MOUSEHOLE 0-1 ST BLAZEY
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE WEST
SATURDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC
Despite dominating possession for the entire match and creating a hatful of chances, Mousehole’s much-depleted line-up suffered a home defeat against a St Blazey side who were playing under new management following a poor sequence of results.
After their headline-making 2-0 win in the League Cup at higher-level Newquay the previous Saturday, The Seagulls started without six players who would normally feature on the team sheet, but continued to play an attractive brand of football that could have enabled them to build a substantial winning margin.
The visitors’ ‘keeper Dale England, returning from suspension, got back just in time to prevent a cute Will Vouama chip crossing the line as early as the 3rd minute. Tom Patrick’s cross-cum-shot just eluded Gerens James in front of goal on 8 minutes, a Billy Curtis header from Vouama’s free kick went just over on 12, Craig Wilcox’s left-wing cross was scuffed away from inside the six-yard box on 16, and Wilcox and James were both close in the same attack on 18.
St Blazey were fortunate to escape punishment when defender Paul New pushed Referee Matthew Carney in a dispute over a free kick award, and their luck continued in the 35th minute when, completely against the run of play and in a rare foray over the halfway line, Josh Harris lobbed in a speculative 30-yard cross from the left which floated just inside Dom Angove’s far post.
The action continued at the other end, with newcomer Lorenzo Gerimi hitting the bar in the 41st minute with a superbly executed free kick, as the visitors’ uncompromising tackling earned them two yellow cards in quick succession. And more chances were created before half time, Billy Curtis mis-connecting from a low cross and Will Vouama’s weaving run blocked by the ‘keeper.
The second half continued in the same vein, Vouama putting a clear chance wide in the 54th minute, Craig Wilcox having a header cleared off the line 10 minutes later, and on 67 the closest yet to a goal as Vouama’s 30-yard free kick smacked against the far upright with ‘keeper England a stranded onlooker.
St Blazey were content to sit back in their own half, but unexpectedly surged forward in the 76th minute and would have doubled the lead in true ‘smash and grab’ fashion had it not been for a great tip-over by Dom Angove from a goalbound 25-yard drive. And three minutes later, the young ‘keeper was booked for colliding with the speedy Harris just outside the penalty area in another breakaway.
Mousehole continued their bombardment, England rescuing his side with a finger-tip reaction save from a Gerens James’ close-range header and moments later from an angled drive by substitute Sam Shulberg, who was then millimetres away from nodding in Craig Wilcox’s cross in the 90th minute.
Judging by their celebrations at the final whistle, St Blazey will feel that this resolute performance has brought to a halt their disappointing start to the season, and it earned them a joint-top “SWPL team of the week” in a public poll – but it could have been a very different story had The Seagulls managed to convert just a fraction of the chances created.
The defeat leaves Mousehole in 8th place in the Division One West table with a 50% points haul from their opening seven League games a quarter of the way into the season, having won three, drawn two and lost two.
Their next fixture is a Cornwall Senior Cup 1st Round home tie this Saturday (6th October) against Premier Division Millbrook at Trungle Parc, kick off 2:30pm, with extra time and penalties to decide the outcome if necessary. Millbrook were promoted at the end of last season as West Division champions, and have made a good start at the higher level with six wins from 13 games to occupy 7th place in the table.
The Seagulls return to League business the following Saturday (13th) when Bude Town visit Trungle Parc (3pm).
Mousehole v St Blazey: Dom Angove, Billy Curtis (captain), Ryan Andrew, Adel Gafaiti, Tom Hands, Lorenzo Gerimi, Kaid Hamza, William Vouama, Tom Patrick, Craig Wilcox, Gerens James.
Substitutes: Jamie Devine (for Kaid Hamza, 46), Sam Shulberg (for Tom Patrick, 72), Paul Williams, Louis Graham.
Referee: Matthew Carney. Attendance: 108.
