MOUSEHOLE v ST BLAZEY

SATURDAY 13^TH JANUARY 2018

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

AT TRUNGLE PARC, PAUL, KICK OFF 2:15PM

It’s 4^th versus 5^th on Saturday as Mousehole look to extend their 100% home record with a win over the early-season title favourites.

St Blazey were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season having gained only one win.  They are one of several south-west clubs who have had an illustrious trophy-laden history but are now experiencing leaner times.  After a change of team management and a rebuilt squad in the summer, they made a poor start to this campaign but have picked up form with only one defeat in the last 10 league matches since September.

During the same period Mousehole have also lost only once, beating all the sides above them in the table and earning a clean sheet in each of the last four matches.

Mousehole are two points ahead of St Blazey but have played three games more.  With both teams expecting to be among the top placings at the end of the season, maximising points particularly against closest rivals will help.  So, the outcome of Saturday’s match will be important, though not crucial.  A Seagulls win will extend the gap over the Green & Blacks to 5 points and lift them up to 3rd……and even up to 2^nd if Liskeard lose at Plymstock.  And with Millbrook not in league action even a draw would be enough to go 3^rd.

Mousehole are expected to have new signings Chris Prout (who played against The Seagulls for West Cornwall in the Senior Cup last Saturday) and striker Kayne Trevaskis available for selection.

The clubhouse will be open all afternoon for various refreshments, tickets for the half-time 50/50 draw are £1, and a full-colour programme with a cash prize ‘lucky number’ will also be on sale for £1.

Mousehole progressed to the quarter-finals of the County Senior Cup with a goal in each half at the expense of Cornwall Combination side West Cornwall on a bright, cold and windy afternoon at Trungle Parc.

The Seagulls had to work hard against their well-organised lower-league rivals and indeed in an impressive first-half performance the visitors hit the post twice in the 15^th and 22^nd minutes and had a couple of near-misses, but still went in at the interval a goal down.  However, the second half saw Mousehole take control, with their passing and movement pegging The Blues back in their own half for long periods.

West Cornwall’s danger-man Jowan Kitchener had driven narrowly over in the 11th minute before Connor Davey put the hosts ahead on 14, firing inside ‘keeper Ian Chatfield’s near post after a great interception and through-ball by Josh Otto. Tyler Tonkin then came forward from deep to thump a 20-yard shot against the underside of the crossbar and Davey came close to two more goals in the 34^th and 45^th minutes, the latter a swirling attempt from outside the box expertly tipped over by Chatfield.

Early in the second half, the visitors missed the target on the break in the 54^th minute, but the last half-hour belonged to Mousehole, with Tyler Tonkin narrowly over with a 25-yard drive, before substitute Caleb Marsden sped down the left to slide the ball past Chatfield from an angle and Jake Andrew was in the right place to apply a simple finish from close range for 2-0 after 68 minutes.  Caleb Marsden was again in action on 84 with a volley from just inside the area that cannoned off the far post and across the line to safety.

West Cornwall will take heart from their performance as they look to consolidate a mid-table position in their first season in the Combination after promotion.

The win extends Mousehole’s 100% home record to 11 in a row and their fourth consecutive clean sheet.  With all other league matches in the West Division postponed, the unchanged table sees The Seagulls in fourth place on 30 points but having played three games more than most of the teams above and below them, one of which is St Blazey who are the visitors to Trungle Parc this Saturday (13^th), for an important league match, kick off 2:15pm.

The weather affected four of the eight scheduled ties in the third round of the Cornwall Senior Cup quarter-finals last Saturday.  Bodmin v St Dennis, Camelford v St Austell, Carharrack v Torpoint and Millbrook v Newquay were all postponed, while the teams definitely through to the quarter-finals alongside Mousehole are Premier Division sides Saltash United, Falmouth Town and Sticker.  The draw for the quarter-finals – to be played on Saturday 3^rd February – is expected to be made next Monday, 15^th January.

