Penryn Athletic 3 Foxhole Stars 1

Penryn Athletic enter the Christmas period sitting third in division one west after battling their way past a stubborn Foxhole outfit at Kernick Road thanks to a hat-trick from Greg Hobbs.

As expected, it wasn't easy going for Penryn, with bottom club Foxhole putting up a real fight which belied their lowly league position.

Indeed it was the visitors who drew first blood when, in the sixth minute, Ross Pinhammer laid the ball back for Aiden Killen, who smacked a superb 25 yard shot into the bottom corner of Chris Symons's goal with the Penryn keeper rooted to the spot.

It was a nightmare start for the home side, but they showed no signs of panic and went patiently about their business looking for an equaliser.

Meanwhile Foxhole had their tails up, but Hobbs came close to equalising for Penryn when he found himself in on goal, only to fire his shot straight at Foxhole keeper Dan Peters, who did well to rush out and close the striker down.

Two minutes later Hobbs was gifted another opportunity when Sean Johnston played him in.

But this time the striker made no mistake in finding the bottom corner of the net to draw Penryn level.

It was the cue for Penryn to begin dominating proceedings, but they were forced to wait until the second half before taking the lead - although the goal came just a minute after the restart.

Dale Band and Kevin Lawrence linked up well before playing in Hobbs, whose shot clipped the foot of the post on its way in to the back of the net.

Back came Foxhole with a shot from Martin Duff, which Symons did well to keep out with his legs.

The referee ordered the floodlights on in the gathering gloom as the wintery weather started to close in, and Penryn manager Steve Jewell decided to make a change, bringing Tyler Cooke on for his first appearance in a month, and bringing off youngster Kieran Faulkner.

And within two minutes of the substitution Penryn made the game safe as Lawrence played the ball in to the corner of the penalty box where Hobbs was rushing in.

The Penryn striker took the ball in his stride before hammering a fine low shot across the goal and inside the far post to claim his second hat-trick of the season.

Penryn: C Symons, D Blizzard, R May, K Faulkner (T Cooke 70), B Oliver (c), J Hoon, S Johnston, D Band (P Baldwin 80), G Hobbs, D Broglino, K Lawrence. SUBS (not used): P Davey, S Jewell.