IN heavy conditions at Oxland Park the home team did well to get the game on, but they struck it lucky as there was no more rain on the surface, which had already been cut up the day before.

After great deliberation the game went ahead, with Penryn flying out of the blocks.

The game was only five minutes old when Luke Brabyn turned on the edge of the box to fire home a snap shot, which clipped the upright on its way in.

A shell-shocked home side were dealt a telling blow just three minutes later as Russell May released Ed Wilton, who drew the home keeper towards him before laying it across the goalmouth for Scott Palmer to scrape inside at the far post.

Illogans best look at goal came in the 30th minute, but Chris Symons did well to beat out Tim Nixon’s shot from the edge of the six-yard box following a corner.

Wilton broke clear again soon after, and his raking shot came down off the crossbar and looked to have crossed the line but Palmer was unlucky to make sure of it this time.

Skipper Simon Ellis worked hard for Illogan, while Tim Nixon covered every blade of mud as Penryn’s defence denied Illogan space behind them.

Penryn’s Wilton went off at half time with David Leach coming on and Palmer was also replaced by Tyler Cook. Leach was later replaced by Will Harding in the 85th minute.

Illogan needed something special, but there was no way past Symons as Davey and Nixon both had shots stopped. Penryn stood firm and battled gamely to the final whistle.

At well over the halfway stage of the season, only five points separate the top five teams in the division.

St Dennis are in pole position with the most points, and only 16 games played. Penryn can only rue letting four points slip through their fingers at recent games against Porthleven and league leaders St Dennis.

PENRYN: Symons, Blizzard, May, Burton, Oliver (c), Winnan, Brabyn, Moody, Palmer (Cooke 65), Wilton (Leach 46, Harding 84), Lawrence.

UNUSED SUB: Davey.