MARCELLO JONES scored an injury-time penalty for Falmouth Town as they battled back from 3-0 down to draw 5-5 with St Austell in an extraordinary match at Poltair Park, writes Matt Friday.

St Austell led 3-0 within half an hour but it was all square by the 50th minute. The home side struck twice more but Town hit back with two of their own to wrap up an incredible game.

The hosts were two goals up after just 12 minutes. Mark Goldsworthy bundled home from a corner in the second minute before James Ward put Liam Eddy’s cross into his own net.

They opened up a commanding 3-0 lead on 29 minutes courtesy of Jack Calver, but Marcello Jones tapped in from close range almost immediately to reduce the deficit to two.

Falmouth then pulled it back to 3-2 thanks to Martin Watts’ own goal, but missed a golden opportunity to equalise a minute later when Jason Chapman saved Jordan Annear’s penalty.

But they were on terms two minutes after half-time when James Ward made amends for his early own goal by heading home from David Broglino’s corner.

Parity lasted just three minutes until St Austell scored again with a penalty of their own. Chris Reski dispatched the kick before the excellent Eddy restored the hosts’ two-goal cushion.

But Falmouth came back again, this time via top-scorer Jordan Annear who slotted past Chapman to bag his 17th goal of the season and set up a grandstand finale.

Town thought they had completed the comeback on 76 minutes when Jack Webber’s 25-yard strike flew into the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside in the build-up.

But then in the 92nd minute Jones was brought down in the box, and he slammed home the resultant penalty to rescue a point with the final kick of the match.

Packet Pick: Marcello Jones – a lively presence up front throughout, scored two goals and was involved in two of the others.

Falmouth: R Barnes, D Blizzard, O Moody, J Ward, J Cooper (c), R Martt, L Brabyn, D Broglino (J Webber 65), M Jones, J Annear, H Clarke (O Walker 61).

Falmouth’s next match is at Launceston on Saturday.

* Read sports editor Matt Dixon's view of the match on this website