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 15th and 22nd 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 34th and 45th 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 54th 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.
in the 2-0 win over West Cornwall in the Cornwall Senior Cup 3rd round last Saturday
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 (13th), 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 3rd February – is expected to be made next Monday, 15th 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
