PENZANCE 1-1 PORTHLEVEN: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Sodden Pitch Fails To Dampen Leven…

Penzance 1-1 Porthleven

Despite trailing to a controversial first-half Magpies goal and escaping a couple of one-on-ones which really ought to have placed Penzance out of sight by the interval, Porthleven, with the benefit of a wind behind them and fine rain at their backs after the break, might have taken a much needed victory back to their historic harbour. The players could have celebrated at Nauti But Ice with a toasted teacake each. I drank coffee there during the morning, then hoped to hear that the Penzance pitch had passed its 1.30pm inspection and then discovered that the wind had blown down a cable, meaning no internet or telephones working at the Mullion Cove Hotel, where I was staying. Anyway, after a slow journey on the A394, I arrived at Penlee Park at 2.05 for the 2.30 kick-off. Jake Andrew and Liam Dent were always a danger in attack for the hosts but in truth, the guests were really well served by midfielders Luke Hunter and goalscorer Jack Webber, as well as quick left-back Jowan Shainberg and the tricky left-sided forward George Molcher. Both 5s were skippers and Penzance’s Jamie Webb had surely just stepped out of a blacksmith’s forge, or off a Player’s Navy Cut cigarette packet, with a beard which scared me to death…

5+5= TOSS...

Tarrant: "Hey you, don't call me Chris..."

Although Jake Andrew and Dent were positive in the opening stages for Penzance, Leven responded well when Molcher received the ball on the left, moved inside but saw his 22 yard drive pushed aside by home ‘keeper Paul Williams, who had dived high and left. A couple of corners came to nought for Porthleven, before an uncharacteristically loose pass by Hunter was hunted down by Magpie set-piece man Dom Batchelor, whose rasping 25 yarder beat visiting custodian James Wignall all ends up but smacked high against the right upright. Dent then won the ball from visiting skipper Dan Tarrant’s partial clearance and made the right byeline well enough, although Jake Andrew was baulked and then Josh Findlay’s low shot was blocked by a forest of wet legs. A superb long pass by home left-sider and brilliantly named Tyler Tonkin sent Dent scurrying forward but the inventive Shainberg beat him to the ball and cleared well.

Bearded man scares spectators by ramming an advertising hoarding through his own head...

With Hunter prowling the deep midfield for the Fishermen, Webber was making dashes forward but after one decent move, Webber failed to find any power in his shot. Wignall did manage to block a shot by Dent with his legs, before defender Joel Allan cleared, something the tall Leven defender did consistently for his team. Strong defence again by Allan and also Charlie Young helped their team survive a Penzance free-kick, before the hosts were awarded their goal. A free-kick, some 38 yards out at inside-right by Batchelor, which involved the referee marking out ten yards for a one-man wall, ended with the ball breaking for Jake Andrew to shoot but the effort appeared to strike Dent, who celebrated with arms aloft, only for a linesman’s flag to wave the chap offside. The referee had signalled a goal and seemed less than willing to accept his assistant’s argument and so as Tarrant scratched his head, Penzance smiled a lot.

Penzance celebrate and watch a linesman try to change the referee's mind.
And fail.

"Sorry mate, I'm not having a 0-0 draw..."

Findlay then missed a great opportunity to add to his team’s lead, when he fastened onto a quickly taken free-kick and found himself with only Wignall to beat but hesitancy and indecision on his part allowed the goalie to smother the ball, seemingly from no shot at all. Tarrant cleared the danger for a corner and Porthleven breathed again. Dent was warned for a foul, visiting striker Ryan Trathen, who was rarely a threat for his team, did manage a low shot which appeared to deflect off Webb but the officials looked as scared as I was of the Magpies’ skipper’s beard and awarded a goal-kick instead. The first of two fine pieces of defending by Penzance’s Callum George occurred next when he cleared a dangerous low centre by the increasingly effective Shainberg, with Fred Williams lurking behind him at the right upright. 

When the ref fell out with Dent...

Physical stuff...

Webb’s long pass forward deflected off Shainberg and set Dent free to dent Leven’s hopes but despite looking confident, he too failed to beat Wignall, who parried the effort and once again Tarrant cleared. Wignall was then quickly off his goal-line to gather, as Dent ran onto a pass by Jake Andrew but then another and better intervention by George preserved the Magpies’ lead. Molcher picked up a loose ball at 17 yards, beat Webb and drove in a low shot, which the sliding George cleared from in front of the sprawling Paul Williams. A smart back-heel by Tonkin freed George to feed Dent at the opposite end and the forward’s shot might have struck an arm but the half ended with the game poised delicately on such an indelicate surface.

