Goals from Jack Rapsey and Ryan Reeve secured the St Piran League Cup for Penryn Athletic as they defeated Polperro 2-0.
The game got off to a breathtaking start as Penryn looked dangerous from the outset. Within the first minute, a long ball caught out the Polperro backline and allowed Reeve to go through on goal. His low effort despite being powerful was well saved by the strong hands of Mike Rickard.
Ryn didn't have to wait much longer to break the deadlock as from the resulting corner the Kernick side took the lead. A dangerous delivery pinballed around the area as the Polperro defence struggled to clear their lines. The ball ricocheted up perfectly into the path of Jack Rapsey who nodded the ball home from close range.
Polperro immediately had three glorious chances to level within ten minutes but failed to convert any of them, Jayden Gilbert and Cameron Patterson were found guilty of missing gaping chances to get their side back in the game.
Penryn dominated the possession and in Reeve, they had a striker who looked dangerous every time he was played in behind the defence. The striker won a foul on the edge of the area in the 26th minute, but Jack Rapsey's low curling effort couldn't beat the goalkeeper.
The theme of Penryn possession domination continued after the break as they looked for that important second goal and they had a huge opportunity to in the 56th minute. Reeve was causing all sorts of problems again, his neat footwork drew a clumsy looking challenge from a Polperro defender to earn a penalty.
Reeve stepped up but saw his firmly hit shot well saved by Rickard, the rebound was hooked off the line before Rapsey bobbled a shot over the crossbar.
It looked like the second goal wasn't going to arrive for Penryn, and with each chance missed nerves increased for the Penryn faithful at Wendron.
That was until the 70th minute when Reeve finally got the goal his plucky performance deserved. Bradley Leivers did expertly well to get the ball out from under his feet to drive a wicked low cross into the area. The ball found Reeve who somehow was left unmarked from just outside the six yard box to tap in to put the result beyond doubt.
Speaking after the game Penryn Manager Harry Pope was elated that his dreams for the club when he joined had come true, he said:
"It's hard to put into words how I feel, right now I feel knackered I'm tired I've lost my voice but I'm over the moon. Three years ago when I came to Penryn I wanted to get us promoted to the Peninsula League, I wanted to win trophies. Covid put pay to that a little bit, but I'm living the dream right now!
"I thought we played well I thought we were the better side, on reflection I think we deserved it. Credit to Polperro they are very good at the way they play. We had some different stuff to deal with today and I think we dealt with it really well.
"I have got to give my lads a lot of credit. It is easy to lose concentration or get disheartened because the goal hasn't come but it came. Credit to my lads they deserve this one today."
Penryn will look to take this good form into next season where they will compete in the South West Peninsula League for the first time.
Goalscorers: Ryan Reeve, Jack Rapsey.
Falmouth Packet Man of the Match: Ryan Reeve.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here