FALMOUTH TOWN 1 PENRYN 2

FALMOUTH Town were left in bewilderment as to how they lost this Boxing Day Jolly's Combination League local derby against near rivals Penryn Athletic when after totally dominating the game for an hour they cruelly slipped to defeat in the last minute.

Town threw everything at Athletic right from the kick off and only goalkeeper Andy Avery kept them in the game.

Athletic's former first team stopper was brought in for the day to cover Symon Winnan who has a broken hand and it proved to be a masterstroke by Athletic boss Andy Parry as he pulled off stops in the first 20 minutes from Steve Procter, Darren Friend and Wayne Herrington.

Andy Westgarth had the ball in the net ten minutes later, but was denied by the offside flag and then the outstanding Tim Hooper shot inches wide.

Town were left reeling two minutes from half time when Paul Kneebone's route one ball through the middle found its way to Steve Brewer and the in-form striker found the net with a low drive.

It didn't deter the hosts and in the second half they came out firing on all cylinders with substitute Bobby Bryant, Procter and Luke Appleton all denied by some brave last gasp defending.

Athletic finally got a foothold in the game in the last half hour and the play became stretched as it flowed from end to end.

Dominic Pullen missed a couple of good chances to increase the lead before Town finally got the goal they so richly deserved. Westgarth's cross-shot was parried by Avery and man-of-the-match Hooper was on the spot to bundle the ball home.

Both sides went for the win and the goal that won it came in the 89th minute when Pullen's hopeful lob deflected off Duncan Gillett and looped agonisily over Matt Prynn and in under the bar for the visitors to steal all three points.

Town: Prynn, Roberts, Jennings, Gillett, Trezise, Herrington, Hooper, Appleton, Friend, Procter, Westgarth. Subs: Bryant, Opie, Rapsey.