Mousehole v West Cornwall:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Billy Curtis, Kevin Lawrence, Bradley Wills, Connor Davey (sub Caleb Marsden, 57), Josh Otto, Jordan Adlard, Jake Andrew (sub Matt McIlroy, 75).  Substitutes:  Danny Park, Josh Nicholls, Josh Storey.

Scorers:  Connor Davey (14), Jake Andrew (68)

Referee:  Rowan Clarke.     Attendance: 91

This Saturday (6^th January) it’s Cornwall Senior Cup action at Trungle Parc as Mousehole take on visitors West Cornwall FC in a 3^rd Round tie.  The pitch is in good condition despite recent rain, kick off is at 2:00pm, and extra time and penalties will decide the tie if necessary.  The winners go through to the Quarter-Finals on Saturday 3^rd February.

West Cornwall are going through an exceptional period in their brief history, having been founded as recently as 2008.  After four promotions in five years they are now mid-table in the Cornwall Combination League, one Division below The Seagulls.  To get to this point in the Senior Cup they made headlines with a 2-1 away win at SWPL Premier Division side Callington Town, who are 30 places above them, and so will go into this Saturday’s game full of confidence.

Mousehole will need to continue their fine run of form – they’ve lost only once since 23^rd September, and in doing so have built up a 100% home record, including three consecutive wins over sides above them at the top of the table.  The Seagulls’ last game was the Boxing Day ‘derby’ 2-0 defeat of Penzance that enabled them to finish the year in fourth place in SWP Division 1 West.

There’s added interest in Saturday’s game as the Camborne-based visitors have in their squad several ex-Mousehole players.  It’s also an opportunity for both sides to progress to the last eight and the challenge of potentially facing one of the top teams in the County.

The clubhouse will be offering the usual friendly atmosphere and a range of beverages, and 50/50 tickets will be on sale @£1, as well as a full-colour match programme including a cash-prize ‘lucky number’.

 

Camping West Cornwall

ALL READY FOR CLARETS ON SATURDAY!

In arguably their biggest game of the season, Mousehole have the opportunity to see how they measure up to the standards of a higher-league side when Premier Division Launceston visit Trungle Parc this Saturday (30^th) for a League Cup 3^rd round tie, kick-off 2pm.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for the victors to progress to the quarter-finals and a winnable-looking home tie against Division 1 East mid-table side Teignmouth.

The Seagulls have already won prize money from League Cup sponsors Walter C Parson Funeral Directors for being the longest-surviving Division 1 West side in this year’s competition, having won 3-2 at league leaders Ludgvan in the first round and claiming a Premier Division scalp by beating Camelford 1-0 at home in the second.

The Clarets however are having one of their best seasons for a decade in the Premier Division.  They are currently in 7^th place, with Sam Davey the third top scorer in the Division on 19 goals.  They have played three times in December, beating Division 1 West side  Liskeard Athletic in the Senior Cup 4-1 at home, then in the League losing 4-1 at Helston Athletic but last time out two weeks ago going down narrowly 1-0 at league leaders Plymouth Parkway.

By contrast Mousehole have played five games during the month, all at home, and have won them all with a goal aggregate of 17 against 2, starting with a 5-1 victory over RNAS Culdrose in the Senior Cup, followed by 2-1 over then-league leaders Liskeard, 4-0 over both St Dennis and Porthleven, and a Boxing Day ‘local derby’ 2-0 defeat of Penzance.

This will be the third game to be played at Trungle Parc in seven days during a spell of very wet weather.  Early indications are that the pitch has been worked on and recovered well since the pounding it took on Boxing day – when the fixture was one of only three in the Division to get the go-ahead – and it looks like the investment in a drainage scheme during the summer is already paying handsome dividends.

Kick off is at 2pm and the tie will be decided if necessary by extra time and penalties.

Next Saturday (6^th January) Mousehoe are in Cup action again when they take on Cornwall Combination side West Cornwall in the Senior Cup 3^rd Round (2pm).

