HAYLE-LELUJAH MAGPIES!

Sunday January 17th 2010: Cornwall County Cup 1st Round Hayle 1-5 Penzance
(Harvey 3, Ellis 40, Lavertu 45, Britten 62, C.Fitzgerald 87)

Penzance Ladies made a belated start to the New Year with a remarkable Cornwall Cup 2nd Round victory at Hayle, posting a 5-1 result despite only starting with 8 players.
Having only just edged out Hayle in an earlier league encounter with a full side, the Magpies took a surprise lead after 3 minutes, when Leanne Harvey broke clear to slide the ball home past the advancing keeper.
Harvey and Alix Lavertu combined well to set up Candice Britten but her effort was well saved and when the same player was put clean through, she missed the target.
The Magpies numbers were increased with the arrival of Katie Whittaker on 35 minutes and they struck twice in a 5 minute spell before half-time. Nicki Ellis diverted a Britten strike home from close range, before Whittaker's looping cross was headed home superbly by Lavertu.
Hayle went close with a few efforts and Grace Rudlin blocked their best chance of the half, Tyler Matthews then made a great challenge to stop a forward going through on goal.
Lyndsey Meyers pulled a goal back on 51 minutes, the deflection sending Rudlin the wrong way. Lavertu drove a curling effort just wide before the three-goal lead was restored on 62 minutes with a well made goal. Ellis sent Whittaker away down the left and her cross was turned home smartly by Britten.
The nine Magpies, including the now injured Harvey, continued to create chances as the game went on. Lavertu's drive from Dawn Bateman's pass forced a corner, Britten hit the bar and the keeper made a fine save to turn a header from Ellis round the post. Matthews was denied when through on the keeper and Britten hit the post twice. From the second effort, Carly Fitzgerald followed up with a great strike into the top corner from the edge of the box, for her first goal for the club.
The Magpies stage their first home game since October 25th this Sunday, when they host St.Blazey in a Cornwall Division 1 fixture. The team will hope to do the double over their visitors, whom they comfortably beat 3-0 away. Kick-off at Penlee Park is 2,30pm.
Penzance: Rudlin; C.Fitzgerald, Matthews, Bateman; Lavertu, Harvey, Ellis, Whiitaker; Britten.