A GOAL from 16-year-old Ross Fallons midway through the second half all but ended any prospect Porthleven had of winning the Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one (west) title as they slipped further behind league leaders Penzance.

Four weeks ago it was looking good for the Fishermen who sat five points clear at the top of the table. However, a dreadful run of form saw them suffer a shock defeat to Foxhole Stars before losing to St Austell and Penzance.

This weekend’s league defeat to Godolphin Atlantic is the fourth on the bounce and now leaves them in third - eight points off the lead.

Port new it was going to be a tricky match as they faced Atlantic recently in the semi-final of the Durning Lawrence Charity Cup narrowly beating their north Cornwall opponents thanks to an extra-time strike from Kevin Lawrence.

The visitors were first to strike at goal when Darren Burchell picked up the ball on drove a shot in from outside the area which Sean Semmens gathered.

However, it was Atlantic who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when a Fallons cross was only partially cleared by Port keeper Danny Burrows. The rebound fell to Scott Flannigan who fired the ball into the net from an angle.

Port hit back five minutes later when a free-kick from Matt Laity was headed on by Richard Young for Danny Williams to score at the back post Port then had a couple of chances to put themselves in front during the remainder of the first half but Kevin Lawrence fired over and Semmens was equal to another shot from Young.

Godolphin had the better of the second half but Port still could have been in front early on in the half but Laity was off target with one effort and had another shot tipped over.

Phil Lowry then headed over as Aaron Dilley’s corner before Flannigan missed an excellent chance to give his side the lead when he fired straight at Burrows when well placed in the Port area.

The Fishermen then tried to change things round by bringing on Josh Kemp for Paul Ainscough but it was still Atlantic who looked the more likely to grab a winner.

Steve Warr then gave away a free-kick, which was deflected behind for a corner. Port failed to clear the ball into the box and Fallons registered his first goal for the club by firing into the net from close range.

However, the drama was not over as on 89 minutes Jamie Thirkle played the ball to Young whose shot was deflected into the path of Williams who put the ball into the back of the net. They appeared to be a keeper and defender on the line at the time but the goal was ruled out for offside - a decision which angered the Port players and staff.

However, despite being denied what they felt was a deserved point, Port knew that to keep their title hopes alive they needed to collect all three points from this match. This was later confirmed when they found out leaders Penzance had beaten Vospers Oak Villa by five goal to nil.

LUDGVAN 0 PORTHLEVEN RES 5 DESPITE the scoreline this was not a comfortable win for Porthleven Reserves who could have found themselves behind against the league’s bottom club at half time.

The visitors took the lead after six minutes when Brian Medlin fired home from a Chris Strike corner.

However, Ludgvan, who have still yet to record a league win, hit back.

Ashley Matthews brought two fine saves out of keeper Richard Pennington before Lee Bennett hit the woodwork.

Danny Ford then struck the crossbar before Matthews hit another shot wide as the home side created and squandered more goalscoring opportunities.

Matthews then tested Pennington again before Port got a two-goal cushion courtesy of a strike from Aaron Collick.

In his first start for Porthleven Joe Bray fired in Kyle Harvey’s cross at the far post.

Dean Bray then played in Harvey who made it four-nil before, Joe Bray rounded off an excellent debut by adding the fifth ten minutes from time.

The result leaves Porthleven Reserves ninth in the table.