Sunday September 2nd 2007: FA Cup Preliminary Round - Penzance 7-1 Launceston

Penzance got their season underway on Sunday with an FA Women's Cup Preliminary Round tie at home to Launceston. They took the tie and the prize money with a comfortable 7-1 win and now host Saltash United in a 1st Qualifying Round tie on September 16th (2pm).
It was Launceston who were first on target, as Candice Britten confidently held Jill Haines powerful strike from distance. But just five minutes in, Rose Knuckey pounced on a backward header to open the scoring for the Magpies.
Claire Boyd saw her shot deflected round the post. Lauren Hosking's drive was tipped onto the bar and Julie Lawrence scooped a fine chance over the top. Then out of nothing on 19 minutes, Amber Grose doubled the lead from a difficult angle.
Becky Hall headed in the third five minutes later, after great work by Grose. An effort from Grose just cleared the angle,Knuckey's deflected half-volley was well caught and Hall was wide from Boyd's fine through ball. It was 4-0 on 43 minutes, Lawrence's lofted ball into the box saw Grose being a good block from the keeper but finish at the second attempt from an acute angle.

Britten pulled off a smart diving save early in the second-half but otherwise it remained largely one-way traffic. Hall went close three times, Grose brought a spectacular tip over from the keeper, who also turned away Hosking's header and denied Knuckey.
Katie Barker got number five, just five minutes after coming off the bench, blasting a low drive into the bottom far corner. Barker's driven cross was well blocked and Grose was just over with a header but on 75 minutes, Haines nipped in for a consolation goal.
Another Grose effort was a foot too high but Boyd's ball through the middle found Linda Webb, who applied a typically cool finish just six minutes after coming on. Knuckey's piledrive was blocked by a defender, at a cost, whilst Boyd completed the scoring on 82 minutes, with a soft goal.

Penzance start their league campaign this Sunday, with a trip to Larkhall Athletic (formerly Bath City).

Penzance Reserves start their Jaipur Cornwall League Division 3 title challenge at home to Wadebridge Town on Sunday. More players are wanted for the team, to join call Mike on 07887 886390.

Penzance: Britten, - Hemingway, Hurworth, Bateman, Small, - Hosking (Barker,63), J.Lawrence, Boyd, Grose, - Knuckey, Hall (Webb,73).