Praze 4
Porthleven 1
PORTHLEVEN lost their unbeaten record and a place in the Western Section area final of the Junior Cup after a comprehensive defeat by Praze in a semi-final replay.
However, the result was overshadowed by the death later in the evening of Praze's Gareth Caddy who died as the result of a car accident.
Praze had earned this replay with a backs to the wall performance and were determined not to lose the advantage they had gained.
On a heavy pitch and with a strong wind behind them, straight from the kick-off Praze competed for every ball and pushed Port back into their own half, but gradually Port got back into the game with Ashley Stidwell and Gary Chambers working the flanks well and giving the Praze defence a few problems.
The trouble was that, with enforced changes to the Port side, it left them struggling to trouble the Praze 'keeper .
As hard as Port worked, Praze worked harder and were unlucky not to go ahead on the half hour when a scuffed shot across the Port goal hit the post but was cleared before the Praze forwards could pounce.
Port's 'keeper Steve De'ath was the busier of the two 'keepers, but was in fine form, and Port would have felt they had weathered the storm as the half came to an end.
Neither manager could have predicted what the next 45 minutes served up. Port, now with the wind behind them, were out of the traps faster, but trying to play their neat interpassing game played into the hands of the Praze midfield and they continually pressurised the Port players into giving the ball away.
The first goal came from one such mistake, and Jewell scored from 10 yards. Port came back in style and a header from Clayton Reynolds just cleared the bar and a couple of shots caused Wyatt a bit of anxiety, but Praze now had their tails up, and the wind in their faces dropped to a breeze.
Another mistake by the Port defence allowed Praze to score their second when Mark Miller hit an unstoppable 20 yard shot into the back of the net.
Port pushed forward to get back into the match, but left too many gaps, and Praze gratefully exploited them.
The third and crucial goal was scored by Caddy after neat approach work from his team-mates and the fourth came from the penalty spot scored by the Praze 'keeper Wyatt.
There was still time for Port to score a consolation goal from a deflected Andy Mills shot.
The match was well refereed by Steve Rose and played in a sporting manner, but the Port management will be bitterly disappointed with the performance and result.
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