 

 

 

MOUSEHOLE 2-0 PENZANCE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

TUESDAY 26^TH DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

SEAGULLS FLYING HIGH IN FOURTH PLACE AFTER MAGPIES DEFEAT

Match Programme Boxing Day vs Penzance

A late goal in each half gave Mousehole the Boxing Day ‘local derby’ victory over Penzance, with players of both sides deserving great credit for putting on a competitive contest in horrible wet and windy conditions on a rain-soaked pitch.

Mousehole’s investment in improved drainage during the summer paid off with the game being only one of three in the Division to survive the weather, the others being at Bude and St Blazey.  And the three points enabled Mousehole to gain their tenth consecutive home win in all competitions and their third ‘clean sheet’ in a row, to move up the League table to fourth place.  Penzance are now in 10^th place, 9 points behind Mousehole but with three games in hand.

The large crowd of 279 – the highest in the Division this season – saw both sides go close in the opening period, with Steve Parker-Billinge in the home goal producing important saves in the 25^th and 28^th minutes, and Paolo Sousa and Bradley Wills missing the target on 25 and 34 at the other end.

But Mousehole dominated the last few minutes of the half and took the lead on 44 minutes.  ‘Keeper Dom Angove had just made a great block from Sousa’s drive on 43, when in the next attack Jordan Adlard let fly fom 25 yards and the ball swerved and dipped into the far top corner.  There was still time for Angove to excel when he tipped over a fierce long-range Calum Elliot free-kick in added time.

It was again nip and tuck after the interval in worsening conditions, Mousehole’s Jake Andrew shooting wide from close in after a defensive mix-up on 64 minutes, but former Seagull Lewis Caspall coming within millimetres of an equaliser as he was on the end of Penzance’s best move of the match with a superb left-foot drive that beat Parker-Billinge but came back off the crossbar on 67.

The Magpies pressed forward in the closing stages and The Seagulls’ defence had to be at its best to deal with a series of wind-assisted in-swinging corners and to block several half-chances in the box.  The game became stretched as Mousehole created chances on the break, and it was Paolo Sousa’s third goal in two games that made the game safe as he made space for himself before calmly placing a left-footed shot inside the far post from 15 yards in the 89^th minute of normal time.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Josh Otto, Kevin Lawrence (captain), Bradley Wills, Jordan Adlard, Luke Johnson (Connor Davey, 64), Jake Andrew, Paolo Sousa.  Unused substitutes:   Caleb Marsden, Billy Curtis, Josh Nicholls, Matt McIlroy

 

Penzance:  Dom Angove, Matt Laithwaite, NathanHampton (Kyle Hampton, 70), Frazer Cadman (captain), Daniel Lord, Joel Allen, Paul Robertson, Mark Vercesi, Ed Wilton, Lewis Caspall, Joel McWilliams (Ronnie May, 45).  Unused substitutes:  Finn Robinson, Jodie Hampton

Scorers:  Jordan Adlard (44), Paolo Sousa (88)

Referee: Kevin Knowles.     Attendance: 279

MOUSEHOLE v PENZANCE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

BOXING DAY MORNING, KICK OFF 11am

AT TRUNGLE PARC, PAUL 

The Seagulls face The Magpies in the latest annual festive derby, with the home side 6^th in the League table and the visitors in 9^th, six points behind but with three games in hand.

Mousehole have won all nine of their home games this season, six in the League and one in each of the Cup competitions, and in each of their last three matches have beaten a team in the top six, including then League leaders Liskeard Athletic and two 4-0 wins in a row against St Dennis and, on Saturday Porthleven.

Penzance however are having a much better period than last season, when at the end of the year they were bottom of the League but got enough points after that to finish second-last, still in the second relegation spot but ultimately reprieved because of club decisions in the divisions above and below.  This campaign they have beaten three sides at the top, Liskeard and Millbrook away and Porthleven at home, and, without a fixture on Saturday, their last match on 16^th December was a 6-2 away win at Plymstock United, which followed an 8-1 home win over Bude Town.

In the Cup competitions, Penzance are still in the  Cornwall Senior Cup (away at Falmouth on 6^th January) and Cornwall Charity Cup (here at Trungle Parc again in the quarter-finals on 10^th February).

