Mousehole 1-1 Saltash United
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Tuesday 2nd August 2022
At Trungle Parc
Summary
The two top-performing Cornwall teams in last season’s Western League came head-to-head in a competitive end-to-end encounter, both having won their opening games of the new campaign and each coming close to grabbing all three points in front of a large and well-entertained crowd.
Pre-match points
The Seagulls started off with a 5-1 win at newly promoted Torpoint Athletic on Saturday, while The Ashes, under new management this season, recorded a 2-1 home win against Clevedon Town.
This evening, Mousehole are missing captain Jack Calver, Mark Goldsworthy and Callam Mconie through injury, while new signing Andy Watkins is unavailable. Josh Magin returns to the squad, and the other major summer arrival Reece Thomson makes a home debut against his former club.
The visitors have the experienced goal-getter Adam Carter leading their attack.
There’s a lot of green grass on the pitch surface after being well looked after in recent weeks.
The key moments of the match
Mousehole kick off towards the Cricket Club End.
4 minutes: The home side are on the front foot, with Louis Price firing wide of the far post after a quickly taken Tallan Mitchell free kick
10 minutes: Mousehole substitute – the injured Paulo Sousa is replaced by Josh Magin, with Louis Price moving leftwards and the new sub taking up the right wing position
15 minutes: Callum Merrin has a clear sight of goal from a central position just inside the area but volleys a long way over the bar
19 minutes: Incisive passing enables Tallan Mitchell to break free on the right and put in a low cross just out of reach of his team-mates
28 minutes: Saltash’s Mike Smith threatens danger but drives high and wide under pressure
30 minutes: Josh Magin’s right-sided cross is too strong to enable Louis Price to control his header in the box
31 minutes: Adam Carter touches an Ashes corner over the bar as he falls backwards
34 minutes: Captain Mark Richards makes an excellent interception in front of goal to end a dangerous Saltash attack
35 minutes: Saltash come close again, this time as a header from a corner drops just wide of the post
36 minutes: Josh Otto’s smart defensive work in the six-yard box stops Mike Smith’s low cross finding a target
37 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Just when an Ashes goal looked imminent, the scoring opens at the other end. Josh Otto is felled by Jake Miller’s very late tackle as he places a searching pass into the Saltash half. With the Referee indicating an advantage, HAYDEN TURNER races clear and drives a fierce shot into the top near corner from just inside the area on the right.
40 minutes: So close! Keeper Jordon Duffy somehow gets in the way of Hayden Turner’s six-yard shot after being set up by Louis Price’s square pass
41 minutes: Duffy in vital action again, as Andy Elcock’s chipped pass puts Hayden Turner in on goal
43 minutes: Hayden Turner looks to have put Josh Magin through on goal but Callum O’Brien’s foul 40 yards out makes sure he doesn’t progress – at the expense of a yellow card
Half time: Mousehole finish the half on top and with a 1-0 lead, but the play has swung one way then the other, in a fast and physical 45 minutes.
The second half
49 minutes: Hayden Turner creates a shooting chance for Tallan Mitchell on the edge of the box, with a defender deflecting the goal-bound effort
53 minutes: An Ashes defender does well to block another powerful Tallan Mitchell drive
57 minutes: The visitors surge forward and Jake Miller goes to ground in the penalty area – but Referee Green ignores the loud claims for a foul
58 minutes: Ashes substitute Sam Hughes is through on goal and is denied by a superb block by keeper Ollie Chenoweth
59 minutes: Mike Smith is the next to threaten for the visitors, shooting wide of the near post on the run
61 minutes: Saltash continue the momentum, Mark Richards saving his side by bravely diverting a 20-yard shot aimed at the corner of the net
68 minutes: GOAL FOR SALTASH UNITED. A prolonged period of pressure by the visitors is rewarded with the simplest of goals, CALLAM O’BRIEN converting a floated corner with a downward header from an unmarked central position six yards out. Mousehole 1-1 Saltash United.
68 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Reece Thomson is replaced by Jared Sims
71 minutes: Inside the last 20 minutes and Mousehole get back on the offensive. Hayden Turner latches on to Louis Price’s through-ball and rounds the keeper but shoots into the side netting from an angle on the left
74 minutes: The ball is threaded through to Jared Sims in a great position in front of goal, only for keeper Duffy to smother the chance
77 minutes: Tallan Mitchell drives at goal again, and again a defender blocks the shot
85 minutes: Mousehole are having a lot of possession, but Saltash are defending in numbers and looking to counter on the break
90 minutes: The woodwork comes to the visitors’ rescue! Hayden Turner is face-to-face with advancing keeper Duffy inside the area. His chip shot beats the keeper but hits the far post and rebounds across the open goal with no attacking player on hand.
Full-time: It ends 1-1 after an ebb-and-flow game in which either side might have capitalised more on their good periods.
Mousehole (with used substitutes)
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Josh Otto, Mark Richards, Max Hill, Paulo Sousa (Josh Magin), Tallan Mitchell, Steve Burt, Andy Elcock, Reece Thomson (Jared Sims), Louis Price, Hayden Turner. Other substitutes: Jamie Devine, Jack Symons, Kyle Fraser
Match officials
Jonothan Green (Referee) with Neil Rudkin & Ken Swift (Assistants)
Attendance: 212
Next for Mousehole
This Saturday, 6th August, 3pm:
Away at Barnstaple Town (Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)
Tuesday 9th August – three possibilities:
- 7.45pm HOME v Falmouth Town, Western League Premier Division; or
- 7.45pm HOME v Barnstaple Town, if FA Cup Replay needed; or
- No game if Mousehole win or lose at Barnstaple, and Falmouth are involved in an FA Cup replay
Saturday 13th August, 3pm:
Away at Ashton & Backwell United (WLP)
Tuesday 16th August, 7.45pm:
HOME v Millbrook (WLP)