PORTHLEVEN 2

LAUNCESTON 1

DESPITE being without eight first-choice players, Porthleven produced a determined performance to pull off a fine 2-1 win over Launceston in the Carlsberg SWL at Gala Parc.

Steve Taylor, Glen Williams, Ben Medlin, Jamie Burr, Sean Middleton, Jamie Thirkle, Tom Lamborn, and Fraser Cadman were all unavailable for selection for one reason or another.

Their absence was certain to affect Port's performance and for periods in the game that happened, but overall they showed a great willingness to work for each other and thoroughly deserved their victory.

As Port tried to settle into some sort of pattern, the Clarets had no such problem and had the better of the opening exchanges.

However, they came up against a resilient defence and the only half chance fell to John Allen who drove wide from Rob Blake's corner.

The Fishermen gradually began to get a foothold in the game and good football between Martin Day and Kevin Lawrence saw Paul Hider deal well with Day's dangerous cross.

Tom Shaughnessy's free kick was well saved by Hider, but the Clarets rediscovered their touch and started to dictate the pattern of the game.

That all changed on the half hour, when Porthleven scored against the run of play when Mike Davies appeared to be treading fresh air when awaiting Shaughnessy's free kick to arrive, which he met with a bullet-like header.

Ten minutes later, after playing with plenty of belief, Porthleven snapped up a second goal when Dan Stidwell made a superb run and crossed to the far post, when Nigel Thwaites headed in past Hider.

The Fishermen began to create openings and Stidwell drove over from Lawrence's free kick, and a Shaughnessy free kick was well saved by Hider.

Launceston began the second half in a positive fashion with Liam Tilley blazing a Blake corner wide of the target.

A well-timed block tackle by Hugh Howlett denied Tilley from shooting, but in the 55th minute Howlett was ruled to have handled in the box when he fell down. However, Steve Oliver's spot kick only threatened the seagulls circling the ground.

Stidwell looked to have opened up the defence again when he went round the 'keeper, but he ran out of ground and the chance was lost.

Paul Ainscough, playing his first SWL game for several seasons, had an impressive game and he made a crucial tackle to stop Lee Doncaster from shooting when in a good position.

Porthleven were denied what appeared to be a cast-iron penalty when Shaughnessy's cross to the far post saw Lawrence come to meet it, but he was pushed in the back with both hands by Matt Hutchins. Referee Russell Hale gave nothing, and the Clarets escaped lightly.

The visitors made changes in a bid to get back into the game, but Porthleven competed well with Stidwell twice going close with good efforts.

Not content with conceding one penalty, Porthleven conceded a second in the 90th minute although it looked nothing more than two players attempting to go for a 50-50 ball, but which the referee deemed was a foul by Damon Mulready. Doncaster scored from the spotkick, but it was too late to deny the Fishermen a victory they will certainly savour.

Tonight Porthleven are away to Wadebridge Town and on Saturday are home to St Austell.

Porthleven: N Mee, M Holland, M Day, H Howlett, D Mulready, N Thwaites, P Shaughnessy, D Stidwell, P Ainscough, M Davies, K Lawrence. Subs: G Chambers, A Stidwell.