PORTHLEVEN moved back to the top of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division One (west) with this convincing victory over Truro Reserves.

Two excellent strikes from Darren Burchell and a solo effort from Richard Young were the highlights in a match which reaffirmed the Fishermen’s title credentials.

The match was moved forward from Saturday at Port’s request. This is because the Fishermen would have struggled to get a side together last weekend because the majority of the players were away on a Stag Do in Dublin.

While the Fishermen thanked Truro for their co-operation in switching the tie to Wednesday night their gratitude did not extend onto the pitch as they punished a City side struggling for form with five second-half goals.

In fact if it wasn’t for an excellent performance from City keeper Dan Stevenson the Port team would have been toasting an even bigger win in the Irish capital.

Stevenson was called into action twice in the opening exchanges. First Matt Thirkle picked up the ball and fired in a shot from distance which he tipped away and then Darren Burchell played the ball to Stuart Reynolds who squared the ball to Thirkle who, this time was denied by the keeper’s feet.

However, against the run of play City went 1-0 up. Martyn Moon took a free-kick from about 30 yards out. His low drive wasn’t dealt with by the Port defence allowing Sam Cooper to fire a first-time shot past Danny Burrows.

Ten minutes later and it was all-square. A good ball from Kevin Lawrence picked out Burchell and as the defence stood off him he picked his spot and placed an unstoppable finish into the net from outside the area.

The final action of the half saw Burrows keep Port on level terms with and excellent save from a swerving and dipping shot from 30 yards.

If the first-half had been rather even the second certainly wasn’t as Port dominated the play.

New signing Reynolds should have put his side infront when Thrikle crossed to him only for the former Penzance player to fire over.

However, Burchell was more clinical on 60 minutes when he fired in another good effort. This time, 25 yards out, he curled a shot into the back of the net which left Stevenson with no chance.

Reynolds then got his name on the scoresheet when Lee Bradd played the ball into him. He twisted and turned their defender before firing into the bottom corner of the goal.

Port then had three more chances to extend the lead as Reynolds had a shot deflected over, Liam Eddy hit wide from ten yards and Thrikle drove over after finding space.

However, with six minutes to go Josh Kemp played a hopeful ball forward and the impressive Reynolds nodded the ball onto Thirkle who fired past Stevenson.

Then three minutes later, as Truro began to tire, Richard Young picked up the ball in his own half before beating three players and hitting a right foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

A mistake by the City defence then allowed Kevin Lawrence to picked up the ball and as he ran at the keeper he managed to side step his challenge and play the ball to Mike Vains who ran the ball into an empty net.

Port’s next match will be in the Cornwall Senior Cup this weekend against Millbrook. The team is hoping to recall Matt Laity back to the first team squad following cruciate ligament damage that has seen him out of the game from the past two years.