Penzance Reserves v Helston Athletic Report

[cornishteddyboy]

Cornwall Combination League

20th December 2008

Penzance Reserves 1-2 Helston Athletic

A late Ashley Thomas goal was not enough to save a lack-lustre Penzance from losing at home to a weakened Helston Athletic. Both teams had regulars out through injury and illness but it was Helston who got a goal in each half to be the Magpies.

At one time the game did not look like going ahead as referee Dave Windle from St Just injured himself and Helston refused to play using an alternative ref. In the end the ref agreed to play the match and had a good game as he hobbled around the pitch.

Penzance have the first chance to score but Ashley Thomas scoops a shot from the edge of the box and it flies up and away.

Then Helston show us how good they are on the break when they thread the ball through the middle to Mark Goldsworthy, who turns and shoots just wide of the post. A few minutes later the same player puts Helston in front. Penzance get a throw, lose the ball on the edge of the box, Helston then pass into the box for Goldsworthy to turn 10yds out to place a volley low into the net. 0-1 after 17mins.

Moments later they nearly double their lead as they break from a Penzance attack, pass the ball up through the centre of the pitch into the box but Craig Nicholls runs out the forward gets a shot past him but luckily for Penzance, Charlie Penny manages to clear the ball off the line.

Penzance have a go with a couple of wasted long range efforts before Thomas on the right fires in a cross goal shot that goes just wide.

The final chance of the half for Helston is when once again they break a pass through the middle. A flicked ball is cleared of the line at the post by Liam Bennetts who picks up an injury from a tackle.

Ryan Holland of Penzance gets booked for a silly tackle from behind.

Penzance best chance of the match so far follows from a corner 32de the right. The ball is floated in and Steve Hancock manages to do a twisting ballerinas jump to volley the ball just over the bar.

H-T

The second half started off with Penzance showing more bite to their attacks but they were still being caught on the break by Helston.

Penzance break through into the box with Wade Brown and the Helston keeper Barry Hennessy makes a great grab for the ball of the line.

Helston almost get a second goal when a weak back-header to the keeper drops short but the shot goes over the bar. They also have another good chance when they break right to the goaline. The ball is crossed and only a fine save by Nicholls at the feet of two Helston forwards prevents a goal.

Penzance make a couple of substitutions and change formation to try to get back into the game. Thomas gets down the right to the edge of the box, fires a cross goal shot that just goes wide of the far post with the keeper beaten. Thomas is again down the right and a perfect cross sees Ian Philips head just wide from 6yds.

Then Helston get their second with a fine goal after catching Penzance on the break. A cross pitch ball to the right is knocked back across the goalmouth and Tom Sobey heads back across goal high into the net for his first of the season. 0-2 after 78mins.

Penzance make their last substitution and for once don’t relax for the last 10mins of a game.

Finally Thomas is rewarded for all his hard work with a late goal. He makes a solo run down the right into the corner of the box and fires a cross goal shot that goes in at the far post. 1-2 after 89mins.

Penzance push forward for the last couple of minutes looking for the equalizer but time runs out.

One bad point we noticed was the bickering between the Penzance team-mates at the back and we all know teams that moan about each other and to each other never will matches!!!

Penzance Man of the Match was Ashley Thomas. He worked hard all match with most of the Penzance’s threat coming from him down the right with his runs into the box and cross goal shots.

Penzance – Craig Nicholls, Ryan Holland, Darren Holsey, Gary Matthews, Ross Badcock, Steve Hancock, Wade Brown, Liam Bennett, Charlie Penny, Ashley Thomas, Ian Philips

Subs – Bradley Wills (Penny 56), Ashley Gray (Badcock 63), Tom Withecombe (Philips 78), James England

Corner count – Penzance 5-4 Helston (3-1 1st half)

Crowd – 38