independent Cornish news and comment

Magpies ladies lose opening fixture

September 3rd - South West League Premier Division:
Penzance 0-3 Yeovil Town
Penzance opened their South West League Premier Division campaign with a 3-0 loss to last season's runners-up, Yeovil Town. Omens were not good as Leanne Harvey injured her back playing pool and goalkeeper Karley Symons damaged a thumb in the warm-up. Things got no better as Emma Robinson fumbled a near post high ball over her own line just two minutes in and Natasha Mills had to leave the field with an injury after half an hour. Robinson made a good block before Sammy Platts cleared well, whilst Amber Grose went close, forcing two goal-line blocks in quick succession and Lauren Hosking's cross was missing the vital touch. Claire Boyd sent Linda Webb clear but the shot clipped the bar and went over. Candice Britten came off the bench and soon found herself with a chance but the ball fell unkindly from Hosking's cross. Dawn Bateman's strike from distance needed two attempts before the keeper gathered it and Hosking miss-hit a great opportunity for an equaliser.

After the break, Robinson pulled off another good block, the rebound being fired over the angle, whilst Platts stopped a forward who had slipped past two other defenders. Yeovil again fired just over, Britten then failing to make the most of a good position. Two minutes after Rachel Bennett was replaced at the back, the visitors broke away to finish smartly (67 mins). Nine minutes later, it wasleft to Becki Lawrence to divert a goalbound blast, but the scoring was completed with a close-range shot on the turn from the corner.

Penzance are without a game on September 10th, but the Reserves are away to Falmouth Town in the IT Associates Cup.

Penzance: Robinson, - Bennett (Vicary 65), B.Lawrence, Platts, Bateman, - Hosking, J.Lawrence, Boyd, Grose, - Webb, Mills (Britten 30).