ILLOGAN 1 MOUSEHOLE 0

THIS crucial Jolly's Combination League top-of-the-table clash between Illogan and Mousehole saw the leaders extend the gap at the top to five points and a game in hand on their rivals.

As was expected it was a close game, but Illogan could have won by a bigger margin had they enjoyed a slice of luck or their finishing had been a little better.

The visiting goalkeeper, Ben Nurse, also played his part in containing Illogan and that began as early as the sixth minute when he did well saving at the near post from Shane Richards.

The miss of the game came in the 15th minute when Stuart Peters picked up Darren Holsey's pass and hit a cross behind the 'keeper, but from only two yards Nick Medlin put the ball over the bar.

Barry Prowse tested Danny Burrows with a 25-yard shot, but it was one of the few occasions that they managed that in the first half.

Simon Ellis headed wide from a cross by Ryan Treloar and right on half time came the game's most controversial incident when Treloar's cross was handled by a defender and a corner given by referee Hawken.

Peter's free kick was headed off the goal line as Illogan made a bright start to the second half and then Nurse did well to save from Richards following another free kick from Peters.

Mousehole enjoyed another huge slice of good fortune in the 62nd minute when a long range shot from Tom Hogarth hit the bar and rebounded back down into the arms of the 'keeper.

However, their luck couldn't hold and three minutes later Peters played a free kick to Treloar who from the corner of the box hit a fine shot that Nurse got to and pushed away only to see the ball rebound off defender Calvin Snell and into the goal.

Both sides made changes as the clock ticked down, but Illogan kept a tight rein on things and deservedly collected three vital points.

Illogan: D Burrows, T Hogarth, D Holsey, A Clark, R Treloar, S Peters, N Medlin, S Ellis, R Bray, A Hill, S Richards. Subs: A Cowper, G Pitt, J Kemp.