Pz v St Ives

[cornishteddyboy]

14th August 2010

Penzance Reserves 2-3 St Ives Town

St Ives thoroughly deserved their win over a depleted Magpies side in this pre-season friendly. They were quicker to the ball; their passing was sharper and were strong up front. Penzance telegraphed their passing, losing the ball easily at times and their attacking options seemed limited.

St Ives are the first to show and if it wasn’t for a goal line clearance by James Street would have gone in front within moments of the kick-off.

Penzance get their only early chance of the half when a shot is grabbed at the second attempt by the St Ives keeper.

From then on it is all one way traffic and manager Alan Spencer-Smith in goal for Penzance has a torrid time.

St Ives break, the ball is laid back but the shot goes over the bar. A free kick on the right is knocked over the box, put back in but seems to avoid everyone as it flashes along the line. Then a free kick on the left is flicked over the keeper, bounces off the bar and away to safety. A shot from a short corner whips past the bottom of the upright with the keeper beaten.

Finally the pressure pays off when Chris Lock gets a brace within 4mins of each other.

On 35mins Spencer-Smith kicks the ball short, the ball is unexpectedly passed back wrong footing him and Lock nips in to score low.

On 39mins St Ives thread the ball through the defence, Lock runs on past a couple of Magpies and shoots in from 6yds out to make it 0-2.

A couple of minute’s later Penzance pull a goal back. A free kick from the left is knocked long to the back of the box and Street gets his head to it to knock it in cross goal. 41mins 1-2.

H-T

Any hopes of Penzance getting back on level terms after the break were snuffed out when 5mins into the half St Ives score again. They work the ball right to left along the edge of the box until it reached Ross Duncan who nips in to put the ball in at the near post to make it 1-3.

This goal seems to spark Penzance as for the next 15mins they become the dominant team. From a corner the ball is laid back to Ross Badcock who shoots from 25yds forcing the keeper to palm away for a corner.

Just before the hour Penzance get their second. They break from the back, knock the ball in high which fools the defender, giving Badcock a chance to score with a rising shot from 10yds out. 59mins 2-3.

Penzance are reduced to 10 men due to injuries and St Ives push forward looking to increase their lead. After some knockabout round the middle of the park a strong shot bounces off the bar, down onto the line and is cleared to safety. They work right to left, break down the edge of the box, knock the ball in only to see it bounce once again off the crossbar and away.

Joint Penzance manager is so frustrated he goes to the changing room, gets a shirt and comes on for the last 5mins to try and bolster the Magpies defence.

In the last action of the half St Ives break right, cross, shoot at goal forcing Spencer-Smith to make a great palm away.

Thanks to ref, Grant Portafield, and his assistants Jamie Stevens and Doug Atkins for officiating.

Penzance – Alan Spencer-Smith, Adam Fletcher, Jimmy England, Ryan Andrew, Ryan Holland, Lewis Caspall, James Street, Tom Dann, Joe Day, Ross Badcock, Steve Winters, Ashley Tallon, Jason ???, Suggsy (???)

Corners – Penzance 3-12 St Ives (0-8 1st half)

Fouls conceded – Penzance 9-9 St Ives

Crowd – 39