at home against Wadebridge Town, and then 3-2 away at Penzance.

Mousehole’s record is a 6-1 home success against Plymstock United, followed by victories at Wendron (3-0) and, last Saturday, at Bere Alston United (2-0).

The early season encounter between The Fishermen and The Seagulls is always well attended and, with a lot of additional interest generated by the two teams’ recent successes, a good three-figure crowd is assured.  Former Manager Kevin Richards is now assistant to Alan Carey at Porthleven, which adds a further pinch of spice to the occasion.

The equivalent fixture last season was a pulsating and dramatic affair on a rain-sodden evening, with Mousehole coming back with 10 men for the last 50 minutes to equalise right at the end for an against-the-odds 3-3 draw, thanks to a Jorome Slew hat-trick.

Liskeard Athletic’s result yesterday evening (Tuesday), a 4-0 home win over St Dennis, maintains their own winning start to the season and puts them top of the West Division table, three points ahead of Porthleven and Mousehole, with a one and two goal advantage respectively, having played a game more.

Mousehole move on to league fixture No. 5 on Saturday (8^th) with a home league game against St Dennis at Trungle Parc, kick off 3pm.

 

SEAGULLS MAKE IT THREE WINS OUT OF THREE

 BERE ALSTON UNITED 0-2 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 1^ST SEPTEMBER 2018, AT THE DOWN

 Two early goals in Mousehole’s most distant league fixture of the season were enough to see off newly-promoted Bere Alston United on a hot sunny afternoon in west Devon.

The Seagulls had the vast majority of possession against the energetic and combative home side, who have now lost all four of their opening games.  But the little village club, who have produced a superb playing surface, deserve great credit for the ambition shown in stepping up to test themselves in the higher league.

Mousehole have now won their first three games to stand in second place in the early West Division table, and are one of only three teams – alongside Porthleven and Liskeard Athletic – to have a 100% record.  And the big challenge, as well as the end of that record, will come under the Porthleven floodlights on Wednesday evening (5^th September) when The Seagulls, having conceded only once, travel the short distance to Gala Parc with the home side on equal points but one goal ahead.

In Saturday’s game Mousehole were two goals to the good by the 17^th minute.  Steven Ziboth rifled a 30-yard right-footed drive low into the far corner after skipping in from the left in the 10^th minute.  Then Gerens James was alert to a rebound off 17-year old ‘keeper Michael Moore from Craig Wilcox’s left-foot shot from the edge of the area to poach the second goal from close range.  The lead was nearly extended on 25 minutes as Gerens James and Mze Ida Yasser both tried to capitalise on a left wing cross, but the hosts also came close in the 37^th and 38^th minutes with long-range efforts.

The home side continued to play with determination after the interval, with a header from a long free kick not far off the mark on 50 minutes.  But Mousehole regained the initiative, with Mze Ida Yasser having a shot cleared off the line on 54 and Gerens James thumping a shot against the underside of the bar a minute later.

With The Seagulls dictating play, United’s over-zealous tackling earned them a dismissal for a second yellow card in the 64^th minute and they were then fortunate to receive only a yellow ten minutes later as they sought to neutralise Steven Ziboth’s attacking threat.  More goals looked as though they would follow, with Gerens James, Max Hill and Craig Wilcox the closest for Mousehole, while previously under-employed ‘keeper Sam Shulberg thwarted the hosts with a diving finger-tip save from a goalbound header five minutes from time.

Mousehole:  Sam Shulberg, Ryan Andrew, Billy Curtis (captain), Calum Elliot, Paulo Sousa, Luke Hunter, Max Hill, Craig Wilcox, Gerens James, Mze Ida Yasser, Steven Ziboth. 

Substitutes:  Tom Patrick (for Mze Ida Yasser, 80), Paul Williams.

Scorers:  Steven Ziboth (10), Gerens James (17)

Referee:  Richard Butters