LOSTWITHIEL 1-4 MOUSEHOLE RESERVES

BOND TIMBER CORNWALL JUNIOR CUP,  QUARTER FINAL

SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2019

AT KING GEORGE MEMORIAL GROUND

Despite their respective League positions – with Mousehole Reserves in the top reaches of the Trelawny League Premier Division and Lostwithiel bottom of the equivalent Duchy League Premier –  there was always a chance that this knock-out tie could have been decided by a stroke of luck, a bad bounce or a controversial decision.

But The Seagulls took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start, on a soft but well-prepared pitch in front of a good home crowd including a band of Seagulls’ supporters making the long 100-mile return trip.

Mousehole took the lead in the second minute after a free kick was crossed to the feet of captain Joe Davies, and seven minutes later Jacob Trudgeon scored goal number two after a solo run.

Both teams were involved in an intense midfield battle and tried to play attacking football, the Reserves having the advantage of a strong tail wind, which influenced the pattern of the first half to a degree.

On the 40th minute mark Joe Davies scored his second of the afternoon with a superb free kick, and shortly afterwards he notched his hat-trick to give Mousehole a commanding four-goal lead at the interval.

Lostwithel netted a penalty three minutes into the second half, and then started to put the pressure on, but some dogged defence and midfield play kept them at bay.

But the visitors still looked dangerous, with Fitchett up front denied goal number 5 by the assistant referee’s offside flag, and Jamie Simons’ celebrations cut short as his fine shot hit the upright and was cleared off the line by a defender.

Full credit to Lostwithiel who never give up and probably had the better of the second half, but Mousehole’s all-round team performance was superior.

The Lostwithiel camp gave this generous assessment of the game on Twitter:  “We were outplayed today and the scoreline was a fair reflection on he game. Mousehole scored in the first minute and again in the tenth with two well taken goals. Another two before half time knocked the stuffing out of us. We pulled one back on 48 from a Jon Harris penalty and showed character and real guts to keep going but never threatened to get back in the game. Mousehole are a top side.”

The Junior Cup semi-finals are scheduled for midweek dates at the end of March at neutral venues.  Mousehole Reserves will be joined in the draw by Frogpool & Cusgarne (top of Trelawny Division 2), Foxhole Stars (unbeaten leaders of Duchy Premier) and Illogan RBL Reserves (in third place in Trelawny Premier).

 

The Final will be on Sunday 5th May.

 

Mousehole Reserves:  DomAngove, Jonathan Fitchett, Jason Simmonds, Michael Fitchett, Nathan Goodspeed, Joe Davies (captain), Benji Ward, Jacob Trudgeon, Caleb Marsden, Harry Tonkin, Jamie Simons, Ben Fewkes, Tom McGarry

 

 

Now sixth in the table, the Reserves are next in action in the return League fixture this Saturday (23rd, kick off 2.30pm) away at second-place Mawnan, who were 2-1 winners at Trungle Parc on 9th February.