PRE-SEASON or not, a win is a win, and Wendron United began their summer friendly programme with a late, late one at Penryn Athletic on Saturday.
Penryn new man Jack Rapsey looked to have secured a draw for the hosts with his second-half strike cancelling out Rory Jarvis' effort just before the break, but youngster Lucas Potts popped up with a fine winning goal two minutes from time.
Familiar faces on show
Pre-season is usually a time for club to show off some new faces in their squads, but there weren't too many of those on show at Kernick on Saturday.
The previous match I covered featured a Truro City side on Tuesday night that was hardly recognisable from the one that was relegated from last season's National League South, but both sides on Saturday fielded largely similar sides to those that took to the pitch at the end of last season.
Former Wendron goalkeeper Ben Mitchell in action for Penryn
The only two new additions on show were in a Penryn shirt, and both were ex-Wendron men. Goalkeeper Ben Mitchell, who played at South West Peninsula League level for the Dron, will be a shrewd acquisition for Penryn in the new St Piran Football League.
Striker Jack Rapsey was a team-mate of Mitchell at Wendron and he began last summer's pre-season in Jack Greenwood's squad before an unfortunate injury in a friendly ended his 2018/19 campaign before it even began.
Rapsey, who is the son of Cornish football legend Mark, came off the bench to level the scores midway through the half with a smart finish into the bottom corner, and a goal so early into his Penryn career will do wonders for his confidence after such a long spell out of the game.
Jack Rapsey scored on his Penryn debut
Stedman under scrutiny
Goalkeeper Dan Stedman is the only new signing in the Wendron camp - but not for Wendron.
The 18-year-old signed for Truro City last month but is set to remain as Wendron's number one for the forthcoming SWPL campaign to further his development.
Signing for the premier club in Cornwall is going to bring a new level of scrutiny upon the young man's game, but he performed well in his first match of his dual contract
Greenwood said in his post-match interview that Stedman is: "so laid back, almost too laid back," and that was shown when Athletic striker Ryan Reeve almost pinched the ball from his feet outside of his box, although the youngster escaped from that one.
Truro City and Wendron goalkeeper Dan Stedman makes a catch from a Penryn corner
He did very well to keep Reeve quiet otherwise, frequently racing out of goal to beat the pacey striker to the through balls on which he thrives.
The 'keeper also showed off his strong shot-stopping at times and made some superb catches from testing crosses. Hopefully there will be more to come in what is a big season for the lad.
Rory off the mark
It was a good start to pre-season for Rory Jarvis at the other end of the pitch, with the striker grabbing the opening goal of the game with a fine finish on the turn from outside the box.
Jarvis was Wendron's top-scorer last season with 17 goals, with six coming in an 11-0 win over Ludgvan. He was well supported by winger Cameron Wheat, who scored 12, but with the youngster having moved down the A394 to Helston Athletic, there will be greater pressure on Jarvis to deliver goals this season, and at a higher level.
It will be a big ask for Rory, but a well-taken goal in the first match of pre-season is a good way to start.
Rory Jarvis scored the opening goal for Wendron
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