Falmouth Town 2, Penzance 1

FALMOUTH went back to third in the table as they overcame the strong challenge of a depleted Penzance at Bickland Park on Tuesday evening to maintain their unbeaten start to 2010.

Both side were missing key players, and it showed at times in the first half.

Town were without the suspended Tom Smith and Tom Barwell, while the visitors sorely missed the injured pair of Ryan Bushby and James Miller, Jonny Ludlam (suspended) and Mark Vercesi (honeymoon).

In a fairly low key first half Falmouth's only real chance came from a Matt Drummond free header from Richard Kellow's right wing corner in a bright opening 25 minutes from the home side.

But Penzance gradually got a foothold in the game and ended the half strongly with ex-Town midfield man Ross Pope and Gerens James both going close.

In the opening stages of the second half it was all Falmouth with veteran Nigel Thwaites' strike from the edge of the box spectacularly headed off the line by young defender Mamsy Sabo.

Appeals

After 48 minutes strong Town appeals for handball in the box were turned down, while just after the hour mark, Penzance keeper Andy Butcher made a good block with his legs to deny Sean Flynn a rare goal.

With 20 minutes to go, despite looking offside, Drummond went clean through only to be denied by the legs of the excellent Butcher.

However, six minutes later Falmouth finally broke the deadlock. An excellent attack began with Richard Kellow's sweeping crossfield ball to Drummond on the right, and he swung the ball into Dan Green who curled in a 20-yarder into the top left corner past a helpless Butcher.

And three minutes later Town doubled their advantage when Butcher brought down Thwaites as he cut across him and Ryan Fice made no mistake from the spot. However, the Magpies were not finished and set up a grandstand finish when they pulled a goal back six minutes from time. Gerens James was unmarked at the far post to side foot the ball past Town keeper Jason Chapman after he fumbled Richie Rundle's header back across goal from Mark Hollands' free kick.

In a hectic final few minutes both sides had chances. James headed straight at Chapman from Hollands' free kick and the legs of Butcher denied Kellow.

Falmouth: J Chapman, B Stidwell, R Kellow, S Flynn, M Arscott, J Crowley, D Green, J Alexander (R Teagle 28), M Drummond, R Fice (L Eddy 81), N Thwaites. Subs: J Sims, J Greet.

Penzance: A Butcher, G Butcher (R Badcock 86), J Devine, M Sabo, D Ball, J Kemp, M Hollands, R Pope, G James, B Wills, R Holland (R Rundle 68). Subs (not used): A Thomas, S Taylor.

Man of the match: Richard Kellow: Town left back posed plenty of problems with his accurate crosses and set pieces.

Referee: Steve Paul.