Dent cuts inside for Penzance...

What the game is all about...

Trathen didn’t reappear for the guests after the break and he was replaced by Liam Hunter but it was midfielder Webber who stunned the sheltering spectators by taking a pass from Fred Williams and letting fly from 25 yards, a shot which sliced away from Paul Williams and hit the top right corner of the net. Joy for the Fishermen…

Goal for Webber...

1-1 now...

Certainly Porthleven began to dominate more and with Luke Hunter and Webber persevering in the midfield areas, it was the guests who looked the more likely scorers. Liam Hunter almost controlled a long diagonal pass on his chest but the ball bounced to Paul Williams, then at the other end Tarrant made a fine challenge on Dent and then Wignall advanced to beat Findlay to Dent’s hooked pass. A wild challenge on Webber by Penzance’s Luke Appleton went unpunished as the ball fell for Liam Hunter to set up Fred Williams at inside-right but Paul Williams saved the low shot with his legs as he made his advance from goal.

How to be off-balance in a football match...

Molcher reaches the byeline...

Connor Davey replaced Batchelor for the hosts but it was Leven who threatened again, Luke Hunter’s pass setting up Fred Williams for another strike at goal, which struck a defender and rolled to Paul Williams. Webb glanced a corner with his head well wide of the left upright but this effort for the hosts was rare, as the visitors battled furiously to get a second goal. Fred Williams shot weakly wide, before a foul by Luke Hunter led to Webb losing his temper, his beard stood on end and he was cautioned before Luke Hunter was shown HIS yellow card too. So unnecessary… Fine work by Luke Hunter and Young set up Molcher again but Paul Williams pushed the striker’s shot aside and for the visitors’ best chance of the half, Young retrieved the loose ball, crossed to the near post from the left byeline but Fred Williams, falling, headed off target.

Scuffles...

Webb allows the referee to smell his after-shave...
Er, but he hasn't shaved at all.

More good Porthleven football led to neat skills by Molcher, Fred Williams teed up Young for a shot but again Paul Williams beat the ball away to his right. Molcher, totally frustrated by the referee by this time, earned himself a caution then substitutions messed up the flow of the game: Jamie Lightfoot-Clarke replaced Dent for the hosts, then the impressive Leven pairing of Shainberg and Webber were withdrawn for the introduction of Kyle Woodhouse and Lewis Hemsley. Alex Miller appeared for Penzance too with Tonkin hurt, Wignall punched away a late Penzance cross and on a very late break, Young fed Molcher but he was unable to get clear.

Jake Andrew on the ball...

Porthleven would feel they had done enough to win this match but maybe the Magpies would point to missed chances of their own in the first period too. Little was seen of the home strike force after the interval, as Webber, Shainberg and Molcher pushed the visitors forward but home midfielder Terry Rowe fought hard to contain the guests. Both ‘keepers made decent saves but credit must go to both sets of players for offering the spectators an interesting contest.

I drove back to Mullion Cove along the Penzance sea-front, where huge waves crashed over the sea-wall. I hit heavy rain and then thick mist, arriving at Mullion as the light faded over a rough sea. Apologies must go to any players whose names are incorrectly spelt in this report, but I was forced to copy the hand-written team-sheets… I did my best…

No idea why I took this image...

It’s what I do…

TEAMS:

PENZANCE:

Paul Williams, Ryan Andrew, Callum George, Luke Appleton, Jamie Webb (Capt), Terry Rowe, Josh Findlay, Dom Batchelor, Jake Andrew, Liam Dent, Tyler Tonkin.

SUBS:

Alex Miller, Connor Davey, Jamie Lightfoot-Clarke.

PORTHLEVEN:

James Wignall, Joel Allan, Jowan Shainberg, Luke Hunter, Dan Tarrant (Capt), Matt Best, Charlie Young, Jack Webber, Ryan Trathen, George Molcher, Fred Williams.

SUBS:

Lewis Hemsley, Kyle Woodhouse, Liam Hunter, Tom Heywood, Jake Harrison.