MOUSEHOLE 4-0 PORTHLEVEN
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST
SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2017
AT TRUNGLE PARC
SUPER SEAGULLS UP TO SIXTH AFTER SECOND 4-0 SUCCESS IN A ROW
Mousehole started the second half of the League season by gaining a second consecutive 4-0 win to take their home record to nine wins out of nine and move up to sixth place in the table, in perfect preparation for the ‘local derby’ against Penzance at Trungle Parc on Boxing Day.
Having now beaten three sides above them in their last three games – leaders Liskeard Athletic, St Dennis and now Porthleven – The Seagulls find themselves on equal points with fourth place St Blazey and fifth place Porthleven, both of whom however have better goal differences.
In an evenly contested first half in which Jake Andrew had chances with two off-target headers from close range and Luke Johnson scuffed wide from in front of goal, Mousehole took the lead on 36 minutes shortly after a tactical change had seen Paolo Sousa and Luke Johnson switch wings. It was Sousa who then came inside from the right to turn defenders this way and that, before planting a low left-footed shot from 22 yards that skidded just inside goalkeeper James Wignell’s near post.
Porthleven’s half-time team talk was wrecked within eight minutes of the restart as they conceded two goals. Firstly Bradley Wills strode through to round Wignell and slot home for 2-0 on 50 minutes, and then Paolo Sousa’s clever footwork enabled him to do the same on 54, both chances created after Kevin Lawrence had intercepted the ball in midfield and threaded perfect passes between Porthleven’s big defenders.
Substitutes Connor Davey and Matt McIlroy came on with dramatic impact on 71 minutes, Davey’s darting run on the left and low cross to the far post being side-footed home by McIlroy for the fourth goal within seconds of their appearance, the move having again been set up by Kevin Lawrence.
The Fishermen were vulnerable to the ball being played quickly on the ground and Mousehole continued to fashion chances to add to an already impressive scoreline, but the visitors came close to reducing the arrears near the end with a header that went narrowly wide and a one-on-one shot superbly saved by the previously untroubled Steve Parker-Billinge.
Mousehole: Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (Billy Curtis, 58), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Josh Otto, Jordan Adlard, Kevin Lawrence, Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (Connor Davey, 71), Jake Andrew (Matt McIlroy, 71), Paolo Sousa. Substitutes: Caleb Marsden, Josh Nicholls
Scorers: Paolo Sousa (36, 54), Bradley Wills (50), Matt McIlroy (72).
Referee: Tim Burley. Attendance: 81
- Next up is the Boxing Day match at Trungle Parc against Penzance (kick off 11am), who are three places and six points behind Mousehole but with three games in hand. Spectators are advised to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion at the ground.
- Arguably Mousehole’s biggest game of the season takes place this coming Saturday (30th) when higher-division Launceston – currently in 6th place in the Premier Division and 20 places above Mousehole in the ‘pyramid’ – are the visitors for a League Cup 3rd round tie (2:00pm kick off). The fixture has lots of added interest as it is an opportunity for Mousehole’s developing squad to measure themselves against another Premier Division side, having already disposed of Camelford in the 2nd round, as well as the chance to earn a home tie in the quarter-finals against Division 1 East mid-table Teignmouth.
- Mousehole are in Cup action again the following Saturday (6th January) in the Cornwall Senior Cup 3rd round (2pm) against Camborne-based lower-league side West Cornwall who are currently 10th in the 20-team Cornwall Combination League in their first season after promotion from the Trelawny League Premier Division as champions.
