Falmouth Town Reserves 2, Penryn Athletic 1

BEN Kellow kept Falmouth Town Reserves' faint Combination League title hopes alive with a late winner against Penryn Athletic at Bickland Park on Thursday night.

Dan Richardson gave Town the lead early on but Ryan Reeve's second-half equaliser looked to hand the title to Perranporth, until Kellow struck in the 86th minute to delay their celebrations until at least the weekend.

The visitors were first to threaten inside two minutes as captain Russell May headed at goal, but Falmouth goalkeeper Tom Annear - usually a defender for the first team - held on to the effort.

But Town were in front six minutes later when James Pollard found Richardson unmarked in the box, who fired into the corner from ten yards.

Penryn responded well as midfielder Liam Jarvis saw his header cleared off the line, before Reeve beat the offside trap and fired wide from the edge of the box.

Twon had their own chances later on in the half, with a nice move involving Kayne Trevaskis and Richardson resulted in top-scorer Kyle Cooke firing wide, before first-team captain Joe Cooper headed wide from just inside the box on the stroke of half-time.

The first 30 minutes of the second half were bereft of any real action with the game short on quality and resembling the proverbial end-of-season affair. Reeve had a couple of efforts for the visitors, but there was little else to shout about.

Penryn sub Joseph Manley nearly scored with his first touch after coming on in the 76th minute. He succeeded in his attempt to lob Annear who was off his line but the effort also cleared the crossbar.

But Athletic were level a minute later as Reeve latched on to a through ball, beat the defence and rolled a shot into the far corner to leave Perranporth within 15 minutes of the title.

However they were only level for nine minutes after a defensive error allowed Kellow the chance to shoot: his first was well blocked by May, but he made no mistake with the rebound.

Penryn pushed forward as they tried to salvage a point. Will Harding sent a dangerous corner into the six-yard box in injury-time but Annear was there to palm it away from danger, as the home side held on for a crucial win.

Town must now win their three remaining games against Perranwell, Pendeen and RNAS Culdrose, and hope that Perranporth also lose their final two fixtures against St Ives and Redruth if they are to win the title.

Falmouth: T Annear, J Cooper, J Pollard (F Thompson 86), R Chinn, A Barnicoat, S Pickup (B Kellow 57), L Chinn, D Richardson (K Thomas 77), J McIlroy, K Trevaskis (F Harris 85), K Cooke (B Kemp 77).

Penryn: S Prynn, Russell May, S Yendle, Daniel Jarvis (J MacDonald 87), C Saunders, Liam Jarvis, Reggie May (A Wright 67), Ronnie May (J Manley 76), R Reeve, W Harding, J Saunders.