SWPL Division 1 West: Porthleven 1-2 Liskeard Athletic

JAMES Lorenz's 40th goal of a remarkable season knocked South West Peninsula League Division 1 West leaders Porthleven off their perch when the two sides met at Gala Parc on Saturday.

Liskeard are now one point clear at the top of the table with two games in hand on the Fishermen, and are still yet to lose a game this season.

Lorenz's team-mate Ben Waters put the visitors in front inside 20 minutes with a close-range finish before Tornado Bello scored a deserved leveller for the hosts on the hour.

But Port's joy lasted just seven minutes before Lorenz fired in what will be one of the most, if not the most important of his 40 league goals, to steal all three points for Athletic.

Waters had the first chance of the match when he broke through the home defence in the fourth minute but couldn't keep his strike down.

But it was Porthleven who had the run of the early portion of the match. Rob Carey and Matt Drummond sent efforts wide before Tornado Bello forced visiting 'keeper Jamie Blatchford into a good save to tip his shot over the bar.

But the visitors were the ones to break the deadlock in the 19th minute after winning a corner following a brief spell of pressure. The initial ball was cleared but was swiftly returned to the area, where Waters was on hand to poke the ball past Porthleven 'keeper Richard Kellow.

The Fishermen went back on the attack with Bello firing a free-kick over the crossbar before Drummond spurned a one-on-one with Blatchford at the end of a swift counter attack.

The hosts could not be guilty of not creating chances, with Bello seeing a shot saved while Drummond headed wide from Tom Annear's corner.

Annear then had a go himself with his effort from distance being saved by Blatchford, before returning to his familiar role of provider to tee up Drummond who headed wide just before half-time.

Liskeard were first to register a shot when the sides returned for the second half, with Lorenz curling inches wide of Kellow's goal from the corner of the box. 

But Porthleven finally had the goal their play merited on the hour when Bello received the ball from a quick free-kick and rounded Blatchford before slotting into the empty net from a tight angle.

But the away side were soon back on the front foot when Lorenz pounced on Kellow's weak clearance and raced in to score his 40th goal of an incredible season for the Liskeard frontman.

That set up a barnstorming final 30 minutes in which the play was largely end-to-end with both sides keen to attack for different reasons. Kellow saved Woods' shot before Matt Fox saw his lob attempt clear the crossbar.

Port were throwing men forward at every opportunity but it was Liskeard who were getting shot on goal. Kellow thwarted Sam Rogers from close range before getting down low to keep out Woods' effort.

George Molcher, on as a sub, almost scored a sensational equaliser deep in added time when he fired at goal from 30 yards, but Blatchford was able to beat the ball away and rubberstamp what could be a massive victory for the away side.

Porthleven: R Kellow, S Kellow, J Sims (G Molcher 79), C Wormington, J Lugg, H Dark (J Adlard 84), T Bello, T Annear, R Carey, M Drummond, D Hindmarch (M Fox 35). Subs (unused): F Pengelly.

Liskeard: J Blatchford, A King, S Jilbert, R Cleveland, D Peel, M Thorp, L Johnson, J Lorenz, B Waters, J Woods, B Collins. Subs: S Rogers, M Lindsay, A Walton.

• Porthleven's next match is at Plymouth Marjon on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).