FOXHOLE STARS 0-2 MOUSEHOLE RESERVES

CORNWALL JUNIOR CUP FINAL

SUNDAY 5th MAY 2019

AT TREVASSACK PARK, HAYLE AFC

Mousehole had never previously reached the semi-finals of the County Junior Cup, let alone the Final, but on Sunday, in great weather and in front of a good crowd of 417, they became the best team out of the 104 entering this season’s competition by lifting the trophy at the expense of Foxhole Stars.

The form book favoured Foxhole – leaders of the Duchy League Premier Division with only one League defeat in 20 League games – against a Mousehole Reserves side in a mid-table position in the equivalent Trelawny League Premier Division.

The pattern of the game bore an uncanny resemblance to the semi-final tie, with Mousehole getting to the interval at 0-0 despite being under severe pressure, and then asserting their authority in the second half to score the necessary goals for a deserved win.

And, just as in the semi-final, the same players – Caleb Marsden and Michael Fitchett – got on the scoresheet when it mattered, followed by a magnificent team display of character and resilience as The Seagulls resisted everything The Foxes could throw at them.

Mousehole’s Dom Angove was by far the busier of the two keepers in the first half, pulling off four goal-saving efforts in the first quarter hour, with Foxhole also hitting the woodwork on two occasions and having goalbound shots blocked in front of goal as they powered their way forward at every opportunity, while at the other end The Seagulls were unable to create any chances of note.

But the game changed dramatically, in more ways than one, just five minutes after half time when Caleb Marsden exploited some space 30 yards out to drive a superb inch-perfect shot into the top left-hand corner of keeper Matt Bullen’s net to give Mousehole the lead.

Foxhole’s celebrations were cut short a minute later as they had the ball in the net but only after a dangerous lunge on Angove spotted by Referee Jon Green.

And a completely different sort of goal put Mousehole 2-0 up in the 58th minute as Michael Fitchett sneaked in front of his marker in the middle of the box to chest down Joe Davies’ forward pass and screw the ball from an angle past Bullen into the far corner via the post.

Foxhole tried to up the tempo but every Mousehole player from front to back played their part in keeping them at bay, forcing their frustrated opponents into pumping hopeful long balls upfield, where The Seagulls’ well-marshalled defence stood their ground in the face of a late onslaught.

At the start of the after-match presentations, Mousehole Reserves’ centre-back Benji Ward received Cornwall FA’s “Man of the Match” Award.

Mousehole Reserves have won two important trophies in the last 12 months – as Trelawny League Division One champions, and with it promotion to the Premier Division this season, and now the Cornwall Junior Cup competed for by “Junior” men’s clubs at Step 9 and below.

And another milestone is ahead.  Having applied for promotion to both the Cornwall Combination League (Step 8) and the new St Pirans League (Step 7), they will be playing “Senior Football” for the first time in the club’s history.

Mousehole Reserves: Dom Angove, Matt Howes (captain), Harry Tonkin, Benji Ward, Tom Hands, Jason Simmonds, Callum George, Caleb Marsden, Jamie Simons, Michael Fitchett, Joe Davies

Substitutes: Jacob Trudgeon (for Jamie Simons, 86), Tom McGarry (for Callum George,90+2), Ben Fewkes, Alex Nixon, Tom Hooper

Scorers: Caleb Marsden (51), Michael Fitchett (58).

Referee: Jon Green     Attendance: 417