Match Report by Ben Ware

Photo Credit: Thomas Groves

The quarter to eight departure and five hour drive made for some tired legs as the Mitres struggled to find an early footing in increasingly worsening conditions. This was apparent in the early flow of the game, the home side in control and eager for the opener.

Within two minutes, they had a corner, headed away at the far post. Soon after, they had a freekick from a similar position, it was passed low to the edge of the box and the shot blocked.

The conditions then began to play their part, a solid defensive performance from the churned mud and grass, our through ball seeming destined for an opportunity one on one but being caught and cleared with seven minutes played.

Toby Holland's low cross was then cleared by a superbly executed diving header before a Cleeve corner led to two chances which Mousehole were equal to.

With 13th minutes played, Mousehole had a half chance, the ball rolling towards goal and being cleared off the line albeit unlikely to have reached the whitewash. Clayton was then called into action again immediately after, getting low across his goal to push the ball away from the bottom right corner, the ball was played back but they couldn't reach the ball sliding in.

The action didn't slow as the game went on, Jack Watts headed just wide from a Holland corner before he had our first shot on target with a tame effort from the edge of the box in the 23rd minute.

The Trungle Parc pitch continued to play its part, a bobble seeing Devanti McInerney's shot fly away from goal before it caused the ball to bounce over the foot of Ben McLean as he set up to shoot from eight yards after just 26 minutes.

Just after the half hour mark, Mousehole had an opportunity of their own. A horrible deflection diverted the ball from its course towards the bottom left corner and into the centre of the goal where Clayton was able to keep it out. Jake Lee then slid in to clear the loose ball and deny a certain tap in for the hosts.

The rain grew heavier and legs grew tireder as the action dissipated towards the half time break, the two teams heading into the dry in a goalless stalemate.

Half time brought a game changing substitution as Steve Davies took to the pitch and took control of a turgid midfield. This led to a flurry of chances as the home side struggled to escape their defensive third, Langworthy coming close twice within the space of a minute.

The 62nd minute brought what had become an inevitable opener with the conditions working in our favour at last. A low long ball forward caught up just enough to catch out the Mousehole backline and let Holland sneak in, he held off one and went around another's tackle before firing home into the bottom left corner. “Great finish that” the goalkeeper admitting.

Then came one of many reasonable penalty shouts, Watts dragged over at the far post as he went for a header in the 65th minute. He'd be involved again four minutes later, picking up the ball from Holland's saved shot but unable to curl home from a tight angle. A minute later, substitute Curtis Jemmett-Hutson would force another save one on one, Watts sliding in for the rebound but giving away a freekick on the goalline.

We had another penalty shout waved away in the 74th minute, Holland breaking into the area and being tripped in the process. After some deliberation, the referee decided this was simulation.

It then became a game attrition, both sides trying to get forward but meeting a brick wall. The pitch didn't lend itself to attractive football, or any football for that matter given the rain, as they sent it long and in the air but couldn't break through.

After four minutes of added time, the final whistle went at last, a first ever win at Trungle Parc and a much needed three points.