Mousehole 2 Liskeard Athletic 1

Liskeard’s proud 17-match unbeaten record disappeared in the fog of Trungle Parc on Saturday as Mousehole produced a commanding performance to take all three points.

The match was not without its controversy, especially in the 70th minute when Liskeard claimed that substitute Sam Rogers’ header was a foot over the line before a Mousehole defender cleared.

But the home club’s assistant referee ruled that the whole of the ball did not cross the line.

The result meant Liskeard were knocked down to second place by Porthleven, who won 4-0 at Bere Alston and are two points clear, having played two more games than the Blues.

Mousehole must also be considered as title contenders. They are five points behind Liskeard, although they have played a game more.

The Blues had started South West Peninsula League division one west’s match of the day strongly, with James Lorenz’s 46th goal of the season putting them ahead after 15 minutes.

It should have been 2-0 four minutes later but striker Ben Waters, preferred to Sam Rogers alongside Lorenz, pulled his shot inches wide of a gaping goal after good work by Rob Cleveland and Macauley Thorp along the left.

As the half wore on, Mousehole took control and after having two penalty appeals rejected and missing an open goal, they equalised three minutes before the break with a deflected cross which gave Liskeard goalkeeper Jamie Blatchford no chance.

The fog which rolled in from the sea during the break made it difficult for spectators to follow the second half action, especially as both teams’ kits (Mousehole all green and Liskeard all blue) looked very similar in the increasing gloom.

But there was just enough light from the halfway line to see Gerens James fire past Blatchford to put Mousehole ahead in the 51st minute after a failure to clear the ball on the right side of Liskeard’s penalty area.

Liskeard’s Blatchford was much the busier keeper in the last half hour, making a number of excellent saves to deny Mousehole more goals, but the Blues had their moments, especially when Rogers was introduced in the 65th minute.

Within a minute of being on the field, the striker produced a volley from 30 yards which beat the Millbrook keeper but bounced inches wide.

Mousehole finished the game strongly, however, and were worthy winners.

Liskeard: J Blatchford, A King, R Cleveland, J Podmore, D Peel, M Thorp (J Discombe 82), L Johnson, J Lorenz, B Waters (S Rogers 65), J Woods, B Collins.

Yellow cards: M Thorp (41), J Podmore (70), L Johnson (79).

Cornish Times Man of the Match: Dylan Peel.