Sunday January 6th 2007: South West League Premier Division - Penzance 4-2 University of Exeter

Penzance resumed their South West League title challenge at home to University of Exeter, recording a 4-2 win to stay top but had to come from two goals down. Trailing 2-0 early in the second-half, the Magpies hit four goals in the last 26 minutes to rescue the points against the basement side.

Penzance had the upper hand, with debutee Alice Rae having the first two opportunities on goal. First she glanced a header wide from Dani Small's cross, later taking the ball round keeper Carly Barber before shooting wide of the far post. Emily Hardaker also went close on her first senior appearance, with a first-time shot clipped over from Amber Grose's pass. Rae forced a corner following Rose Knuckey's strong run, Knuckey then combining well with Hardaker as a good save denied Rae. Knuckey fround the side netting with a shot on the turn from Hardaker's ball but the Magpies then found themselves behind after 32 minutes. A blocked shot was deflected off Dawn Bateman and onto the top of the crossbar, dropping kindly for the forward at the far post to nod in. Barber made a double save as Knuckey threatened, the second chance coming off a defender. Katy Barker saw one effort deflected over and thumped a second fractionally too high from Small's pass.

The students increased their lead on 48 minutes, when Penzance made a substitution at a corner and the ball was bundled over the line. A deep cross from Barker led to a remarkable spot of head-tennis at the far post but on 64 minutes, Knuckey found space to tuck the ball home when found by Grose. But Knuckey fired straight at the keeper from Lauren Hosking's cross and Barker's driven cross was glanced wide by Grose. The scores were levelled after 70 minutes, great work by Barker led to her cross being turned in by Knuckey. Just a minute later, Knuckey was on hand to put Penzance ahead and complete her hat-trick. From a Grose ball in Hosking's drive was excellently parried clear, while Knuckey misplaced a header from Boyd's cross in a great position. Small's low drive had Barber scrambling across her goal and Hosking also fired across the goalmouth, with Lyndsey Williams then having to rush out of the home goal to make a timely challenge. In the last minute, Becky Hall got a shot in despite being on the deck, which Barber let slip through her legs to make it 4-2.

The Magpies have a stiff test this Sunday, when they host third-placed Cheltenham Town. Kick-off at Penlee Park is 2pm.

Penzance: Williams, - Hemingway, Bateman, B.Lawrence, Small, - Hardaker (Boyd, 48), Grose, J.Lawrence, Barker (Hall, 83), - Knuckey, Rae (Hosking, 60)