Mousehole 3-0 Torpoint Athletic
Western League Premier Division
Tuesday 1st November 2022
At Trungle Parc
Scorers: Hayden Turner 40’, Jack Calver 90+2’, Kyle Fraser 90+6’
SUMMARY
Two goals in added time were the icing on the cake as Mousehole deservedly overcame their east Cornwall opponents to record a League double, a clean sheet, a twelfth game unbeaten and a confirmed third place in the table
MATCH PREVIEW
The 80-mile length of Cornwall separates the two clubs, but any match between the County’s teams in the wide expanse of the Western League is classed nowadays as a ‘local derby’!
This is the third had-to-head of the season, each team having one win to their name: Mousehole’s 5-1 away League success on the opening day of the season followed by Torpoint’s 3-2 home success three weeks later in the FA Cup.
Torpoint are newcomers to the WLP this season, gaining promotion after an amazing 2021/22 campaign in which they won 33 games out of 38, reached 100 points, and scored 150 goals. Results to date have been disappointing, however, and they arrive at Trungle Parc with just two wins in 14, none away and a last-but-one place in the table.
The hosts are on a run of 11 games unbeaten in all competitions, their last defeat being that very FA Cup game ten weeks ago at Torpoint – so there’s an extra incentive to do well this evening.
Mousehole gained a remarkable 6-2 away win at Barnstaple Town on Saturday, while Torpoint went down 4-2 at fellow-promoted Welton Rovers.
At kick off, the day’s terrible wet and windy weather has relented, but it looks as though it’s deterred many supporters from turning out on an evening when there’s also live European football on TV.
KEY POINTS OF THE MATCH
Mousehole are kicking towards the Solomon Browne Stand
5’: Hayden Turner’s low cross from the left is well cleared right in front of the visitors’ goal
8’: Mark Goldsworthy’s run draws the Torpoint defence out of position and his pass inside gives Hayden Turner a shooting chance, his left-footer whistling inches over the far angle
20’: New Seagulls’ signing Josh Baxter has made a bright start, operating as a wing back on the right. He’s in an advanced position to pick up a loose ball on the edge of the box and his low left-foot drive goes just wide of the far post.
Half-way through the first half: Torpoint are defending in numbers, but they’ve already picked up yellow cards for over-physical challenges
24’: Mark Goldsworthy’s shot is blocked and Hayden Turner fires over the bar
26’: Adel Gafaiti puts a superbly-judged pass through to Hayden Turner who swerves inside the full-back and drives a fierce shot goal-bound which keeper Tyler Coombes pushes out smartly for a corner. The flag kick swirls in and it’s cleared off the line.
33’: Adel Gafaiti makes a vital interception in front of his own goal to snuff out a dangerous low cross from the right by Curtis Damerell
38’: Another great Torpoint clearance inside the six-yard box from Hayden Turner’s cross
42’: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Tallan Mitchell shows great control and speed to get to the byeline on the right and his low cross is touched in by HAYDEN TURNER at the far post, for his 13th goal in 16 games this season
43’: Josh Baxter breaks powerfully into the area on the right and his cross is again well defended
45+1’: The youngster does important work at the other end, a sharp timely tackle ending Curtis Damerell’s incisive run before he can shoot from eight yards
45+2’: At half-time, Mousehole have dominated possession, but have just the one goal to show for it, while Torpoint have defended valiantly and given occasional glimpses of dangerous forward moves
The second half:
48’: Hayden Turner puts over a long cross from the left and Mark Goldsworthy’s athletic volley at the far post is miraculously kept out by keeper Coombes
59’: Josh Baxter is alert to sudden danger inside the Mousehole penalty area and makes a swift interception
60’: Curtis Damerell flicks a near-post corner goalwards and Lewis Moyle grabs the ball low down. That’s two promising chances in as many minutes for the visitors
63’: Mousehole substitute – Andy Watkins is replaced by Callam Mconie, making his 50th appearance for the club
70’: Mousehole substitute – Steve Burt is replaced by Andy Elcock
71’: Josh Baxter surges past a couple of opponents from the half-way line and supplies a pass for Hayden Turner running in from the left, but somehow the strikers’ shot is blocked by a determined defender
Twenty minutes left: It’s still 1-0 – Torpoint will fancy their chances of getting something from the match
78 minutes: Hayden Turner has space on the run some 35 yards out and tries a speculative drive which flashes wide
80’: Tallan Mitchell’s low free kick from the side of the penalty area is smacked against the near post by Hayden Turner, with Adel Gafaiti prodding the rebound against the outside of the other post. Very close to the all-important second goal.
82’: Now it’s very close indeed for Torpoint – Josh Baxter makes another vital interception as Curtis Damerell has the goal at his mercy but gets another shot in with Lewis Moyle making an agile save from close range
85’: Callam Mconie gets the ball on to his left foot 25 yards out and his fierce drive is too close to the keeper, who collects the ball safely on the slippery surface
86’: Mousehole substitute – Mark Goldsworthy is replaced by Louis Price
88’: A big chance for Torpoint as Mousehole make a mess of their passing out from the back, presenting Darren Hicks with the chance to move in on goal – but he scuffs his shot past the far post. Definitely a warning of what might happen!
90+1: Hayden Turner slips at the wrong moment as he’s through one-on-one with the keeper
90+2’: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Keeper Coombes’ low clearance from the edge of the box is collected with great skill by JACK CALVER some 40 yards out and the quick-thinking Seagulls’ captain instantly sends in a lofted left-footed shot, with the keeper desperately back-pedalling but not able to get enough on the ball to keep it out. A sense of relief now felt.
90+4’: Adel Gafaiti makes an outstanding headed clearance from Lewis Pacey’s dangerous cross from the right
90+5’: Mousehole substitute – Jack Calver is replaced by Kyle Fraser
90+6’: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Barely 20 seconds after coming on, KYLE FRASER scores the third from six yards as his left-footed shot is blocked and his right foot finishes it off, after excellent work by Louis Price on the left
90+7: At full time it’s Mousehole 3-0 Torpoint Athletic, patience and persistence the key to victory against opponents who played a lot better than their lowly League position would suggest.
MOUSEHOLE TEAM SHEET (with used substitutes)
Lewis Moyle (GK), Josh Baxter, Adel Gafaiti, Max Hill, Paulo Sousa, Tallan Mitchell, Jack Calver (C) (Kyle Fraser 90+5’), Steve Burt (Andy Elcock 70’), Andy Watkins (Callam Mconie 63’), Mark Goldsworthy (Louis Price 86’), Hayden Turner. Other substitute: Jack Symons
MATCH OFFICIALS
Jonothan Green (Referee) with Neil Rudkin and Max Davies (Assistants)
ATTENDANCE: 73
NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE:
Saturday 5th, 3pm
Away v Cadbury Heath, WLP
Tuesday 8th, 7.45pm
Away v Saltash United
Cornwall Senior Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 12th, 3pm
HOME v HARTPURY UNIVERSITY
FA Vase 2nd Round
Tuesday 15th, 7.45pm
HOME v BUCKLAND ATHLETIC
Les Phillips (Western League) Cup 1st Round
Saturday 19th, 3pm
Away v Sherborne Town, WLP
Tuesday 22nd, 7.45pm
Away v Millbrook, WLP
Saturday 26th, 3pm
HOME v ASHTON & BACKWELL UNITED, WLP
