Saturday, December 7

Bond Timber Cornwall Junior Cup (third-round)

Altarnun 7 (AET)

Mevagissey 6

ALTARNUN moved into the last 16 of the Bond Timber Cornwall Junior Cup after winning a 13-goal thriller in extra-time over Duchy One side Mevagissey at Tresibbett.

Considering the lack of games due to the weather, the Nuns started well and were awarded a penalty five minutes in, following a push from a corner. Danny Moore stepped up and slotted the ball home.

However, from the restart, a shot from outside the box sent the ball into the home net.

The hosts dominated the next 20 minutes but couldn’t take their chances, and were left to regret it, as Mevagissey went in front from a header from a corner.

It only got worse for the Nuns five minutes later as they conceded a penalty, which was tucked home.

However Altarnun ensured they went into half-time just 3-2 down. With five minutes remaining, Stuart Cole’s corner was headed home by Sam Wade.

Any chance of the game settling down was non-existent as both sides attacked and scored at will.

First, a Mevagissey free-kick ended with a shot being fired in, before Altarnun responded instantly as Wade headed home his second of the day.

The game was end-to-end and you could not know who was going to score next. With some hard work down the left-wing by Stuart Cole, he managed to get the ball to Sam Smith (pictured on the ball above), who fired home making it 4-4. 

With 30 minutes of the second-half gone, the Nuns started to up the pressure on the Mevagissey defence and Smith fired the North Cornwall side in front.

It looked like the Nuns were going to hold on, but with five minutes left and the light fading, Mevagissey had a long-range shot to force extra-time.

In extra-time, Mevagissey took the lead from a poor backpass.

However, the Nuns were not going to lie down, and started to get on top, with their fitness coming through. With end of the first 15 mins of extra time looming, teenager Alfie Gillbard got into the Mevagissey box, and with some close control, put the ball into their net.

With 15 minutes left before the prospect of penalties, Altarnun continued to probe away. Smith’s long-range shot struck the post before he grabbed his hat-trick.

There was still time for Smith to crash another effort off the bar before referee Bryan Holden brought a superb game to its conclusion.