WENDRON 1 PORTHLEVEN 4

ON a miserable afternoon weather wise, Porthleven brightened up the proceedings with a comprehensive 4-1 win to continue their passage towards the Whirlwind Sports Falmouth-Helston League title.

With their main rivals also winning, it will ensure Port keep focused and don't become complacent.

Port started well and pinned Wendron back in their half but had to be aware of the counter attacks that occasionally came their way.

With Stu Yates, Ashley Stidwell and Paddy Gardner in good form they restricted Wendron to long range shots only.

With the prompting of Steve Williams, Dan Stidwell and Tom Wadsworth caused many problems for the Wendron defence and it was in a quickfire move by these three that Wadsworth was bought down in the box by the 'keeper and Stidwell duly dispatched the penalty to put Port 1-0 up.

Playing some neat one-touch football Williams broke away from his marker and hit a sweet shot towards the top corner, but the Wendron 'keeper pulled off a terrific save. On 20 minutes gone Wendron broke from their shackles, but young Wortley saved well, albeit with his feet and the chance was missed.

The half continued with mostly one- way traffic, and Stidwell went close with a fine header that grazed the bar from a cross by skipper Clayton Reynolds.

Wendron replied with a good move of their own but again failed to hit the target and just as the half was coming to an end a fall after a heavy tackle on Asley Stidwell caused some concern, but after treatment it seemed it was only badly twisted and he was replaced by evergreen Phil Chambers as the whistle blew for the break.

Wendron were out of the blocks first in the second half after a good pep talk and had the Port defenders working over-time, but as they pushed on, gaps appeared in their defence and on 49 minutes Stidwell made a break down the left and his shot was turned past the Wendron 'keeper by a defender for an own goal to put Port 2-0 in ahead.

This was the start of some great football by the Port players and it culminated in the goal of the game as on the hour Williams and Stidwell combined to set up Wadsworth and he finished with a neat shot into the bottom corner.

Tempers got a bit frayed for a ten minute period, but the referee used commonsense to ease the tension. Both sides made changes to freshen things up and it was one of Port's who got their fourth as they continued to press when Andy Mills was on hand at the far post to tap in as the ball bounced across the goal-line from a corner.

With five minutes remaining Wendron snapped up a consolation goal as Gardner turned a speculative shot into his own net.

Port play Falmouth Albion at Penryn tomorrow, Thursday, in the semi-final of the Lockhart Cup, kick off 6.15 pm.