DOBWALLS 2-1 PENZANCE: REPORT & IMAGES...

Dingos Edge Out Magpies In Windswept Cornish Rain

Dobwalls 2-1 Penzance

Wind threw fine rain from one end of the Lantoom Park pitch near Liskeard towards the other and yet all three goals were scored playing against the elements. On goal chances alone, Dobwalls deserved the three points, for they missed several late second period opportunities to settle the issue, after Penzance had netted immediately post-interval to reduce the deficit to 2-1. No further goals were scored, due to three decent saves by the Penzance ‘keeper Sam Clark and some errant finishing by Dingo wide-man Dan Perryman and striker Ray Spear. Home goalie Toby Chapman in contrast was rarely troubled by any of Penzance’s shots, especially those before the break and he enjoyed a rather uneventful second-half with his back to the soaking rain and he was probably able to snigger now and again at his rather noisy coach’s ‘interesting’ comments from the environs of the Dingo dugout. 

RED DINGOS v BLUE MAGPIES...

Apologies for any errors in the spelling of names below. Some of them on the team-sheets were differently spelt to those in the match programme, so I went with the team-sheets… :)

Certainly Spear was a continuous problem for visiting defenders Danny Bance and Adam Williams, scoring once, firing across the face of goal before half-time, firing a second period free-kick into a muddle of Magpie defenders and flicking a smart left-side centre by right-back and skipper Billy Westlake past the near post with an awkward right boot. His left boot no doubt complained about the choice made… His goal was well taken however, early in the opening half when casual defending by the Magpies would prove to be their downfall. Danny Bance passed square to Williams but his release was intercepted by Ryan Howe, who fed a quick pass right for Spear. He beat Clark with a low shot into the bottom left corner of goal from 15 yards, inside-right channel.

1-0...

SPEAR, BENDING, HAS JUST SCORED, SO DYER (10) PREPARES FOR HIS GOAL...

Spear had also lurked when Clark made a hash of a kick but Penzance cleared that danger. Left-side attacker Xcole Ncumbe drove a fine 25 yarder just too high, from Tom Scott’s head-on, although the tall midfielder Scott would eventually retire, possibly as a result of being hit between the groins by a hard-struck ball in the opening moments of the encounter. Ncumbe worked hard for his team, earning plaudits from his coaches for some good covering back from his wing position. The second goal again stemmed from a lax spot of Magpie defending, for Spear charged down a clearance by the generally efficient Gary Matthews, then outfought the left-back at an angle on the right. Spear’s centre was retrieved on the left by Perryman, whose feed across the goalmouth was shot at goal by Kieran Dyer. Danny Bance blocked the close-range effort but the rebound fell kindly for Dyer to lash into the top right corner of the dripping net.

2-0...

DYER HAS SCORED, BUT...

...ALSO TAKES A WARNING...

In that opening period, visiting players Callum George and Josh Bance shot wide of the mark, Williams’ two tough headers from swirling corners dropped past uprights, right-back Reece Evans and agile skipper Kevin Lawrence drove way too high, a Luke Caspell shot was deflected over the target and underfed central striker Dom Richardson fired a disappointing free-kick into the shin-pads of the defensive Dob-wall. Richardson was also denied by a superb challenge from home defender Dan O’Brien, who dived to make a fine headed clearance too in that opening period and O’Brien’s general stubborn defending would prove influential in the claiming of the three points by his team. 

SAM CLARK: SOAKED...

2ND HALF...

JOSH BANCE & RYAN HOWE...

Despite scoring early after the restart, Penzance didn’t really threaten the home defence much, although midfielder Andreas Staines was prominent in ball-winning and usage. The goal was simplicity itself. Lawrence had popped up on the right-flank, took a pass from Josh Bance, rolled a low centre towards the edge of the 6 yard box and George scored easily. Apart from one moment of danger near their defensive right post, Dobwalls were only really concerned when Richardson attacked at inside-left in the closing moments but he sliced his shot anyway. The hosts really ought to have tied up the victory by then with several of their goal attempts as the second period drew on but they had failed to do so, leaving their door ajar right to the end.

2-1: GEORGE THE SCORER...

LIFE IS A CABARET FOR THESE TWO...

Danny Bance did well to defend a pass by O’Brien who had made a splendid forward run for the Dingos, both Howe and tall central defender John Styring rose for a left-side corner and the ball bounced off both for a visiting defender to nod away from the goal-line but several chances fell to the lean forward Perryman. He was fouled on the edge of the penalty-box but despite being behind play and receiving no support from an unofficial linesman, the referee decided it was not a penalty, which resulted in Spear’s blunt free-kick. From replacement Paul Jacobson’s forward header, Perryman forced a save from Clark, following good work by another substitute Andy Frost and also Spear, Perryman’s near post shot was well blocked by Clark again, before the Dingo shot poorly wide and finally hit a decent left-footer past the right stick.

DYER (LEFT) GETS HIS CAUTION...

BAD FOUL BY THE REF BUT HE ESCAPED A CAUTION...

O’Brien struck a good free-kick just wide of the left upright and the third Dobwalls replacement Hayden Baugh was denied by the outrushing Clark, after another fine break by Spear and a miscue by Perryman. 

AFTER GETTING WET THE PLAYERS HEAD FOR THE SHOWERS TO, ER, GET WET...

Weapon Spear made two further breaks in the closing moments but was encouraged to waste time near corner-flags, although on both occasions, a third goal had looked likely and on both occasions the ball was conceded quickly. Who’d be a manager? Thus the victory would be claimed by Dobwalls and Spear had been really decent in attack, Ncumbe had often been tricky in possession but with Westlake marshalling his defence of Martin Hughes, Tom Styring and O’Brien, in truth Penzance were held fairly comfortably at bay. O’Brien made some important interceptions, made a couple of errors too but with Howe and Dyer working hard in midfield, the Magpies were subsequently restricted to the one goal.

SCORER GEORGE AND NON-SCORER PERRYMAN...

The referee allowed several bookable challenges go without cautions and yet booked Dyer for his inquisitiveness, although the official’s rather dramatic rushes and poses when speaking to players did not go down well with the respective coaches, especially Dobwalls’ rather vocal guy. 

For the guests, Matthews and his fellow defenders worked hard throughout, skipper Lawrence, Staines and often Caspell looked lively at times but Richardson was offered few titbits to work from as the target centre-forward. 

Many thanks for the welcome afforded by Dobwalls and to the two teams for allowing me to peek at their team-sheets. 

At least the sheep on the hill terrace stayed to watch until the end…  

SHEEPISH FANS...

TEAMS:

DOBWALLS:

TOBY CHAPMAN, BILLY WESTLAKE (CAPT), MARTIN HUGHES, TOM SCOTT, JOHN STYRING, DAN O’BRIEN, DAN PERRYMAN, RYAN HOWE, RAY SPEAR, KIERAN DYER, XCOLE NCUMBE.

SUBS:

PAUL JACOBSON, HAYDEN BAUGH, ANDY FROST, ANGUS JOCE.

PENZANCE:

SAM CLARK, REECE EVANS, GARY MATTHEWS, KEVIN LAWRENCE (CAPT), ADAM WILLIAMS, DANNY BANCE, CALLUM GEORGE, ANDREAS STAINES, DOM RICHARDSON, JOSH BANCE, LUKE CASPELL.

SUBS:

LUKE CARROLL, PASHA WILSON.