MOUSEHOLE 4-0 ST DENNIS
SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST
SATURDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2017
AT TRUNGLE PARC
Recording their eighth consecutive win to maintain their perfect home record, Mousehole were on top form on Saturday with a convincing win over St Dennis, who started the game one place and three points ahead in the League table. And despite dominating for the full 90 minutes, The Seagulls just failed to get the extra goal that would have seen them climb above their visitors into sixth place.
Both sides had several players unavailable, Mousehole without amongst others Max Hill (with a long term injury), Jordan Adlard (serving a one-match suspension) and captain Billy Curtis, but were on the front foot straight from the kick off and took the lead after 98 seconds when Bradley Wills drove a low left-footed shot in off the far post after great set-up work by Paolo Sousa. Sousa on the left and Luke Johnson on the right constantly troubled The Saints back line, and Johnson’s driven cross was headed firmly in by Jake Andrew at the near post on 18. The same scorer made it 3-0 after 39 minutes with a side-foot finish at the far post from Bradley Wills’ searching cross. And on the stroke of half-time Luke Johnson’s dangerous ball in from the right sailed into the far top corner for 4-0.
Having been over-run by Mousehole’s passing and movement in the first 45 minutes, St Dennis withdrew into a more defensive formation in the second half in an attempt to limit further damage. The Seagulls continued to press, with the game being played almost entirely in the visitors’ half, and had it not been for goal-line clearances, missed chances – with Jake Andrew coming close to a hat-trick on several occasions – and some courageous goalkeeping by young ‘keeper Kieran Broadfield, the score could well have been at least doubled. In the last ten minutes, St Dennis ventured forward for the first time and Carl Rickard forced goalkeeper Steve Parker-Billinge into a diving save, his only serious action of the afternoon.
Having achieved home wins against both League leaders Liskeard Athletic and top-six St Dennis in successive games, Mousehole face another interesting challenge this Saturday (23rd) when local rivals Porthleven, currently in fourth place, visit Trungle Parc, kick off 2:15pm.
Mousehole: Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin (sub Matt McIlroy, 79), Calum Elliot, Liam Andrew, Caleb Marsden (sub Josh Otto, 26), Kevin Moon, Kevin Lawrence (captain), Bradley Wills, Luke Johnson (sub Connor Davey, 70), Jake Andrew, Paolo Sousa. Substitutes: Josh Nicholls, Danny Park.
Scorers: Bradley Wills (2), Jake Andrew (18, 39), Luke Johnson (45)
Referee: Alan Hoon. Attendance: 63
*Mousehole teams had a ‘clean sweep’ at the weekend, the Reserves winning 1-0 away against Penwith Exiles to go five points clear at the top of the Trelawny League Division 1; the Thirds beat Madron 6-1 at Marazion in Division 4.
Our Under-9s competed in the inaugural Endorsed Cup tournament at Trungle Parc on Sunday in what was a very successful afternoon.
*Mousehole Women’s top-of-the-table encounter at St Agnes in the Cornwall Women’s League was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Congratulations to all teams at the weekend i went to watch the reserves on Saturday and what a game it was a fantastic advert for junior football by both sides and great sportsmanship by the exiles boys at the end of the game by doing three cheers for Mousehole after all they do get a lot of bad press so Well-done exiles and good luck for the rest of the season.