PENZANCE made it eight wins from nine games – an unbeaten run that now stretches back to August 30 – with a hard-earned victory at Sticker to consolidate third place in the table.

The only goal of the game was scored midway through the second half by Magpies player-manager Mark Vercesi, whose impressive side have now won four league games on the trot.

The first chance fell to the home side, with Tom Guest firing just over. The opening half hour was cagey with few clear cut openings until the Magpies went close twice within a minute.

Silas Sullivan hooked a shot just wide from 20 yards, then Lewis Caspall surged through the Sticker defence before crashing the ball just over the bar.

The half concluded with both sides having one further chance. Sliding in at the far post, Sticker’s Josh Bragg was just unable to connect with a tantalising centre from the left. Then Jacob Trudgeon tested Ethan Elwell with a shot on the turn that the home gloveman safely pouched.

The second half was more open. Caspall curled a free-kick over before Salmon was twice called into action at the other end, firstly to save from Ethan Skyba, then to brilliantly finger-tip a Bragg effort onto the bar.

Guest fired another chance wide before Penzance made the vital breakthrough, player manager Mark Vercesi latching on to a half cleared ball and blasting it back past Elwell.

The Magpies had to soak up some intense pressure during a protracted period of stoppage treatment necessitated by an earlier injury to Elwell.

But Salmon pulled off another fine save, and Bragg curled a free kick just over as Penzance held out for a win that cuts the gap to second placed Elburton Villa to six points.