AN excellent second-half display from Penryn saw them beat their local rivals Falmouth by the biggest every scoreline as they cruised into the quarter-finals of the Westinsure Senior Cup.

The result never looked in doubt once Sean Johnston struck after the break to give Athletic a 2-0 lead, as Falmouth offered very little going forward in the later stages of the game.

The result is a blow to Town who are currently trying to turn their season around under new manager Alan Carey, but, with several players cup tied and new faces at the club, the cohesion in the side wasn’t there and an upset always looked likely.

Penryn, who play a league below Falmouth in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division One (west), could have gone ahead early on when Pat Shaughnessy broke down the right-hand side of the field and won a free-kick after drawing a challenge with a step-over. Town failed to clear the ball as it was played into the box and it eventually broke to Pete Davey on the edge of the area but his left-foot shot was well saved by Falmouth’s new goalkeeper Jason Chapman – signed from Truro City.

The game was rather even at this point with Falmouth and Penryn both playing a cagey game. However, midway though the half coach Stuart Massey urged Will Scoley to get further forward down the left-hand side of the pitch and this started to cause the visitors problems.

Having almost been put through on goal once, Scoley picked up the ball down the left on 20 minutes.

A neat touch inside the area wrong-footed both the keeper and defender but unfortunately for Penryn, Scoley’s shot was not as well executed as he hit it straight at Chapman when he really should have scored.

Former Falmouth Town player Dale Band then picked up the ball in the middle of the park and slid a pass through to Scoley, who this time went round the keeper before firing a shot in from an acute angle. Thankfully for the visitors Sean Flynn had got back on the goal line to block the effort and despite an optimistic call of handball from the partisan home crowd, the referee waved away the appeal.

Falmouth then had their best spell of the game leading up to half time and the visitors thought they had taken the lead on 25 minutes. The impressive Adam Trudgian played the ball to Neil Slateford who dribbled his way past two challenges before looking up and placing a pass towards the far post for Tom Hunter. However, the player, acquired for the game from Bodmin Town, was deemed to be in an offside position and his tap in from close range was ruled out.

Then on 43 minutes Kernick Road celebrated the opener. Sean Johnston broke down the right and checked his run before playing a pin-point cross to Gregg Hobbs who stole two yards on his marker before placing an excellent header into the top right hand corner of Chapman’s goal.

Just before the break Falmouth did have a chance to get back into the game as Slateford fired in a free-kick from 35 yards out, which dipped just over Steve Raven’s crossbar.

It was a close first-half and Falmouth might have felt unlucky to have been 1-0 down. However, in the second half Town were second best as an early goal from Penryn rocked the visitors.

A hopeful ball forward down the right found Sean Johnston who battled for possession, skipped past one challenge, then cut inside the Falmouth left back and curled a shot inside Chapman’s left hand post from 12 yards out.

Falmouth, who were struggling to create anything up front began to grow despondent and the game was put beyond their reach on 58 minutes when Shaughnessy got to the by-line and fired the ball into the near post area. Gregg Hobbs got his head to the ball as Chapman came to claim but his effort struck the bar before it rebounded to player-manager Band who couldn’t miss from close-range.

If the scoreline was now getting embarrassing for Town, five minutes later it got even worse as the ball fell to Pete McLean in the area who lobbed the advancing Chapman to make it 4-0.

However, to their credit, Town kept battling and Luke Hodge tried his best to get his side back into the game with 15 minutes left but he fired well over form outside the area.

Matt McIlroy was next to go close for Penryn as he stole possession in Falmouth’s half but as he raced past one challenge he over ran the ball allowing Chapman to save well at his feet.

With nine minutes to go Falmouth got a deserved goal back when Hunter played the ball to the feet of Bryn Wheeler who twisted and turned to create half a yard of space in the area before firing low past Raven.

Penryn then sent on target man Dominic Pullen to try and cause the Falmouth back line more problems and the stocky striker did his best as he fired an effort just wide of the Town post before hitting another effort against the upright from close-range.

Falmouth were now playing for pride and chasing down lost causes. Richard Kellow, who had been given a tough game by Sean Johnston down the right, was still battling away and did well to keep the ball from going for a throw on the Falmouth left on 87 minutes.

However, having kept the ball in play it fell straight to Darren Edwards and Kellow, in a reckless attempt to retrieve the ball, went in with a challenge which was high and late and worthy of his second booking of the match.

So all in all it was a very disappointing afternoon for Falmouth and no doubt new manager Alan Carey, who lost his first match in charge against Holsworthy last week, will be making a few more personnel changes at the club following the loss.

Penryn, however will be in Thursday quarter-final draw and should they avoid Saltash, the only other South West Peninsula Premier side left in the hat then they’ll will rate their chances of making the semis.