Cornwall Senior Cup: Wendron United 3-1 Porthleven

JACK Stocker scored twice as Wendron United beat Porthleven to reach the semi-finals of the Cornwall Senior Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday.

Stocker opened the scoring with a beautiful shot into the top corner, only for Port to draw level instantly via Rob Carey.

But Stocker restored the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot a few minutes later before Cameron Wheat doubled the advantage just before the break.

The Dron missed a hatful of chances to extend their lead in the second half, but they held on to book their place in the final four for the very first time.

It was an excellent day on the pitch for the club, with the second team winning 4-2 at Penryn Athletic to reach the semi-finals of the Combination League Cup, but celebrations at full-time were overshadowed by club chairman Kevin Williamson being airlifted to hospital shortly after the final whistle at Underlane.

The heavy snow on Thursday cast some doubt over whether the game would be played, even though west Cornwall was not as affected as the rest of the county. A pitch inspection at 11am confirmed that the game would go ahead.

Wendron flew out of the traps and striker Rory Jarvis found himself one-on-one with Porthleven ‘keeper Steve Parker-Billinge but pulled his shot wide of the far post in what was the first of numerous battles between the two.

It was an otherwise end-to-end opening 20 minutes with Tornado Bello being snuffed out by Wendron ‘keeper Dan Stedman before a vital interception of the resulting clearance by Scott Kellow prevented Jarvis from nipping in at the other end.

The Fishermen’s top-scorer Matt Drummond then volleyed wide following a free-kick before Jarvis again sped past the defence and in on goal, but Parker-Billinge stood firm and blocked the shot.

The Porthleven custodian repeated the trick midway through the half before Bello blazed a shot well over Stedman’s crossbar.

But the first goal then arrived on 28 minutes and in some style, with Stocker picking the ball up on the edge of the box and curling it into the very top corner, with Parker-Billinge only able to stand and watch.

But the visitors responded straight from the restart with Carey hammering Bello’s cross into the bottom corner from inside the box a matter of moments after Stocker’s strike.

But they weren’t level for long, with Wendron being awarded a penalty seven minutes later when Parker-Billinge clattered into the advancing Stocker. The midfielder assumed penalty taking responsibility and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The hosts were in dreamland soon after when Jarvis went on another run down the right flank and forced yet another save out of Parker-Billinge, but this time Wheat was on hand to drive home the rebound to give Wendron a two-goal cushion at the break.

The home side were not about to sit on their 3-1 lead and came out firing after the break, with Stocker the latest to be denied by Parker-Billinge.

The Fishermen were beginning to build some sustained pressure in the Wendron third but were struggling to test Stedman, other than a free-kick from Bello that went straight down the throat of the Wendron 'keeper.

Dron missed a massive chance to put the game out of sight with 20 minutes to go when a missed header allowed Jarvis to bear down on goal, but the forward was still unable to put his shot past Parker-Billinge.

Porthleven did all they could in the final few minutes to keep their slim cup hopes alive, but every pass and every hopeful cross was dealt with by the home defence.

Wendron will be the only non-SWPL Premier club in next month’s semi-finals, joining Falmouth Town, St Austell and either Saltash United or Bodmin Town in the last four.

Wendron: D Stedman, J Souch, R Carroll, J Webb, S Humphries, T Martin, B Ringrose, J Stocker, T Walter (C Mulroy 82), R Jarvis, C Wheat (F Robinson 69). Subs (unused): S Palmer, J Burtenshaw, Y Briar.

Porthleven: S Parker-Billinge, P Reynolds (K Fraser HT), J Sims, S Kellow (D McGee 65), J Greet, H Dark, T Bello, J Adlard (M Everard 78), R Carey, M Drummond, G Molcher. Subs (unused): J Lugg.

• Both sides are in Cornwall Charity Cup quarter-final action next Saturday. Wendron host Liskeard Athletic and Porthleven welcome Illogan RBL to Gala Parc (kick-offs 2pm).