Mawnan 3, Penwith Exiles 2

Mawnan put the seal on a great season when they defeated Penwith Exiles 3-2 after an absorbing Percy Stephens Cup Final at Wendron on Sunday.

Played before a big crowd, Mawnan overcame the cupholders in an end-to-end thriller that kept the crowd on their toes right up until the final minutes, when a player from each side was sent off.

Mawnan dominated the opening exchanges and created a number of good chances, but it wasn’t until the 13th minute that they took the lead when Exiles cleared a long throw from Scott Kellow.

The ball came out to Tom Richards on the edge of the box and he hit a superb curling shot high into the net to give the keeper no chance.

Exiles goalkeeper Jamie Millard had an inspired match and kept his side in the game with a string of great saves as Mawnan dominated, but he could do nothing about Mawnan’s second goal in the 21st minute when Richards’ shot from the edge of the box took a deflection and wrong-footed the keeper.

Exiles began to look dangerous from their isolated attacks and they pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when from a great flowing moving Roy Courtney slid his shot into the net just inside the upright.

Exiles could have fallen further behind right on half-time when Keenan twice looked certain to score, but Millard somehow kept his goal intact with two great saves.

The second half was only minutes old when Exiles missed a great chance after the ball was put wide of an open goal, but their pressure paid off after 70 minutes when a free kick that hit the bar rebounded off the back of Jamie Grey’s head and hit the bar before falling for Josh Findlay to head into an empty net.

Mawnan’s counter attacking style against the strong wind in the second half paid off after 78 minutes when a cross by Steve Winnan was handled in the box and Adam Pryor coolly stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to restore The Greens lead.

There was still no shortage of drama as the minutes ticked down with Grey making two superb reflex saves, but with three minutes of normal time remaining Exiles were awarded a penalty for handball and a chance to earn extra time, but the normally reliable Daniel Burt dragged his shot wide of the upright.

Mawnan saw the game out to deservedly clinch the trophy they last won in 2008-09 to add to the Dunn Cup and the Arthur Pearce Cup won by the second XI to complete a memorable season.

Mawnan: J Grey, D Buckingham, S Kellow, D Friend, A Ottoway, D Knowles, A Pryor, S Winnan, A Keenan, G Hobbs, T Richards. Subs: R James, J Kelly, P Sharp, J Nancarrow, S Owen.