Friendly - Penzance Combo v Sennen

[cornishteddyboy]

Sennen brought a squad of 13 players to Penzance for this friendly fixture. Penzance having a full squad of about 18 to choose from.

The weather was perfect with a slight breeze blowing across the pitch which died down as kick-off approached.

The first half Penzance were playing towards the park end ofthe ground. Sennen in a blue and yellow kit sponsored by Sea View Holiday Park, Sennen withPenzance in their usual white tops and black shorts.

The ref blews and Pz put Sennen under pressure strait away by running down the wings and crossing or putting the ball through the middle, but were thwarted by some funny linesman's decisions. Pz were definately faster to the ball than they were against Pendeen the other night. Sennen's goalie makes a good save at the bootom of the post. Some good Pz passing is broken up by some clumsy tackling from Sennen.

Sennen try a couple of long range shots from 40yds out but are wide of the mark. Pz then go 1-0 up from a mix-up in the Sennen area, when the defenders are all pulled to one side, Pz pass and Sean George has an open goal to aim at and he blasts one in at head hight from 15yds out.

The lead lasts all of 2 mins when Sennen come storming back and a through ball sees Glen Marsdon slip past the Pz defenders to equalise. 1-1.

It's end to end, but eveytime a player is touched the ref wants to blow for a free kick. A Pz player is fouled in the box and the ref awards a penalty. Up steps Alfie Turner to put the ball into the net. That makes 4 goals for Alfie as he scored a hat-trick against Pendeen. 2-1.

Again the lead lasts no more than 2 mins as back come Sennen. On their first attack, Jack Jevens puts one past the keeper from 15yds. 2-2

Kick off again and Pz are awarded a free kick outside just outside the area but waste it. Sennen break through again and it's one on one with the Pz goalie but he makes a good save with his legs. Pz push forward but are caught on the break and Jevens scores his second.

The ref blews for half-time with Sennen leading 3-2. The crowd of about 60 are treated to a display of John Mead chasing young lads off the pitch a couple of times to stop them playing kick-a-bout and ruining the new grass. In fact the crowd was more than expected. 5 mins before kick-off there were about 10 hardy souls in the ground then suddenly there is a big rush as if the evening bus from Sennen had just disgorged a load of passengers outside the gates.

The 2nd half gets under way and it is only a few minutes old when we have one of those goals yousee only once a season. A screamer from Pz's Tom Withercomb. A belter from all of 40-45yds out that even a Premiership goalie wouldn't get too. Strait in to the goal like a bullet.

A few moments later Sennen are reduced to 10 players as they have 3 walking wounded incuding their goalie. So they have a swop about and Jevens goes in goal for the last 35mins of the game.

Pz start forcing the game but it is like tit for tat attack wise. Pz are caught a few times with iffy off-sides. Sennen goalie makes a good double save as the game goes into the last quarter. Pz pressing now and get a 4th when the ball is crossed over fora simple head in from 10yds by Howard Vorne.

More end to end follows with Sennen playing better with 10 players than with 11 but that often happens. The ref blows for full time and it's well done all round.

Sennen gave Pz a good game and for a ong period looked like they were going to go away with a fine scalp. They never gave up and will do well. Pz changed their formation from their game against Pendeen and had Matty Fox up front who made quite a difference. They won't shake up the Combo yet but still have one more friendly to sort it out.