Penzance’s personnel include eight who were Seagulls a year ago, while Mousehole include four ex-Magpies.

The full-colour, advert-free match programme costs £1, containing among other things a cash prize ‘lucky number’, lots of information about this match and a ‘look behind the scenes’.

Spectators arriving by car are strongly advised to be in the ground early to avoid congestion.

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 PORTHLEVEN

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 23^RD DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

SUPER SEAGULLS UP TO SIXTH AFTER SECOND 4-0 SUCCESS IN A ROW

Mousehole started the second half of the League season by gaining a second consecutive 4-0 win to take their home record to nine wins out of nine and move up to sixth place in the table, in perfect preparation for the ‘local derby’ against Penzance at Trungle Parc on Boxing Day.

Having now beaten three sides above them in their last three games – leaders Liskeard Athletic, St Dennis and now Porthleven – The Seagulls find themselves on equal points with fourth place St Blazey and fifth place Porthleven, both of whom however have better goal differences.

In an evenly contested first half in which Jake Andrew had chances with two off-target headers from close range and Luke Johnson scuffed wide from in front of goal, Mousehole took the lead on 36 minutes shortly after a tactical change had seen Paolo Sousa and Luke Johnson switch wings.  It was Sousa who then came inside from the right to turn defenders this way and that, before planting a low left-footed shot from 22 yards that skidded just inside goalkeeper James Wignell’s near post.

Porthleven’s half-time team talk was wrecked within eight minutes of the restart as they conceded two goals.  Firstly Bradley Wills strode through to round Wignell and slot home for 2-0 on 50 minutes, and then Paolo Sousa’s clever footwork enabled him to do the same on 54, both chances created after Kevin Lawrence had intercepted the ball in midfield and threaded perfect passes between Porthleven’s big defenders.

Substitutes Connor Davey and Matt McIlroy came on with dramatic impact on 71 minutes, Davey’s darting run on the left and low cross to the far post being side-footed home by McIlroy for the fourth goal within seconds of their appearance, the move having again been set up by Kevin Lawrence.

The Fishermen were vulnerable to the ball being played quickly on the ground and Mousehole continued to fashion chances to add to an already impressive scoreline, but the visitors came close to reducing the arrears near the end with a header that went narrowly wide and a one-on-one shot superbly saved by the previously untroubled Steve Parker-Billinge.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (Billy Curtis, 58), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Josh Otto, Jordan Adlard, Kevin Lawrence, Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (Connor Davey, 71), Jake Andrew (Matt McIlroy, 71), Paolo Sousa.  Substitutes:  Caleb Marsden, Josh Nicholls

Scorers:  Paolo Sousa (36, 54), Bradley Wills (50), Matt McIlroy (72).

Referee:  Tim Burley.     Attendance:  81

• Next up is the Boxing Day match at Trungle Parc against Penzance (kick off 11am), who are three places and six points behind Mousehole but with three games in hand.  Spectators are advised to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion at the ground.

 

• Arguably Mousehole’s biggest game of the season takes place this coming Saturday (30^th) when higher-division Launceston – currently in 6^th place in the Premier Division and 20 places above Mousehole in the ‘pyramid’ –  are the visitors for a League Cup 3^rd round tie (2:00pm kick off).  The fixture has lots of added interest as it is an opportunity for Mousehole’s developing squad to measure themselves against another Premier Division side, having already disposed of Camelford in the 2^nd round, as well as the chance to earn a home tie in the quarter-finals against Division 1 East mid-table Teignmouth.

 

• Mousehole are in Cup action again the following Saturday (6^th January) in the Cornwall Senior Cup 3^rd round (2pm) against Camborne-based lower-league side West Cornwall who are currently 10^th in the 20-team Cornwall Combination League in their first season after promotion from the Trelawny League Premier Division as champions.

