Town avoid banana skin (From This is The West Country)

Town avoid banana skin

11:30am Wednesday 22nd March 2006

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PENZANCE 0 FALMOUTH TOWN 2 In near Arctic conditions, Falmouth Town came through a potentially difficult encounter at Penlee Park and maintained the pressure on the Carlsberg SWL's top six teams.

Manager Garry Penhaligon made a few team changes in a bid to keep everyone match fit.

The match was switched from the normal 3pm kick off back to 2.30pm in order for the Penzance players and officials to attend the post wedding reception of St Just and Cornwall cricketer Gary Thomas.

Town started the brighter and were the first team to register a shot on goal. After four minutes Lee Whetters teed himself up 20 yards from goal but his rising shot failed to test Paul Williams in the home goal.

Within a minute, Penzance forced Penhaligon into a great save. From Wayne Quinn's corner, a bullet header was tipped over the bar.

Town took the lead in the eighth minute in controversial circumstances. A long throw from Lean was missed by several in the area and after two big bounces, Williams appeared to have hold of the ball but following a cheeky nudge from Jay Isbell, the custodian dropped it leaving Isbell the simple task of slotting the ball back for Daniel Nancarrow to tap home into the unguarded net much to the annoyance of the home supporters and to the surprise of Town.

The visitors were on top although the Magpies went close through Dan Bulley and the impressive Dan Fadida, but the blustery wind and bumphy pitch made the game awkward and not one for the purist.

In their best spell of the game, Nancarrow was unlucky when his low volley rolled agonisingly across goal and in the final minute of the half, Chambers beat Rob Robinson to a corner but his diving header rebounded off the post before Isbell finally bundled the ball over the bar.

Seven minutes into the second period, Williams made a breathtaking double save to keep the score down. A free kick from the half way line found Ralph but his goalward header was tipped away superbly before the 33-year-old 'keeper blocked his follow up shot.

In the 55th minutea teasing run and low cross from Nancarrow eluded everyone except Bradshaw at the far post and his tap in meant he was able to double his goals tally for Town.

Within a minute, Darren Burchell, playing against his old club, picked up a booking following a foul. On the hour, Nancarrow's right wing run and pass again set up Bradshaw but his shot was cleared off the line by Darren Ball before being bundled away for a corner. From the resultant kick, the ball found Hartigan totally unmarked but his header clipped the bar before going behind for a goal kick.

In the 84th minute Body set up Campbell but the latter swiped wildly at the ball and it was no surprise to see it clear the goal.

Town travel to Porthleven on Saturday for a Carlsberg SWL game.

Town: G Penhaligon J Winters, D Lean, T Chambers (capt), B Ralph, J Isbell, N Campbell, L Whetters, A Bradshaw (M Day), D Nancarrow (D Meens), J Hartigan (M Body). Subs (unused): A Parr and K Hunkin.

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