FALMOUTH TOWN 2-0 MOUSEHOLE
Falmouth Town upset the form book in this pulsating Boxing Day fixture in front of a large, vociferous and sometimes hostile crowd, running out deserved 2-0 winners. In a game given an added edge by Mousehole securing the services of former Town captain James Ward and prolific striker Oscar Massey, with Town in the midst of a relegation battle, the Falmouth faithful left Mousehole in no doubt of their feelings towards their club at this moment.
Falmouth again lined up with Rubin Wilson up front, who looks rejuvenated since Massey’s departure, and also started Ollie Walker down the left. Mousehole named former Falmouth players Tim Nixon, James Ward and Oscar Massey in their starting eleven.
Falmouth started the game strongly and were the dominant team during the first 15 minutes with Luke Barner particularly looking dangerous with his pace down the right flank. However, as the game settled down, Mousehole starting to move the ball around and for a 10 minute spell, the excellent Tallan Mitchell and Julio Fresneda started to get on the ball and dictate proceedings. This was soon recognised by the Falmouth players and coaches and the midfield duo of Jack Webber and Andreas Calleja-Stayne, who worked tirelessly all game , got a little tighter to them and stopped them playing. Massey, who gravitated to the left when Mousehole had possession, met his match as the tenacious Freddie Walter reduced him to a series of rushed and wayward shots from outside of the area.
Falmouth deservedly took the lead on 34 minutes. A free kick from the right flank was driven into the Mousehole area. Mousehole were unable to clear it away and the ball fell to Rubin Wilson, who lashed it in from 5 yards out past visiting keeper, Ollie Chenoweth and it was 1-0 to the Town. Wilson celebrated with a recreation of Town Legend Mark Rapsey’s iconic run behind the goal as he high-fived some of the ecstatic home crowd.
Learning from recent experiences, Falmouth then made sure that they did not immediately concede and proceeded to slow the game down and stop Mousehole from gaining any momentum. The aim was to reach half-time still in the lead, but in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Ollie Walker was released down the left. He found Luke Barner on the far post with, it seemed, the goal at his mercy. With the F-Troop ready to celebrate he unselfishly squared it for Rubin Wilson who passed it into the empty net for his second goal of the day.
Falmouth replaced Cam Hutchison at half-time with Jared Sims and Mousehole replaced centre-half Medo Kante with Paolo Sousa, moving to four at the back. However, roared on by the large home support, Falmouth refused to let Mousehole back into the game. Although being forced to play deep and struggling to keep the ball for any prolonged period, they limited their visitors to shots from outside the area which were easily dealt with. The main threat was from a series of corners but, in this game, Falmouth defended them superbly, despite the well-known aerial threat of James Ward, with a real captain’s performance turned in by Tom Annear, ably assisted by Harrison Jewell and Bradley Leivers.
As the clock ticked on, Falmouth replaced Walker with Luke Brabyn and were even able to introduce promising 2nd team striker Evan Tresidder, who had played the first half of the game in the morning against Penryn Athletic, for his home debut. In a frenetic 10 minute spell he pressed the Mousehole defence relentlessly and looks a real prospect for the future.
The referee found an additional 5 or 6 minutes of stoppage time but Falmouth were relatively untroubled and ran out deserved 2-0 winners on the day, gaining a vital three points as they look to climb away from the relegation mire. With favourable results elsewhere, they find themselves one point above the relegation places, on the same points as their next opponents Tavistock, who they travel to play on Saturday. Another win here could give Falmouth some breathing space, dependent on what happens to the other clubs around them in the league on the day.
Rubin Wilson (34’, 45+2’)
Att: 1,110
Falmouth Town: Morgan Coxhead, Bradley Leivers, Tom Annear©, Harrison Jewell, Fred Walter, Luke Barner, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Jack Webber, Cam Hutchison, Ollie Walker, Rubin Wilson. Subs: Jared Sims, Ned Symons, Evan Tresidder, Luke Brabyn, Andy Elcock.
Mousehole: Ollie Chenoweth, Ryan Barrett, Jack Calver, James Ward, Medo Kante, Max Hill, Julio Fresneda, Tallan Mitchell, Hayden Turner, Tim Nixon, Oscar Massey. Subs: Jack Symons, Paolo Sousa, Mark Goldsworthy, Lewis Moyle, Jordan Hackett.
Star Man: 2 goal hero Rubin Wilson.