Falmouth Town 0-2 Mousehole
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Wednesday 28th September 2022
At Bickland Park
SUMMARY
On a very wet evening, Mousehole made it five wins and a draw in the last six matches, with this latest success moving them up to fifth place in the table, after a physical and argumentative encounter producing a total of nine cards including two sendings-off for the home side.
MATCH PREVIEW
Tonight, it’s the West Cornwall local derby as Falmouth Town host Mousehole, hoping to avenge their narrow 3-2 defeat at Trungle Parc at the beginning of the month.
On that occasion, the Town came close to a win by hitting the woodwork with the score at 2-2 with just a couple of minutes left, only for The Seagulls to grab all three points with a 90th minute goal.
Falmouth have not lost at home in the League this season after their magnificent treble-winning 2021/22 promotion campaign. They currently lie below half-way in the table with nine points from nine games and will surely be fired up tonight to prove they can compete strongly at Western League level.
Mousehole have not lost since their FA Cup exit at lowly Torpoint Athletic on 20th August and start tonight on the back of last Saturday’s excellent 5-1 FA Vase triumph at Shepton Mallet.
Mousehole will field an unchanged starting eleven, with youngster Lewis Moyle keeping his place in goal after Saturday’s confident performance in Ollie Chenoweth’s absence, but captain Jack Calver, Josh Otto and Andy Watkins are all missing.
The drizzle has continued for most of the day, with proper rain forecast for later, but that doesn’t seem to have deterred what looks like a big crowd.
Mousehole are kicking towards the Packet End, where most of the Falmouth supporters are situated.
KEY POINTS OF THE MATCH
2 minutes: Louis Price attacks the home defence and drives in a 25-yard left-footer which keeper Ryan Barnes flings himself across to keep out
9 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. It’s been a positive start for the visitors and MAX HILL makes the advantage count as he instantly volleys into the roof of the net from a knock-down following Hayden Turner’s corner on the right. The tall central defender has a habit of scoring rare but important goals.
12 minutes: Mousehole make a mistake outside their own penalty area, but Lewis Moyle makes a great diving save from Jack Bray-Evans’ low shot
19 minutes: Falmouth make a quick break, but the end shot is high and wide as the defence closes in
21 minutes: Former Seagulls’ player Tim Nixon curls in a long cross from the left but it doesn’t bend enough as it sails past the far post with Lewis Moyle covering the trajectory
32 minutes: Mousehole have had plenty of possession, but Falmouth are quick to advance when they get the ball. Tim Nixon’s cross into space in the penalty area is just too far ahead of Jack Webber
37 minutes: Sending-off for Falmouth Town. Max Hill makes an alert interception ahead of Luke Brabyn on the edge of the six-yard box, and as Tallan Mitchell completes the clearance the Falmouth captain clatters into him with a very late studs-raised tackle that fells the Mousehole midfielder. Referee James Long is close enough to see the exact nature of the foul and instantly issues a red card, with no protest from the home side. The prostrate Mousehole player receives five minutes of on-field treatment, and the home side will play for nearly an hour with ten men.
42 minutes: As play resumes, the Falmouth players and management are suddenly voicing loud criticism of the Referee’s decisions, and an unpleasant atmosphere has descended on the match.
45+7 minutes: At half-time the visitors hold a 1-0 lead. There’s an unseemly scuffle between the Falmouth management and the Mousehole players as they leave the field.
The second half
46 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Mark Richards is replaced by Jared Sims. The re-shuffle sees Reece Thomson drop back into central defence.
48 minutes: Huge chance for the ten men to equalise – Tim Nixon supplies a low cross towards the far post, but the onrushing Jack Bray-Evans can’t control the shot and it goes over the bar
54 minutes: Tom Annear arrives on the edge of Mousehole’s penalty area and puts a first-time volley narrowly over the bar. A warning – the home side have been playing with renewed vigour and purpose, no doubt spurred on by the half-time team talk
56 minutes: A Mousehole corner drops to Reece Thomson who turns and shoots past the angle from 12 yards
57 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Louis Price is replaced by Callam Mconie
62 minutes: The substitute puts a corner into the crowded Falmouth penalty area, there’s a scramble and a shot on goal is blocked. Tom Annear is unhappy with something and continues to argue with the Referee – and is promptly sent to the Sin Bin for ten minutes
65 minutes: Hayden Turner races down the wing and is halted by a tackle from behind. Tim Nixon is so outraged by the Referee’s decision to give a foul that he too is Sin Binned. Falmouth now down to eight on the field. Will their indiscipline prove to be costly, and can Mousehole exploit the advantage?
68 minutes: Keeper Ryan Barnes keeps his beleaguered team in the match, blocking Callam Mconie’s close-range shot with his legs
70 minutes: Tallan Mitchell shoots low from inside the area, the ball hits the post and flies into Ryan Barnes’ grasp
71 minutes: Ryan Barnes makes a tremendous save from Mark Goldsworthy’s glancing header
72 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. The visitors have been stroking the ball around to exploit the extra space, and a carefully worked build-up gives ANDY ELCOCK room to drive in a low shot from 18 yards that slithers on the wet surface under Ryan Barnes’ outstretched dive. 2-0 to the visitors. What can the hosts do when the two sin-binned players are back on?
74 minutes: Hayden Turner’s long cross beyond the far post is expertly turned back in by Jared Sims to an unattended Mark Goldsworthy, who puts his header over
78 minutes: Tallan Mitchell collides with Jack Webber and the Falmouth players crowd round the Referee in protest. But it’s only a free kick.
79 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Mark Goldsworthy is replaced by Moussa Diallo, as torrential rain arrives
81 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Tallan Mitchell is replaced by Paulo Sousa
89 minutes: Tom Annear hammers in a trademark left foot shot from distance but it’s some way over the bar
90+4 minutes: Callam Mconie has a one-on-one chance, but Ryan Barnes comes out on top
90+5 minutes: At full-time the scoreline reads: Falmouth Town 0-2 Mousehole. Falmouth’s indiscipline has spoiled what might have otherwise been a closer affair. Nevertheless, Mousehole have stood up well and showed ample character, on top of their style and organisation, to get the three points.
After the whistle, there’s a fracas among the players in front of the Packet End involving Moussa Diallo and a group of Falmouth players, with the Mousehole player being shown a yellow card and the hosts’ Scott Kellow a red.
MOUSEHOLE (with used substitutes)
Lewis Moyle (GK), Steve Burt, Mark Richards (Jared Sims), Max Hill, Kyle Fraser, Reece Thomson, Tallan Mitchell (Paulo Sousa), Andy Elcock, Louis Price (Callam Mconie), Mark Goldsworthy (Moussa Diallo), Hayden Turner. Other substitute: Jack Symons
MATCH OFFICIALS
James Long (Referee), with Dave Rowe and Max Davies (Assistant Referees)
ATTENDANCE: 511
NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE
This Saturday, 1st October, 3pm
HOME v Barnstaple Town
Western League Premier
Mousehole 5th with 18 points versus Barnstaple 4th with 19 points
Next Wednesday, 5th October, 7.45pm
HOME v Callington Town
Cornwall Senior Cup First Round
The Step 6 visitors from SWPL, currently with 7 points from 9 games
Saturday 8th October, 3pm
HOME v Ilfracombe Town
Western League PremierCurrently, the visitors with 9 points from 8 games
