Saturday, May 29

St Piran League Cup Final at Wendron United FC

Polperro 0

Penryn Athletic 2

THE amazing heroics of Polperro goalkeeper Mike Rickard were not enough to save Polperro from defeat in this entertaining cup final in the sunshine at Wendron Football Club, writes Nigel Walrond.

The choice of neutral ground by the league committee was an interesting one, being just a couple of miles up the road from Penryn, whereas Polperro had to battle their way through the heavy Bank Holiday traffic.

However, Pol can have few complaints about the result, with Rickard pulling off a series of outstanding saves, and also keeping out a second-half penalty.

That said, if Polperro had taken three great chances that came soon after Penryn had taken the lead after only 81 seconds, it could have been a very different story.

A good crowd turned out to see the St Piran season finale, with Polperro playing downhill in the first half.

Penryn, saying farewell to the league after their acceptance into the South West Peninsula League for next season, made a cracking start.

Rickard pulled off a great save to deny Penryn striker Ryan Reeve after only 46 seconds, but the ball went out for a corner, and when Polperro failed to clear their lines, the ball popped up for Jack Rapsey to head home in front of watching dad Mark, the Cornish football legend and former Penryn and Falmouth Town striker.

Only 81 seconds had elapsed when the goal went in, but Polperro could have been 3-1 up 10 minutes later.

After five minutes, Rob Spencer’s lovely ball in behind the Penryn defence found Jayden Gilbert, who drew goalkeeper Jason Peters but then put his shot beyond the far post.

A minute later, Peters produced a fine save to keep out a right-foot shot from Gilbert, and six minutes after that, Peters rushed out to the edge of the area to block a Cameron Patterson effort.

Penryn then started to take control and their chances started to pile up.

Bradley Leivers headed just wide from a cross, while Rickard pulled off excellent saves from both Kegan McPhilbin and Morgan Vallejo.

Three minutes before the break, Rickard was at it again, denying Ryan Reeve’s turn and shot, and when the ball back into the box hit the woodwork, Rickard kept out the rebound from Vallejo at his near post.

Polperro almost equalised in first-half injury time after Patterson showed great control to bring down a long ball forward, but Peters once more managed a fine save to send Penryn into the dressing rooms at half-time 1-0 in front.

In truth, Polperro never really looked like getting back into it in the second half, though Penryn were never safe while the scoreline remained at 1-0.

Rapsey saw his shot hit both of Rickard’s legs before Vallejo sidefooted wide from 10 yards.

Penryn were then awarded a penalty in the 57th minute when Mark Puckey was adjudged to have brought down Reeve as he advanced into the box.

Rickard dived to his right to superbly keep out Reeve’s spot kick, the striker’s rebound was then cleared off the line, before Rickard tipped another follow-up effort over the crossbar.

Reeve – who had scored in every game in the cup before the final – was getting visibly frustrated as Rickard once more thwarted him.

Substitute Liam Faulkner had a rare second-half shot on goal for Polperro on the hour mark, firing just over the bar, before the Rickard show resumed at the other end as he again used his legs to deny Leivers.

Reeve produced a great turn but saw his angled shot fly wide of the far post, but he finally got the goal he so desired in the 71st minute when he turned in a cross from the left by the impressive Leivers.

Rickard stopped the scoreline getting any worse with another excellent save from Reeve, while Rapsey hit a 25-yard thunderbolt just over the bar.

Patterson and Jayden Gilbert went close for Pol, and if one had gone in it could have set up an interesting finale, but Penryn were very worthy winners and celebrated their success in style at the end, with the champagne flowing freely.