ROSS Duncan’s fortuitous second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Porthleven on their trip to Sticker in their first match back after lockdown.

Duncan’s deflected finish in the 55th minute was the only goal of the game at Burngullow Park as Graham Blake’s side recorded their fourth win of the campaign.

The match was Port’s first since October 24 before the start of the second national coronavirus lockdown, but the Fishermen quickly shook off the cobwebs as they instantly set upon the home defence.

Some rustiness was perhaps evident in the visitors’ shots with Kyle Fraser having one blocked after just one minute before Duncan headed wide and drilled two shots off target before seven minutes had elapsed.

The visitors’ pressure was never going to last and Sticker enjoyed their own purple patch midway through the half, with Derrick Lucas having one strike chalked off for a correct offside call before Alfie Flack forced a strong save out of Martyn Webster.

Both sides were pushing for the opening goal as half-time neared, with Aaron Marks superbly denying Fraser’s strike at one end before Flack went up the other and fired narrowly wide.

Lucas was within a post’s width of opening the scoring seven minutes before the break when he cut inside and lashed the ball against the upright, but Fraser almost had the last laugh of the half a minute later when he broke free in the Sticker box, only for Morgan Coxhead to brilliantly tip the strike over the bar.

As they had done in the first, it was Port who started the second half the better side and they got their rewards in fortuitous fashion in the 55th minute. Duncan collected and controlled a pass with his back to goal on the edge of the box before his next touch struck the onrushing Andrew Avery and flew over the helpless Coxhead and into the top corner.

Half-time substitute Gemell Mills, who replaced the injured Fraser, almost scored a stunning second for Port 12 minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball and driving it against the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards.

Sticker came forward in an attempt to level the game but lacked conviction, with their best chance coming when Webster spilled substitute Sonny Dover’s shot, with a Port defender hoofing the ball to safety before a yellow shirt could pounce.

Richard Edworthy and Dan Hocking had half chances in the final few minutes but Webster was largely untroubled, with Port almost grabbing a late second in added time when Gavin Perraton’s fierce strike from 25 yards was expertly saved by Coxhead.

Porthleven: M Webster, M Roberts, C Woods, H Howlett, J Harrison, J Thomson (D Quirke 70), S Leslie, D Richardson, R Duncan (G Perraton 70), C Young, K Fraser (G Mills HT). Subs (unused): M Laithwaite.