THE FINAL WORD: Porthleven 2-2 Dobwalls

The Fishermen led visiting side Dobwalls by two goals in the second half, but after missing chances to put the game to bed, they conceded two goals in two minutes to surrender two points.

Matt Fox gave the hosts the lead before the break, with George Molcher's strike putting the home side in control. But hopes of an opening-day victory were soured with two goals in two minutes from Nathan Lang and Mike Smith.

Profligate Porthleven

Those connected to Porthleven will probably have woken up on the Sunday morning after the game with a feeling of: 'What if?' The Fishermen led 2-0 after an hour and generally looked good value for their lead.

At that point they were knocking it about reasonably nicely and Dobwalls were offering little in reply. But what they weren't doing was punishing them for it.

Molcher had already scored a fine goal, but he should have added a second when he raced through on goal unopposed, instead firing his shot straight at the 'keeper.

It was a similar story for Dan Stidwell, who had done so well to knock the ball past the full-back and bear down on goal, but was again denied by the goalkeeper.

The 'keeper had also made a vital fingertip save to stop Fox's near-post flick-on from rolling over the line, before parrying a shot into Dan Richardson's path later on, who drilled the effort over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Port were subsequently punished for their inability to punish their opponents, with two quickfire goals rescuing a point for the east Cornwall side.

The Fishermen will face tougher opponents than the Reds this season, against whom they will get far fewer chances and will need to be more clinical to.

Missed opportunity

It is early days yet, but Porthleven will know that they need to be winning games against the perceived lower sides.

Of the other 19 clubs in this season's SWPL Premier West, six finished below Porthleven. These are the matches that need to be earmarked as ones from which they should be taking three points if they are compete anywhere other than the bottom half of the table.

In the few games these players have played together in Port shirts this summer, they have showed that they have the potential to play higher up the table, but they need to win games like these to do so.

George's great goal

One of the positives that managers Jamie Thomson and Graham Blake can take from the game is the performance of Molcher.

The forward had been a little quiet when I saw him in their pre-season games, but he could have just been overshadowed by the performances of Stidwell and Kyle Fraser.

But he played a bigger part on Saturday, in the absence of Fraser, and looked decent at the same time. He looked to race onto the lofted through balls that the Fishermen seem to favour, he brought others into play around the edge of the Dobwalls box, and he had a few decent efforts on goal too.

His fine solo goal was the highlight - picking the ball up at a throw-in, turning and dribbling past three players, before curling the ball into the corner from outsde the box.

Yes, he should have buried the ball when through on goal at 2-0 which may well have won the game, but it was still a good performance.

Midfield boost

Among the spectators at Gala Parc for Saturday's game was new Porthleven signing Charlie Young, who has rejoined the club from Helston Athletic.

Young will bring further SWPL Premier experience to the side after a few seasons in the division with Helston's first team, where he played with fellow Porthleven new boy Tyler Oliver.

Young's arrival will also add even more depth to the central midfield, with Oliver, Richardson, Jordan Adlard and Josh Richards all adept in that position.

Next up

Porthleven face another match against one of the other six teams to finish below them last season on Tuesday night - when they travel to Wadebridge Town.

Port won the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season, and won 3-0 in the reverse fixture. Another one of those would be a fine reaction to yesterday's result.