The opening tusslings were awash with high energy and animation with both units obviously striving to work off the nipping tendrils of the coastal wafts. The initial play saw Pendeen play several long balls whilst the opposing force looked to dissect on the deck. Pendeen summoned the first attack with a long delivery finding No 3 (Doug Howard) at the back post whose header went inextricably the wrong way - darn those angular heads. An abundance of midfield mither ensued and then from a corner, the ball went out, No 8 (Nick Barber) collected and rode 3 tackles before losing control at the very death.
The next moment of potential excitement came when Penryn won a free-kick. The possibility of any hair-raising action came and went in a disappointing huff and puff before the home No 9 (Jacob Paull) was allowed to have a dig at the other end with a firmly struck sizzler forcing the keeper to spill. Thankfully for the gloved one a defender was on hand and hoofed the loose globe away. Penryn responded, No 8 (Lewis Moyle) fed a colleague who knocked a swift ball across the face of goal with no takers arriving. Pendeen bounced back, No 15 (Brad Andiego) was out wide, the ball was delivered and ended up at the feet of Paull who let fly and forced a fine save from the mitter.
Pendeen turned up the heat from here - No 10 (Alex Ralph) brought out another solid block from the guest keeper and Paull had another punt, this time deflected wide. Once more the hosts came, Nick Barber releasing Andiego who put in a cross to Paull who was just denied. Penryn were hanging on here but No 7 (Joseph Millar) nearly found some glory when he exposed a pair of dainty feet, negotiated a marker and put in a cross that just needed the merest touch. Alas, once again, no strikers were present. The game went one way then the other with the hosts coming close on a couple of occasions, one of which saw Ralph put a power header wide which really should have been on target.
A long ball came next, it was for the visitors with the keeper needing to leave his line and nut away. The ball fell to the feet of the awaiting No 9 (Lewis Preston) who tried to immediately bulge the meshing of the open net. Alas for the neutral, a defender was in the way. A few more minor scares, a few close shaves and that was the half done with the goal scoring charts all bare.
Into the clubhouse we went, a brew was had and a quick warm-up. There was a bite in the air, a pervasive nipper with wandering mitts of icy malevolence - I had been bare of belly of late, what a wicked climatic twist this was.
Back on the touchline we went to see the guests have an early pop at success and the hosts return the favour - there was no joy at either end. Penryn were soon marauding forth, No 10 (Scott Rodden) was at the tip of the thrust, the shot that came and was firm enough but went disappointingly straight at the keeper. Pendeen were shaken into action from this minor scare and went on to pile up some pressure. A couple of corners were earned, the first bearing no fruit, the second being carefully posted and finding the cranium of No 17 (Joe Davies) who nutted home with ease. The game was desperate for this, Penryn now needed to change the gears and get motoring with purpose.
The guests tried mighty hard to force the issue but Pendeen were looking comfortable and when a long ball was there for Ralph to chase, chase he duly did, pilfered the ball from the keeper, swung the shank and doubled his side's lead. Suddenly the game had a whole new complexion and this was looking set to be a comfortable home win.
Penryn pressed, hustled and harried but lacked the cute killer touch and so Pendeen were allowed to work away and stay rock solid at the rear. One of the Subs for the visiting tribe did well out wide and sent in a shot the mitter had to tip over the bar. 2 corners followed but the creativity was lacking and a stroke of luck just wouldn't manifest itself. Pendeen were soon breaking away, Paull was seen to be battling well and after winning the ball put in a cross that Davies hit with sugar sweet style and bagged a quite choice goal. The game was now done as a contest it seemed.
With 15 minutes left Pendeen were seen to hold all the cards with an aerial dominance and limiting their opponents to the odd long pop. Penryn did find the onion bag from a corner but the referee had spied an infringement and no goal was given - it was just one of those days it seemed. The last ticklings saw a few close squeaks at either end and then at the very last the footballing bladder was squeezed, the last droplets of excitement were borne and a thru ball saw Ralph for the hosts expose some quality composure to make this a 4 - 0 scoreline and to flush the hopes of Penryn well and truly round the u-bend. All done, a resounding victory on paper and Man of the Match goes to Pendeen Rovers No 17 (Joe Davies) for a commanding stint that was immovable, resolute and most highly effective, the 2 goals were icing on the cake.
From here we went to Bessy's Cove to finish the day and recorded a bit of seashore life and a Firecrest - yippee.
FINAL THOUGHTS - Well, what can I say. The third game down south within a week and a fine way to round off matters. A great picturesque area, a fine welcoming set-up and again, football played with admirable passion, fairness and a good amount of respect. Both teams contributed to a decent game but the guests were just lacking any threat in the air and so were forced into playing on the turf which brought a certain limitation to their options. They worked well, kept the heads down but this was just never going to be their day. They have enough nippy players though to make them a competitive unit throughout the campaign. Pendeen Rovers looked good today, very tight and well-organised with the full area of the park used and many a player putting in a quality shift to make sure, after a goalless first half, they got the goals they deserved. Defensively they look mighty secure, surely this must put them in with a chance of a few honours come season end? Come what may, I shall be checking on progress and seeing that we are already booked for another trip down this end of the country next year, we may well be back.
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