With Daz Smith in sole charge for the first time following Lee Major’s decision to step aside, Penzance Reserves pulled off a rousing second half come-back from two goals due in atrocious conditions at Penlee Park. However, they will still regret not winning having largely dominated both halves.
Having missed an even earlier chance, Zach Alexander gave the visitors a second minute lead after cutting in from the left. His side were under the cosh for the next half hour though. Fin Harry hared clear down the right to set up Harvey Richings, but the latter’s shot on the turn was well saved by Clifford Rao. Silas Sullivan had a drive from the edge of the area deflected wide whilst Will Symons saw a similar effort of his own crash against the woodwork. The excellent Rao then denied both Ryan Townson and Kizzy Snowden with fine saves.
Against the run of play, ‘Dron doubled the lead on the half hour with a fine strike from Lee Smith after a tidy move down the right. Unfazed, Penzance resumed their onslaught after the turnaround. Townson was unlucky to see a goal bound shot deflected behind off a defender, then Ewan Trevains was frustrated by another fine Rao save. But it was Trevains who made the breakthrough after 64 minutes, ghosting in at the near post to nod home a corner.
A tidy finish by Connor Thomas just four minutes later restored parity and, at that stage, the gaggle of brave devotees huddled in the Jimmy Dann stand could only see one winner. Sadly though the Magpies failed to maintain the momentum and a shot from Leon Dixon that fizzed just wide was the closest they came to recording what would have been a first win in nine games.
“Today. in tricky conditions, I felt we the least we deserved was a draw,” reflected Smith. “We asked the players to show character, hunger and resilience whilst maintaining a degree of professionalism. I felt they really delivered on this. Going in at half-time two down against the wind was not ideal, but we always felt we would create chances in the second half, it was just about taking them. To be honest, their keeper was fantastic and kept us out with some phenomenal saves, and in the end we left feeling a little frustrated we didn't claim all three points.”
Penzance: Adrian Murley, Ashley Mead, Jordan Rimmington (Fin Sharp 46), Steve Miller, Silas Sullivan, Ewan Trevains, Will Symons (Connor Thomas 46), Ryan Townson, Harvey Richings, Kizzy Snowden (Corey Angwin 71), Fin Harry (Leon Dixon 60)
Wendron: Clifford Rao, Sam Jewell, Brett Andrew, Robert Hague, Thomas Collins, Matt Hemelik, Eden Morley, Dylan Jephcott, Lee Smith, Kayden Hague, Justin Searle. Subs: Zach Alexander, Xolani Tukulula, Jowan Dengler, Steve Retchord
Referee: Derek Hughes
Attendance: 56
Penzance Reserves Team Manager, Daz Smith, shares his thoughts with James Wright following the
2-2 draw against Wendron United 3rds at Penlee Park.
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