Cally's storming comeback proves in vain against title rivals Penzance

PENZANCE completed a fantastic week for them as they held on to beat promotion rivals Callington in a hard-fought and hugely entertaining clash at Ginsters Marsh on Saturday.

The result completed a hat-trick of away wins for the Magpies against teams in the top four after beating Sticker and AFC St Austell 1-0 earlier in the week.

But it was a close call as Callington fought back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to almost salvage a point with a storming second half display.

It took a brilliant save from Harry Salmon in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to deny JJ Gill an equaliser.

Joint manager Dean Southcott acknowledged that it had been a good second half performance but added: “We gave ourselves too much to do. You can’t give a team like Penzance a 2-0 advantage in the first half.”

It was a game of two halves from Penzance, who looked every inch a title-chasing team in a commanding first 45, only to be left hanging on after the restart.

The West Cornwall side had started the game strongly and it took a superb close-range save from Jake Mead-Crebbin to deny Jacob Trudgeon a 14th minute goal, but two minutes later Penzance were ahead when James Butler ran in from the left to convert a right wing cross.

Before Cally had had time to respond it was 2-0 as a sweeping move along the right ended with Charlie Willis arriving on the edge of the penalty area to steer a powerful shot past Mead-Crebbin.

Penzance are good on the eye and their passing football could have brought another goal or two before half-time.

But the long-held belief that 2-0 can be a dangerous lead was underlined in the third minute of time added on when Cally almost reduced the arrears. Dan Alford delivered a perfect cross from the right for Calum Courts, but he lifted his effort over the bar from six yards when he seemed certain to score.

That miss emphasised a frustrating half for Callington, whose dressing room door did well to stay on its hinges as players and coaches went in for their half-time ‘analysis’.

Whatever was said, it had an effect, aided by injuries to Penzance player-manager Mark Vercesi, who was forced off two minutes into the restart, and Butler, who fell awkwardly and had to be replaced soon after.

Callington again created a gilt-edged chance in the 51st minute with the lively Alford providing another cross from the right which left Kieran Prescott with a tap-in. But somehow he sent his effort wide.

Joe Preece, who became an increasing threat on the left, missed a great opportunity five minutes later before Willis, at the other end, came close to making it 3-0 with a 20-yard volley which swerved inches wide.

Cally finally reduced the arrears in the 69th minute when a dagger-like ball from inside his own half by Sam Hill picked out Harry Southcott, whose clever back-flick looped over Salmon into the net.

With 20 minutes to go it was very much game on and should have been 2-2 five minutes later when a great run and cross wide on the left by Preece picked out the unmarked Alford, but he directed his header just wide with Salmon beaten.

Preece delivered another sumptuous cross from the left byline in the 80th minute which drifted across the six-yard box with no Callington player able to get on the end of it for a tap-in.

The pressure from Cally was relentless and with three minutes to go a corner from the left picked out Courts on the far post, but his header crashed against the post.

There was one last chance for the home side to rescue a point and it came in the last minute of five added on when substitute JJ Gill was found in the penalty area and seemed certain to score before Salmon made a point-blank save.

CALLINGTON TOWN: Jake Mead-Crebbin; George Soper (JJ Gill, 62), Connor Pritchard (Ben Langton, 79), Ed Harrison (Harry Barnes, 90+2), Harry Southcott (capt – Elliot Haxell, 84), Sam Hill, Joe Preece, Calum Courts, Kieran Prescott, Dan Alford, Callum McDonnell. Sub not used: Huck Enticknap.

PENZANCE: Harry Salmon; Archie Reynolds, Ben Palmer, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Ewan Trevains, Tyler Tonkin (capt), Jacob Trudgeon, Charlie Willis, Mark Vercesi (Wade Brown, 52), Steve Burt, James Butler (George Molcher, 58). Subs not used: Kai Baxter, Alfie Turner, Will Trenoweth (gk).

Men-of-the-match: Callington Town – Dan Alford; Penzance – Archie Reynolds.