Tuesday 10th March 2009

Perranporth - 0 - 2 - St. Austell - Westinsure Senior Cup Semi-Final

Perranporth will resume their quest for the Combination League title this weekend after their cup adventure was brought to an end by St. Austell on Tuesday night. It has been a remarkable run by the Ponsmere Valley club, who eliminated three division one clubs along the way to the semi-finals. And only a Dean Harris own goal and a Mike Body wonder strike was the difference between Perran and division one promotion chasers St. Austell. Referee Peter Grenfell handed out seven bookings during a real blood and thunder clash at Newquay's Mount Wise ground, and it threatened to boil over on several occasions. But an element of good fortune and a moment of class proved Perranporth's undoing. "The lads are absolutely gutted," admitted joint player-manager Ian Gosling. "There was nothing in it and they got the break with an own goal. "I think over the 90 minutes St. Austell were the better team and I don't think we can have any complaints." Perranporth were without injured duo Mike Cain (shoulder) and Justin Andrew (hamstring) against the Lilywhites, while former Falmouth Town midfielder Matt Moore was cup-tied. They were however, able to name full-back Greg Butcher on the bench after 18 months out with a knee injury. Cain, Andrew and Moore will be fit to line up this weekend, though, when the Combination League leaders travel to second-placed Illogan. Victory at Oxland Parc would move Perranporth another step closer to SWPL division one football next season. And after giving St. Austell a reall run for their money on Tuesday night, making the step up would surely hold few fears for Perranporth. They were unlucky not to take the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Gosling's quick free-kick found Harris at the near post but the midfielder's effort appeared to be deflected wide by a St. Austell defender only for the referee to award a goal kick. Lilywhites' goalkeeper Gary Penhaligon was almost caught out moments later when Kayne Trevaskis' low shot took a deflection off two defenders. Perranporth's defenders were proving just as resilient at the other end as Sam Moustrides deflected Body's shot over the bar. Then, after a darting run by Will Tinsley down the left, the ball was then fed into St. Austell striker Dan Nancarrow, who fired over from 12 yards out. On the stroke of half-time Harris and Bradley Ralph were booked for an off the ball incident and both sides were still remonstrating with each other on their way back to the changing rooms. Nancarrow's turn and shot almost found its way past Perranporth goalkeeper Andy Butcher minutes after the re-start. But just moments later St. Austell took a 50th minute lead when Nancarrow's cross was steered into his own net by Harris. It was rough justice on the hard-working midfielder, who Gosling revealed has been on of Perranporth's best players this season. Harris had a chance to make amends when he turned Gosling's free-kick goalwards but Penhaligon did well to tip the ball on to the roof of the net. But that was the closest Perranporth came to levelling as St. Austell took control. A low effort from Body was tipped wide by Butcher and from the resulting corner Ralph headed Jay Isbell's corner wide. Body effectively put the game beyond Perranporth and book St. Austell's place in the Easter Monday final with a superb volley into the top corner.

Source: West Briton


Sunday 22nd March 2009

Perranporth - 3 - 1 - St. Just - Jollys Cornwall Combination League Cup Semi-Final

Perranporth's hopes of clinching a league and cup double remain very much alive after Sunday's Combination League Cup semi-final win over St. Just at Bickland Park. It turned out to be a comfortable afternoon's work for the league leaders, who play the winners of this Sunday's other tie between Penzance reserves and Perranwell (3pm at Hayle). There was even more reason to cheer at the weekend after second place Illogan, who have now played three games more than Perran, went down to a 5 - 3 defeat at Penzance. Despite the heat of the Falmouth sunshine, Perranporth never looked like breaking a sweat to book their place in the League Cup final for the first time in the club's history. Mike Cain epitomised the captain's role, leading by example with two goals and a defensive performance that kept St. Just's forwards safely under wraps. Player-manager Ian Gosling admits the last few weeks have taken it out of his side following their recent top-of-the-table clash with Illogan and their Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final exit to St. Austell. But they showed few mental or physical scars on Sunday as they produced a workmanlike display, much to the delight of joint player-manager Rusty Rowson. He said "It's been a tough few weeks but we've come through that and we did what we needed today. "We did well but I still thought we were capable of moving up another gear. "It's great to reach a cup final, but now we have to focus on the league. "We still have another 15 games to play so there is still a long way to go." This has arguably been Perranporth's toughest month of the season so far and it shows no sign of easing with a testing trip to fourth-placed Helston this weekend. Gosling and Rowson will hope to have Cain fit for the clash. The defender played on with a severely swollen ankle on Sunday, while Alex Arquati should be available after suffering concussion against St. Just. Arquati rarely gets an easy time against opposing defenders and his afternoon lasted only 43 minutes before the dazed striker was withdrawn from the action. After Andrew Curnow had saved well from Bryan Hawke early on, Perranporth took the lead in the 16th minute when Cain planted his header past Curnow from Gosling's free kick on the right. That lead could have been doubled immediately after the restart when Curnow then pulled off another stop to thwart Rowson. Substitute Justin Andrew, just moments after replacing Arquati, should have made it two when he went for power over precision when he blasted over with just Curnow to beat. But with less than a minute of the second half played , substitute Kayne Trevaskis, a half time replacement for Ben Goldring, fired in off the post from the edge of the area to put the game beyond St. Just. Perranporth produced several more good chances to score, before Cain added his second and his side's third goal in the 61st minute, using his aerial prowess again to head past Curnow from Rowson's corner. Tom Mannering crashed an effort off the bar for St. Just in the 77th minute. But to their credit, they stuck at it and were finally rewarded when skipper Neil Curnow stroked home a penalty in the 89th minute after he was upended in the area by substitute Lee Dark. That was good as it got for St. Just, whose torrid afternoon was compounded when Charlie Jamieson was sent off in injury time for dissent.

Source: West Briton