Mousehole AFC’s policy of offering Academy places to youngsters from professional clubs has taken a step further forward this week.

Ex-Sheffield United youngster Jorome Slew, 19, first choice striker with The Seagulls since the start of the season, has recently been joined by 18-year old defender Max Hill from Leeds United and a talented 20-year old local midfielder Connor Davey signing on from Helston Athletic.

The trio have committed to the newly-created Academy for 16-23-year olds under Director Jason Blunt alongside a dozen or so local youngsters, with this group of players forming two-thirds of Mousehole’s First team match-day squad.  Designed to set new standards for young players in West Cornwall, the Academy, together with Youth team developments, is the backbone of the club’s long-term playing philosophy and strategy, which was in evidence in recent games with all but five players in the match-day squad aged 20 or under.

Jason Blunt – who managed the Leeds United Under-23s team before launching Mousehole Endorsed Academy in July – is a passionate advocate of giving youth its chance:  “These lads have had an impressive football education, playing at the highest level at their professional clubs.  It’s unfortunately typical that many of them, when released, tend to join a semi-professional non-league club, perhaps at Steps 1 or 2, train briefly once or twice a week, but then sit on the bench on match days.  We can do better than that.  If they come here, they will train and receive top-class coaching five days a week and get First team game time in men’s football.   While here they are responsible for setting new standards, mentoring of the younger players in the junior sides, refereeing their games, providing a role model for them to look up to, and helping to raise the bar with our other Elite Players.  They will not be paid by the club, but we’ll support them with their education and work opportunities along with all of our club members.  We are absolutely dedicated to promoting player development and if we can help any of our elite players progress and get signed up by a pro club, that will be a huge success!”

With more announcements imminent, the club is continuing to progressively build its leadership team and will also add one or two more playing staff, aiming for the squad to be fully assembled in time for the re-opening of the new-look Trungle Parc on Sunday 1^st October  when Leeds United are the distinguished visitors.

BUDE TOWN 1-2 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, WEST DIVISION

SATURDAY 9^TH SEPTEMBER 2017

AT BROADCLOSE PARK

In a wind-swept encounter between two teams without a win this season, Mousehole recorded a hugely-deserved victory in the seventh of their ten consecutive away games before returning to the refurbished Trungle Parc in October.

The Seagulls were without the unavailable Bradley Wills and Lewis Caspall and the suspended Joshua Storey, but welcomed Liam Andrew back into the squad after a two-month injury lay-off, and veteran ex-Penzance goalkeeper Paul Williams as cover for the injured Steve Parker-Billinge, while Matt McIlroy having played in goal the previous Saturday at Plymouth Marjon started in his accustomed striker position.

Playing for the first time in their smart two-tone green away kit, Mousehole were the dominant force throughout the first half despite suffering an early misfortune when a wind-assisted corner was inadvertently headed into his own goal by Tyler Tonkin on 5 minutes.

Home goalkeeper Gary Dinshaw was the busiest man on the pitch,  single-handedly keeping his side in the game with half a dozen superb saves as his defence was repeatedly opened up by The Seagulls’ sharp passing and movement.

The long-awaited equaliser finally came on 43 minutes when captain Billy Curtis’ strong downward header from a right wing corner was half blocked on the line and Matt McIlroy was first to the loose ball to poke home.

The pattern of play continued in the second half, with the game played almost wholly in the hosts’ half and Paul Williams having a very quiet afternoon at the other end.  After a series of near-misses and more heroics by Dinshaw, Mousehole’s persistence was rewarded on 57 minutes when Jorome Slew’s movement on the edge of the box took away two defenders leaving Matt McIlroy the time and space to launch his second and ultimately the winner, a typical left-footed drive from 20 yards that cannoned into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

The visitors’ continued to put in an accomplished performance, threatening more goals and comfortably stifling any attempts by Bude to hit back.

Despite the narrow-looking scoreline there was ample evidence that Mousehole’s patient style is beginning to pay off, and confidence will be high ahead of the forthcoming fixtures.

On Saturday (16^th) The Seagulls travel the short distance to newly-promoted top-of-the-table Ludgvan for an intriguing League Cup first round tie (2.30pm kick off, extra time and penalties if necessary, with the winners at home to Wendron United or Premier Division Camelford in the second round on 7^th October).  They return to League action on Wednesday evening (20^th) with a trip to recently-relegated St Blazey (7.30pm), followed by the long journey to Holsworthy on Saturday 23^rd.

Mousehole:  Paul Williams (GK), Billy Curtis (c), Max Hill, Josh Otto, Kevin Lawrence, Tyler Tonkin, Yeshe Briar, Luke Johnson, Jorome Slew, Matt McIlroy, Connor Davey

Substitutes:  Ben Williams (for Tyler Tonkin, 54), Liam Andrew (for Josh Otto, 90+2), Louis Graham (for Matt McIlroy, 90+3), Ben Chapman

Mousehole scorer:  Matt McIlroy (43, 57)

After a 7-2 reverse at Liskeard Athletic the previous week, Mousehole produced a much-improved performance on Marjon’s 3G pitch and might have come away with the result they deserved but for two unforced errors in two minutes just before half-time.

The Seagulls’ squad, featuring seven players aged 20 or under, had striker Matt McIlroy in goal for the still-injured Steve Parker-Billinge, ex-Leeds United youngster Max Hill in central defence, and the versatile Connor Davey returning from a short spell at Premier Division Helston Athletic.  Missing from the team sheet were centre back Liam Andrew with a long-term injury, Lewis Caspall with work commitments, ex-Brentford Academy youngster Luke Dunn for family reasons, Finn Cross injured, and defender Ben Williams.

In an eventful first half showcasing two different footballing styles, Mousehole had the majority of possession as expected but were more creative and incisive than of late, with Bradley Wills just wide with a 20-yard shot, Connor Davey volleying against the bar from the edge of the box and Jorome Slew looking menacing with characteristic darting runs towards the danger area.  The hosts meanwhile played a more direct game, forcing McIlroy into two diving saves and hitting the post on one occasion. Continue reading “Match Report – Plymouth Marjon 2 Sept 2017” →