Vercesi's header and Salmon heroics give Magpies crucial success at Sticker

PLAYER-MANAGER Mark Vercesi’s 58th minute headed goal secured a crucial victory for unbeaten third-placed Penzance on Saturday against a Sticker side beaten only once in nine previous games.

It was a second goal of the season for Vercesi, who was starting his first game since early August, as Penzance bounced back from their 4-0 midweek defeat to Newquay in the Cornwall Senior Cup, putting in a thoroughly competent performance.

For second in the table Sticker, it was their first home defeat after six successive wins.

Sticker manager Dan Nancarrow said: “It was disappointing from us yesterday. We didn’t turn up and play the way we normally do. Penzance wanted it more, played the better football and were first to near enough every ball.

“I can take losing if we put in the performance that I know we can, but yesterday was unacceptable.

“No excuses, but our injury list isn’t helping. We are missing key players which would give us a massive boost. We will train hard on Tuesday (yesterday) and hopefully can put in a much better performance away to St Mawgan on Saturday.”

Welcoming back Lewis Caspall and Charlie Willis, both sorely missed in the cup tie, Penzance were on it from the first minute.

Jacob Trudgeon was just unable to make a clean connection with a Ewan Trevains cross, then Steve Burt had a goal-bound drive charged down.

The best chance of the half came in the 22nd minute when Caspall played in Willis with a slide-rule pass, but Harry Ashton rushed off his line to save the midfielder’s shot with his legs.

The home goalkeeper was also called upon to repel efforts from Trudgeon and Tyler Tonkin before the break while, at the other end, Owen Rosevear fired over at the end of a promising Sticker attack down the left.

Penzance were back on the attack immediately after the restart. Andreas Calleja-Stayne had a shot blocked with Willis firing the rebound just wide. Then Vercesi curled a free-kick over the bar.

It was not all Penzance, however. Cutting in from the left flank, Cam Bidgood cracked in a ferocious shot that Harry Salmon did well to tip over.

Penzance made the breakthrough just before the hour. Ashton sprawled low to his right to push aside a Caspall shot but could not get a clean punch on Trudgeon’s resultant corner which plopped conveniently on to the forehead of Vercesi.

Sticker pushed hard for an equaliser in the final stages, and Salmon was required to execute another brilliant tip-over save, this time from substitute Ethan Skyba.

But the Magpies held on to pull to just one point behind their second-placed opponents with a game in-hand and set themselves up for a huge week during which they travel to title rivals St Austell and Callington Town.

STICKER: Harry Ashton; Josh Penrose, Dan Hocking, Owen Rosevear, Harvey Hann, Sam Eccleston, Connor Cooke, Eli Evans, Evan Tresidder, Cam Bidgood, Harley Sims. Subs: Ethan Skyba, Ewan Warren, Sol Wilson, Logan Capeling, Chris Kilby.

PENZANCE: Harry Salmon; Archie Reynolds, Steve Burt (George Molcher 83), Ben Palmer, Ewan Trevains, Tyler Tonkin (captain), Mark Vercesi (Jahmali Prowse 66), Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Charlie Willis (Ollie Butler 90), Jacob Trudgeon (James Butler 73), Lewis Caspall. Sub not used: Wade Brown.

Man-of-the-match: Harry Salmon.