PENZANCE 1 HONITON TOWN 1 aet (4-2 penalties)

Four nonchalantly taken penalties, and one acrobatic save from Mikey Flores. saw Penzance to an exhilarating penalty shootout success in the League Cup semi-final at Launceston on Wednesday night writes James Wright...

With 19 between them this season, the Magpies and opponents Honiton Town are the draw specialists of their respective divisions, so there was little surprise that spot kicks were required to separate them. The Devonians bossed the first ten minutes but, once they had settled, Penzance were the most creative side and had the clearer chances over the 120 minutes.

There were few opportunities of note in a nervy, cagey first half. Playing down the slope, Penzance made a forceful start to the second period with Charlie Willis having the game's first clear chance on the hour mark, but being denied by a brave block by a Honiton defender. The tigerish midfielder was not to be denied in the 70th minute however, running on to a lofted Charlie Young pass and closing in on keeper Scott Wells-Burr before beating him with a confident finish. The lead lasted just three minutes. Player-Manager Mark Vercesi, committed a foul and Honiton centre-forward Adam Pearse neatly tucked his penalty low to Flores's right.

The Magpies has the best chance to avert the additional half-hour but Jacob Trudgeon, a substitute for Curtis Smith, was denied by a fine save from an Archie Reynolds centre.

In extra-time Penzance again continued to edge it. The best chance fell to Charlie Young, connecting with a testing free-kick from his brother Sam, but again Wells-Burr saved impressively.

So it was on to the dreaded penalties, taken at Pennygillam’s car park end. Charlie Young set the tone for the shootout with a serene first strike. Though Jordan Harris and Aaron Pearse responded for Honiton, Jacob Trudgeon and Mark Vercesi kept Penzance's noses ahead. When Flores sprawled to his left to claw to safety Lewis Couch's attempt they had an advantage that Lewis Caspall reinforced with a confident fourth. Ben Turner's miss spared sixteen year old Brook Williams the pressure of having to take the final kick.

Penzance will face Cullompton Rangers in the final, again at Launceston, at 2pm on May Bank Holiday Monday.

Jessie Neilson speaks to Penzance Manager, Mark Vercesi following the victory over Honiton Town.

Penzance: Mikey Flores, Archie Reynolds, Curtis Smith (Jacob Trudgeon 75), Mark Vercesi, Chris Wormington, Silas Sullivan (captain), Kameron Collins (Brook Williams 108), Ollie Butler (Sam Young 65), Charlie Willis, Charlie Young, Lewis Caspall. Unused subs: Ewan Trevains, Will Trenoweth

Honiton: Scott Wells-Burr, Jake Sellick, Jack Smith, Dan Savage, Lewis Couch, Dan Tavender, Joe Chamberlain, Ben Turner, Aaron Pearse, Jordan Harris, Chris Long. Subs: Miles Barron, Jenson Phillips, Tom Perryman, Kyle Howell, Ben Ede

Referee: Luke Dennis

Assistants: Paul Barker, Barry Raiker

Attendance: 189