PENRYN ATHLETIC 1

MOUSEHOLE 1

PENRYN Athletic sealed a dramatic victory to lift the Jolly's Combination League Cup as they held on to beat Mousehole in a sudden death penalty shoot-out at Illogan's Oxland Park. With the scores tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes and with no result after extra time, penalties were required way to decide the winners.

On a day where the weather befitted the occasion, drama was never far away.

The first half was an even affair with chances for both teams. The league's top scorer, Mousehole's Jowan May, had a few opportunities but could only manage to blaze over from the edge of the area after beating his defender.

Athletic took an early lead through Lee Bradd with only 12 minutes on the clock. Some good play down the left flank by Steve Warr followed by a beautifully weighted cross left Bradd to finish it off with a firm header at the back post.

Half time came and went and the action continued in the second half. Mousehole began to dominate and Athletic were left defending corner after corner as Mousehole pushed for the equaliser.

Athletic were restricted to counter attacking football and rare forays into the Mousehole half. Bradd had a few chances to extend his side's lead but shot wide and put a header just the wrong side of the post.

With ten minutes to go, Mousehole began to up the tempo and the Athletic defence was put under severe pressure with Paul Kneebone heading an effort off the line from another corner as the Seagulls sent everyone forward for the set pieces.

The tension was showing and so were the nerves on the Penryn coach's face as the referee signalled for five minutes of added time.

As the fifth minute of injury time ticked by, Atheltic's players, fans and coaches were checking the time and longing for the final whistle. However, it never came and the inevitable happened.

In the eighth minute of injury time, Mousehole won another corner. Everyone poured into the box, including Ben Nurse, the Mousehole 'keeper. The ball was whipped in and a frantic goalmouth scramble ensued. After a number of blocked shots and ricochets, the ball was headed down towards the Penryn goal. Before anyone could clear the ball, defender Gerens James flew in and bundled the ball over the line to spark wild celebrations amongst the Mousehole players and fans.

Those feelings were not shared by the Athletic players who were far from happy at the referee as he finally blew for full time.

Extra time continued in much the same fashion as the second half with Mousehole in the ascendancy and pushing for a belated winner.

Symon Winnan pulled off a fine double save to keep Athletic in the game and Mousehole had a goal ruled out for offside whilst striker Perran Reynolds hit the bar.

By the final ten minutes both teams looked completely shattered with few chances being created and a penalty shootout the final solution.

Both teams scored their first penalty, Penryn through Kneebone and Mousehole through Mark Vercesi. Dan Richardson and Kirk Davis scored their penalties for Penryn whilst Mark Trevail and Reynolds both missed for Mousehole to put Penryn within one penalty of the victory.

Mike Brewer stepped up for Atheltic but screwed his shot wide of the left post. Mousehole's Jon Tonkin drilled his penalty straight down the middle leaving the 'keeper with no chance and kept his side's dream alive.

One penalty was still enough to secure the win for Atheltic, but the pressure was showing and Warr saw his penalty saved by Ben Nurse. Jowan May scored Mousehole's final penalty to take it to sudden death.

Dave Thompson took the responsibility for Penryn and didn't let anyone down which left captain Kevlin Snell stepped up for Mousehole. His rocket of a penalty crashed back off the bar, much to the obvious delight of all the Penryn players and staff and to the dismay of his team-mates.

After two and a half hours of football, a weary Athletic side could finally celebrate the victory.

Atheltic: S Winnan, M Brewer, K Davies, N Grimshaw, P Kneebone, S Warr, D Thompson, W Scoley, L Bradd, S Brewer, D Martin. Subs: D Richardson, L Jeffery, J Tipton.