New-look Reserves invaluable win
Mousehole Reserves came into the match in last-but-one place in the league table but knew that a win would enable them to climb above their visitors two places above and provide a welcome boost to player-manager Harry Tonkin’s re-built side after a month in which half the players have been successfully promoted into the first team squad.
And it was a good afternoon all round with a dominant 3-0 victory, the fourth consecutive match in which the team has scored three goals (the last three being 3-3 draws), their first win in seven games stretching back to 12th November and their first clean sheet since the 5-0 home win over St Buryan on 31st August.
The lead was 2-0 at half-time but it could have been much more as The Seagulls pressed the visitors from the start. Jamie Thomas got the first goal from close range on 9 minutes after right back Will Trenoweth found Tyler Lea whose through ball put Anthony Nicholas in for a left-foot shot half-saved by the ‘keeper.
On 15 minutes goalkeeper, Adam Roberthan’s massive kick downfield was allowed to bounce by the visitors’ defence just outside their box and Jamie Thomas was there again to lift the ball over the ‘keeper’s head for his second.
After an indifferent opening period in the second half, Mousehole went 3-0 up in the 60th minute. Will Trenoweth launched a throw-in near the corner flag, Jamie Thomas took a great first touch and his superb early cross was headed by the alert Tyler Lea into the top corner of the net from 8 yards.
Other notable moments came when Trenoweth’s excellent run down the right wing led to an inviting cross in front of goal where the ‘keeper saved from Ross Bryant at point-blank range. Substitute James Franklin rattled the crossbar in the 80th minute, and in the 90th another substitute Tom George couldn’t get a proper connection on Tyler Lea’s cross when a fourth goal looked certain.
This fourth league win of the season lifts Mousehole Reserves two places up the table to 11th and away from the bottom two relegation places for the time being. However, they have played more games than the teams around them and will need to carry this form into the eight remaining fixtures, with four at home and four away. Next up are mid-table Chacewater at Trungle Parc this Saturday (2.30pm).
The team: Adam Roberthan, Dickie Taylor, Matthew Williams, Harry Tonkin, Will Trenoweth, Lee Robinson, Tom Hooper (captain), Ross Bryant, Jamie Thomas, Tyler Lea, Anthony Nicholas
Substitutes: James Franklin (for Tom Hooper, 60), Jak Hughes (for Jamie Thomas, 70), Ryan Ellis (for Anthony Nicholas, 80), Tom George (for Ross Bryant, 80)
Scorers: Jamie Thomas (9, 15), Tyler Lea (60)
