Wendron United 0, Penryn Athletic 1

HARRY Roberts' second-half goal kept Penryn Athletic firmly in the hunt for the Combination League title with three vital points at Wendron United.

Athletic need help elsewhere if they are to lift the league title later this month, with Perranporth enjoying a game in hand, but Roberts' goal midway through the second half keeps Penryn on top for now.

Perranporth still hold the advantage after winning 5-3 at RNAS Culdrose, but if they drop points in either of their last two games then the title will head to Kernick should Athletic win their remaining fixtures.

Roberts' goal in the 65th minute means Penryn are holding up their end of the bargain, with his goal proving to be the difference in a tight game at the Underlane.

Penryn's title bid still on track

The visitors headed into the game in the knowledge that only a win will do if they are to have any realistic hope of lifting the title, and the importance of that ensured a niggly, frustrating affair, with both dugouts voicing their displeasure at various refereeing decisions throughout.

Penryn were looking busy in the final third but weren't creating too much work for Wendron 'keeper Dan Stedman. Other than a hasty trip out of goal which almost allowed 40-goal top-scorer Ryan Reeve in on goal early on, the goalkeeper was mostly limited to claiming crosses and taking goal kicks. Luke Osborne, Jake Shaw and Russell May were all guilty of putting chances wide before half-time.

The visitors stepped it up after the break but could not find a way through. Jack James fired over while Reeve came close with a long-range lob as Penryn's title hopes looked to be slipping away.

But then the vital goal came. Reeve showed good awareness to tee up Roberts who raced through a gap in the defence and slotted past the onrushing Stedman to the delight of boss Harry Pope on the touchline.

They had chances to make the game safe, Stedman pulled off a great diving save to deny Shaw while Roberts struck the angle of crossbar and post, but Penryn held on for a huge victory.

Job done, and now just one more hurdle to negotiate on Thursday night at Culdrose before their part of the mission is complete.

They will still need a hand from Perranporth's remaining opponents Mullion and Culdrose if they are to be celebrating in a couple of weeks' time, but they've given themselves the best chance possible.

Wendron end first year back with defeat

The match marked the end of Wendron's first season back in the Combination League after a nine-year absence, and although co-managers Josh McDonald and Andrew Mitchell won't have wanted to see it end in defeat, they will have been pleased with a campaign that will see them all but certainly seal a top-ten finish.

It was always going to be difficult to end on a winning note against a Penryn side gunning for the title, and while their opponents enjoyed more possession and more shots on goal, Wendron were more than a match for the title-challengers.

Jack Noy was especially threatening for the hosts throughout the 90 minutes and tested Penryn's stand-in 'keeper Bradley Leivers on a few occasions, and saw one big chance of his in the first half deflected wide.

Guill McIvor had a couple of chances, with one header and one low strike forcing Leivers into action, while the 'keeper had to be hot on his heels to race out and deny Max Bowden when the Wendron man raced in at the near post later in the game.