PENZANCE 3 PORTHLEVEN 1

THIS was a much closer game than the scoreline suggests and it wasn't until the final stages of the match that Penzance made certain of all three Jolly's Combination League points.

Porthleven were more than a match for their opponents, but on a heavy Penlee Park pitch the home side's physical presence eventually proved the difference.

Porthleven made a bright start and Lee Gribble saw his shot deflected for a corner after working a one-two with Dean Bray.

The home side took the lead after 17 minutes when they won possession and fed Gavin Edwards who gave John Sullivan no chance with his shot from the edge of the box.

A minute later Porthleven were almost back on level terms when Mark Conniff did well and got the ball into the box but it passed between a defender and Matt Gendall.

Craig Bray and Gendall fashioned a chance for Paolo Lopez, but he thumped his shot into the sidenetting. Lopez put that disappointment behind him by having a hand in the equaliser after 21 minutes when Lopez did well to hold off a defender as he ran on to Dean Bray's long ball and crossed for Gendall to give Paul Williams no chance with a volley.

Dwayne Britton could have put Penzance in front when a cross to the far post eluded Port's defenders, but Andy Mills made a terrific last-ditch tackle to deny him the chance.

Just before the break Dean Bray had a fine shot saved by Williams whilst right after half-time it was Sullivan's turn to keep his side in the game with a great tip around the post from Britton.

The match was there to be won and Lopez almost did the trick for Port when he picked up Gribble's pass and thumped his shot against a post.

The crucial second goal saw Dame Fortune smile on the Magpies. Phil Hancock made a great tackle on Edwards as he was about to shoot, but the ball broke into the path of the only other Penzance player in the box, Ashley Thomas, who rapped the ball home.

Port hit back with Craig Bray volleying over the bar, but with just minutes to go Penzance ensured all three points when Neil Payne raced away and knocked over a cross that Edwards tapped in from close range after the ball dissected the goalkeeper and a defender.

"I was disappointed with the result, but not the performance," said manager Gary Pascoe. "I thought we played very well throughout against one of the best sides in the league. We lost heavily to them at home, but I thought we matched them this time round and only lost out because of their pure physical presence in the heavy conditions."

Porthleven: J Sullivan, G Pascoe, P Hancock, A Mills, L Gribble, D Phillips, D Bray, M Conniff, C Bray, P Lopez, M Gendall. Subs: D Stidwell, G Braunton, P Curnow.