Mousehole completed their pre-season programme on Saturday with an excellent all-round performance in the 1-1 draw at Tiverton Town, who ply their trade three steps above in the Southern League Premier, the same level as Cornwall’s top-placed club Truro City. Mousehole took a deserved lead on 70 minutes through Amara Bakayoko but the higher-league hosts grabbed the equaliser in the very last minute. Both squads were almost at full strength, but The Seagulls had looked the more comfortable team on the ball throughout and will have learned a great deal about themselves as they approach the opening game of the new season.
So it’s with a justified sense of anticipation, as well as the greatest respect, that Mousehole now travel the short distance to face Falmouth Town on Wednesday 7th August (kick off 7.30pm) for the first league match at the highest level in the club’s history. The Seagulls were promoted to the Peninsula League Premier at the end of last season after playing in Division One since 2007/08. Since then, new manager Jake Ash, assisted by Ben Harding – both renowned ex-Truro City players – have prepared a squad capable of making a mark in the new league, and perhaps surprising a few people in the process.
The pre-season programme got underway with a 1-1 home draw with Tavistock – who have just earned promotion to the Western League as Peninsula League champions – with Mousehole dominating most of the match but not capitalising on the many goal-scoring chances created.
Then followed two games on consecutive days against Pendeen Rovers of the Cornwall Combination League (two steps below Mousehole) and Plymouth Argyle’s Academy, with The Seagulls winning both games by 8-1 and 7-1, but equally importantly giving the opportunity to provide game time to more players and try out different formations.
After Kernow Football Alliance had belatedly pulled out of the next game because of a shortage of available players, Newquay stepped in a few days later to fill a gap at short notice. With the two teams competing in the same league this coming season, Mousehole fielded an experimental line-up but a full-strength Newquay side came out on top with a 4-2 victory.
Looking forward, after the opening league fixture at Falmouth Town on Wednesday, Mousehole then travel to Bodmin Town on Saturday 10th August (kick off 3pm), while the first home game is on Saturday 17th against Camelford (3pm). By the end of the month, The Seagulls will have played seven fixtures at the higher level, and Jake Ash will then have clearer evidence of the potential of his squad.
* Mousehole have announced their admission prices to Trungle Parc for the 2019/20 season:
First team matches: £5 (over-65s £3);
Reserves’ team matches: £3 (over-65s £2)
Children under-16 free.
