Perranporth 2 Penryn Athletic 1

Saturday marked another disappointing result for Penryn whose patchy start to 2014 continued at blustery Ponsmere Valley with a 2-1 defeat against Perranporth. 

Reg Pearson scored both of Perranporth's goals, cancelling out Greg Hobbs's superb first minute opener and sending Penryn home empty handed.

Steve Jewell's side sit fifth in the table, some distance off a top three spot in division one west. Coupled with early exits from both the Senior and Throgmorton Cups, Penryn will probably welcome the summer break.

But there are eight league games left and Athletic still have pride, if not a promotion spot, to play for.

And against a Perranporth side featuring former striker Kayne Trevaskis they got off to the perfect start.

Right from the kick off the ball was laid back to defender Ben Oliver, who launched a searching ball forward for Ed Wilton to chest into the path of Greg Hobbs.

Hobbs launched a first-time shot from 35 yards out that rocketed over the head of Perranporth keeper Andy Butcher and into the back of the net.

The wind was already causiung both sides problems, as was the playing surface which was bumpy and uneven.

But Perranporth began to claw their way back into the game, and in the 24th minute they were back on equal terms when hard-working forward Paul Robertson held up play just outside the Penryn box.

Robertson slipped a fine ball inside for Reg Pearson to run on to, and he fired a low drive inside Chris Symons's far post.

Soon after the goal Penryn's Josh Hoon pulled up with an injury, and was replaced by veteran left back Will Scoley. 

The visitors' only other chance of note in a tepid first half came when Sean Johnston saw his snap-shot tipped over the bar by Butcher.

With the wind at their backs during the second half, many of Perranporth's attacks ended with the ball being overhit and going into touch at the Penryn end.

Elsewhere Penryn's Ed Wilton - a former Perranporth player - came in for some rough treatment from Sam Mousterides, and later Justin Miles, with both players cautioned for cynical fouls on their ex-team mate.

Both sides were finding conditions tough to deal with, but Symons had to be at his best to stop a fierce drive by Josh Burton, and an awkward dipping shot by Jack James.

Then in the 76th minute a Burton corner looped into the box somehow eluded a cluster of players gathered in the goal mouth and dropped to Reg Pearson at the far post. He stooped low to direct a header into the roof of the net for the winner.

Penryn will look to bounce back next weekend when they host Porthleven at Kernick Road.

Port are another side to have struggled with form since the turn of the year, and Penryn will be keen to avenge their Throgmorton Cup defeat against the Fishermen earlier in the season.

Penryn: C Symons, D Blizzard, R May, K Faulkner, B Oliver, J Hoon (W Scoley 29), S Johnston, E Wilton, G Hobbs, D Broglino (T Cooke 80), K Lawrence. Subs (not used): P Baldwin.