 

 

MOUSEHOLE 4-0 ST DENNIS

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 16^TH DECEMBER 2017

AT TRUNGLE PARC

MATCH PROGRAMME ST DENNIS

Recording their eighth consecutive win to maintain their perfect home record, Mousehole were on top form on Saturday with a convincing win over St Dennis, who started the game one place and three points ahead in the League table.  And despite dominating for the full 90 minutes, The Seagulls just failed to get the extra goal that would have seen them climb above their visitors into sixth place.

Both sides had several players unavailable, Mousehole without amongst others Max Hill (with a long term injury), Jordan Adlard (serving a one-match suspension) and captain Billy Curtis, but were on the front foot straight from the kick off and took the lead after 98 seconds when Bradley Wills drove a low left-footed shot in off the far post after great set-up work by Paolo Sousa.  Sousa on the left and Luke Johnson on the right constantly troubled The Saints back line, and Johnson’s driven cross was headed firmly in by Jake Andrew at the near post on 18.  The same scorer made it 3-0 after 39 minutes with a side-foot finish at the far post from Bradley Wills’ searching cross.  And on the stroke of half-time Luke Johnson’s dangerous ball in from the right sailed into the far top corner for 4-0.

Having been over-run by Mousehole’s passing and movement in the first 45 minutes, St Dennis withdrew into a more defensive formation in the second half in an attempt to limit further damage.  The Seagulls continued to press, with the game being played almost entirely in the visitors’ half, and had it not been for goal-line clearances, missed chances –  with Jake Andrew coming close to a hat-trick on several occasions – and some courageous goalkeeping by young ‘keeper Kieran Broadfield, the score could well have been at least doubled.  In the last ten minutes, St Dennis ventured forward for the first time and Carl Rickard forced goalkeeper Steve Parker-Billinge into a diving save, his only serious action of the afternoon.

Having achieved home wins against both League leaders Liskeard Athletic and top-six St Dennis in successive games, Mousehole face another interesting challenge this Saturday (23^rd) when local rivals Porthleven, currently in fourth place, visit Trungle Parc, kick off 2:15pm.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (sub Matt McIlroy, 79), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Caleb Marsden (sub Josh Otto, 26), Kevin Moon, Kevin Lawrence (captain), Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (sub Connor Davey, 70), Jake Andrew, Paolo Sousa.  Substitutes:  Josh Nicholls, Danny Park.

Scorers:  Bradley Wills (2), Jake Andrew (18, 39), Luke Johnson (45)

Referee:  Alan Hoon.    Attendance:  63

*Mousehole teams had a ‘clean sweep’ at the weekend, the Reserves winning 1-0 away against Penwith Exiles to go five points clear at the top of the Trelawny League Division 1; the Thirds beat Madron 6-1 at Marazion in Division 4.

Our Under-9s competed in  the inaugural Endorsed Cup tournament at Trungle Parc on Sunday in what was a very successful afternoon.

*Mousehole Women’s top-of-the-table encounter at St Agnes in the Cornwall Women’s League was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

An exciting encounter lies in store on Saturday (16^th) as Mousehole reach the half-way stage in the League season with the visit of ‘old foes’ St Dennis (2:15pm).

After last Saturday’s superb win over top-of-the-table Liskeard Athletic, The Seagulls have moved up into 7^th place, with a 100% home record – four League and three Cup wins – since resuming fixtures at Trungle Parc in October.

The Saints are currently one place and three points above Mousehole, but with a plus-10 better goal difference. They have been involved in several high-scoring games in League and Cup competitions this season, and have scored four goals in each of their last four fixtures.

The opening game of the season saw St Dennis and Mousehole share the points in a 4-4 draw, a match notable for a Jerome Slew hat-trick for The Seagulls, and a fight-back by The Saints from 4-1 down with 20 minutes to go, aided by a “much-discussed” refereeing decision to award a goal when a long-distance indirect free-kick was carried by the wind straight into Mousehole’ s net.

Saturday’s full-colour advert-free programme contains the season’s results and fixtures, news of the Reserves, Thirds and Women’s teams, the Liskeard match report, a history piece, a quiz, St Dennis factoids, and a cash-prize ‘lucky number’….all for only £1.