SUPERIOR football was played by Penryn Athletic on Saturday as they welcomed fellow promotion chasers St Dennis to Kernick Road.

However, despite the quality of their game, the end result did not match the style and flow of the game as the visitors went home with three points and first place in the South West Peninsula League West for Christmas.

Ryan Hayhurst gave the Saints a 30th minute lead which had them in front for the majority of the tie before Ed Wilton found an equaliser.

With just seven minutes left, it seemed Athletic had earned a well deserved point, but a couple of defensive errors in injury time saw the ever prolific forward Carl Rickard a early festive gift.

Penryn had dominated the game throughout will feel very hard done by not to score any points.

Kevin Lawrence had two opportunities early on for the hosts to give them the advantage, but both chances evaded the back of the net with the first going just wide and other straight into the grasp of Brett Allan.

Luke Brabyn produced some nice football to get a shot at goal himself.

However, the nice play was not merited as his effort went wide.

In their last game at home to Porthleven, Athletic had battered down at the door only to see their opponents get all the luck.

If they needed a sign it was not going to be their day again, then it came on the half hour when against the run of play, the Saints went ahead.

Mark Sleeman sent in a cross into the penalty area and Hayhurst came across the home defence to bang in a powerful effort.

After the break, Penryn were controlling the territorial battle spending plenty of time in the visiting side’s half.

For all their dominance though, they could not bag an equaliser with Lawrence going closest when he sent a shot to the foot of the post.

But their perseverance looked to have finally paid off in the 83rd minute when after an immaculate passing move, Wilton who was making his first appearance since coming home from university finished it off to make it 1-1.

However, with the game going into injury time, a couple of loose passes from Russell May and Ollie Moody proved to be a much appreciated Christmas present for St Dennis.

The mistakes allowed them to create one final chance with Rickard scoring his 24th league goal of the season from 10 yards out.

Despite the loss, Athletic remain in fourth position and next up is a trip to Illogan RBL on Saturday, who were knocked off top spot by the result at Kernick Road.

PENRYN: Symons, Blizzard, May, Martt, Oliver (c), Winnan, Brabyn, Moody, Cooke (Wilton, 55), Burton, Lawrence.

UNUSED SUBS: Leach, Palmer, Davey.