Penzance v St Ives Report

[cornishteddyboy]

Cornwall Combination League

7th April 2009

Penzance 0-1 St Ives Town

Penzance finished off their home league programme in what was probably the poorest game seen at Penlee Park this season. The Magpies and their opponents, St Ives, did little to cheer a sparse crowd huddled in the stand to avoid the incessant rain blown in by a strong wind.

There were few goalmouth chances and the game had that end of season feel with St Ives taking all three points, completing the league double over Penzance, with a mistake in the home sides defence.

St Ives kick off into the rain and for the first 15minutes the ball spends most of it’s time being knocked around the middle of the park with neither team getting a chance on goal. St Ives get caught off-side a couple of times, a theme that was to continue all game.

Finally Penzance work the ball right to left along their front players until it reaches Ross Badcock. He tries a 30yd curler that beats the keeper but goes wide of the near post.

Penzance with the wind at their backs are pushing forward forcing St Ives to make mistakes. A free kick, 35yds out on the right is floated in and the St Ives keeper has to get down smartly to push it away for a corner.

St Ives finally beat the off-side trap, breaking right. The keeper comes out forcing the player wide and he half turns and knocks the ball goalward only to see it roll past the upright.

Penzance get the ball into the back of the net but it doesn’t count. They work right, cross into the box where Gary Matthews on the goaline at the back post fires in an acute angled volley but the flag goes up immediately for off-side. A few moments later they again go close as they break left. The ball is knocked in low and Wade Brown goes sliding in but knocks the ball just wide of the post.

The ref blows for half-time having played an extra 4mins for a couple of stops for minor injuries.

H-T

Penzance make a substitution at the start of the half bringing on Ryan Holland for Brown.

Penzance have the first half-chance of the half when they break left, cross into the middle where Badcock volleys past the post from 25yds out.

St Ives get a corner on the right. The ball comes in high curling in the wind and has to be headed off the line and away for another corner. This one comes in and it’s a game of ping-pong as it bounces around the box with a final shot whistling just wide of the post.

St Ives make a substitution bringing on veteran striker Andy Trathen for Alfie Turner, whilst a few minutes later Penzance swap Liam Bennett for Badcock.

The only goal of the game is scored on 70mins. A goal kick from Penzance keeper Craig Nicholls falls short, dropping at the feet of Darren Steadman who accelerates past the stranded Nicholls and fires into an empty net to make it 0-1.

Penzance try to get back on level terms but the only notable chance is a header just over the bar by John Ludlam following a corner.

St Ives bring on player/manager John Simpson to bolster their defence and in the final ten minutes have a couple of players booked for rough tackles including Simpson, himself.

The ref brings the game to a close after playing a couple of extra minutes.

There is no Penzance Man of the Match unfortunately as no-one stood out. The weather didn’t help matters but it was a poor performance from a team lying in 6th place in the league. Penzance have 5 away matches left to the end of the season, a couple of them tough games and will find that they will need to step up to the plate to stay near the top of the league.

Penzance – Craig Nicholls, Darren Holsey, Liam Devine, Ross Badcock, Wade Brown, Gary Matthews, Ashley Thomas, Steve Hancock, Bradley Wills, John Ludlam, Mark Hollands

Subs – Ryan Holland (Brown 45), Liam Bennett (Badcock 61), Tom Hosking, James England, Charlie Penny, Ryan Andrew

Corners - Penzance 8-4 St Ives (5-2 1st half)

Crowd - 59