Keynsham Town 2-1 Mousehole
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd April 2022
At Crown Field
After conceding two very early goals, Mousehole dominated most of their final fixture of a highly commendable first season after promotion, the defeat not enough to dampen the spirit of celebration among players, coaches and supporters
Pre-match points
This is the first encounter between the two clubs, after Keynsham opted out of the fixture at Trungle Parc at the beginning of the month.
Today marks the end of a near-6000 miles of away travel in this season’s Western League campaign.
It’s also the first time Mousehole’s First team have played a competitive match on artificial turf since games at Plymouth Marjon several seasons ago.
Mousehole are virtually guaranteed third place in the Premier Division table regardless of today’s results, while Keynsham will finish in a mid-table position, but with a strong home record.
Missing from today’s Seagulls’ line-up are Max Hill, Steve Burt, Mark Richards and Mark Goldsworthy through injury.
The weather is cool and dry, with a stiff wind blowing across the pitch.
The key moments
2 minutes: GOAL FOR KEYNSHAM TOWN. Winger JAMIE NOBLE has space for a left-sided cross which is caught by the wind and ends up in the far top corner past a full-stretch Ollie Chenoweth
3 minutes: The hosts continue their bright start as full-back George Rooke speeds upfield and shoots just wide from 25 yards
4 minutes: GOAL FOR KEYNSHAM TOWN. The home side’s 30+ goalscorer WILL HAILSTON scores from the penalty spot after he is fouled while turning inside from a low left-wind cross. Keynsham Town 2-0 Mousehole – a dream start for the hosts, but 85 minutes still to play!
6 minutes: Hayden Turner makes speedy progress on the right and his cross is a fraction too high for Louis Price in front of goal
10 minutes: Jack Calver carves out an opening for Louis Price and his cross-shot is sliced by defender Scott Gregory, fortunately for him straight into the keeper’s arms
14 minutes: Hayden Turner’s goalbound shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide for a corner
Half-way through the first half: A combination of the surface and the wind has caused the ball to bounce high, but Mousehole are now exerting more control
24 minutes: A Tallan Mitchell free-kick finds Jamie Devine in a good position but the ball glances off the top of his head
25 minutes: Little has been seen of Keynsham’s attacking force since those early goals, but they break forward from the defensive blockade and Ollie Chenoweth denies Jamie Doble with a low finger-tip save
31 minutes: A dazzling Mousehole passing move gives Tallan Mitchell a shooting chance from 20 yards, but it goes wide
43 minutes: A brilliant double save by the Keynsham keeper. Mousehole cut through the defence on the right, Hayden Turner drives in a fierce shot kept out by Seth Locke at his near post. Turner nods the rebound back into the middle where Tallan Mitchell looks certain to score, but Locke does superbly well to get across and claw out the header.
45+3 minutes: The half-time whistle goes with Mousehole two goals in arrears – having made a slow start they have pushed Keynsham back and look likely to get the next goal.
The second half:
50 minutes: Louis Price fires in a rising drive from the left and it just clears the far angle of post and bar
53 minutes: Hayden Turner again has a goalbound shot deflected for a corner
58 minutes: Mousehole twice denied by the woodwork! Callam Mconie’s low shot from inside the area is touched on to the post by keeper Seth Locke. The ball comes out to Jack Calver on the edge of the box and his magnificent first-time volley thuds against the same upright. Callam Mconie has a great chance from the rebound but fires wide.
60 minutes: Ollie Chenoweth’s first involvement for a long while – he pushes out Will Hailston’s shot after a rare Keynsham breakaway
64 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Jack Calver is replaced by youngster Charlie Willis in midfield
70 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Louis Price is replaced by another youngster Jack Symons on the right of the attack
20 minutes to go: Mousehole have all the possession. Keynsham are sitting back, closing down the spaces.
80 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Andy Elcock is replaced by Kyle Fraser, with Paulo Sousa moving from left-defence to midfield
82 minutes: Keeper Seth Locke again rescues his side – Paulo Sousa makes a great run, pulls the ball back for Callam Mconie and the 10-yard shot on goal is well saved
86 minutes: In only their second serious attack of the half, Keynsham’s substitute Matt Brown curls a 20-yarder over the angle of the goal
90 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Callam Mconie and Hayden Turner set up a shooting chance for TALLAN MITCHELL, and Locke is beaten at last as the shot flashes inside the post. Now 2-1 with a few injury-added minutes left.
90+1 minutes: Keynsham players and supporters are clearly relieved as Callam Mconie’s shot misses the target
90+3 minutes: At full-time it’s Keynsham Town 2-1 Mousehole, an entertaining spectacle for an end-of-season game, with much credit to Mousehole for continuing to force the pace, and to Keynsham for refusing to give up their early advantage, aided and abetted by keeper Seth Locke who deservedly gets the man-of-the-match award.
What it all means for Mousehole
As the players and coaches leave the field there’s prolonged and enthusiastic applause by the several dozen supporters who’ve made the last of a series of long trips this season.
This time last year The Seagulls did not know they’d be playing in the Western League, so to finish in third place after promotion – and still being in contention for a further promotion to the Southern League right up to the last-but-one game of the season – is a very considerable achievement
This is the highest-ever position in the club’s history – a really big statement in their centenary year.
Mousehole line-up at Keynsham (with used substitutes):
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Billy Curtis, Josh Otto, Jamie Devine, Paulo Sousa, Tallan Mitchell, Andy Elcock (Kyle Fraser), Jack Calver (Charlie Willis), Louis Price (Jack Symons), Callam Mconie, Hayden Turner
Other substitutes: Sean Roberts, Aaron Dilley
Match officials:
Mark Loughlin (referee), with Matt Landau and Damon McEllin (Assistants)
Attendance: 172Coming soon: A full review of The Seagulls’ 2021/22 season
