A record crowd of 1,171 packed into Bickland Park to witness Jack Bray-Evans score four goals as Falmouth Town cruised to a 5-0 victory over local rivals Penryn Athletic.

It took until the 35th minute to open the scoring when Bray-Evans prodded an effort into the back of the next via the inside of the post before Toby Clark doubled the lead one minute shy of half time.

Bray-Evans then scored a goal of the season contender when he volleyed home two minutes after the break from just inside the box. Misery was piled on the visitors when substitute Joe Mcilroy was shown a red card for a foul on Falmouth’s Marcello Jones midway through the second half.

Town took advantage of this with two more well-worked goals from Bray-Evans to seal a perfect belated Christmas present for the South West Peninsula League leaders.

On a bright afternoon at Bickland Park, the first half consisted of the hosts dominating possession but failing to take advantage of their chances.

James Ward was unfortunate not to hit the target in just the sixth minute from a corner. A deep cross from Luke Barner picked out the Falmouth Captain but his header was deflected wide.

The visitors were committed to playing out from the back and had an opportunity to score of their own in the 13th minute. Kyle Cooke attacked down the left and displayed good vision to locate James Daniel at the far post but the full back’s effort was hit low and wide of the goal.

Ollie Walker was a constant threat for Falmouth Town on the left wing, his teasing cross in the 21st minute was just too far in front of the sliding Luke Brabyn in the six-yard box.

Penryn’s best moment of the first half followed in the 25th minute as midfielder Morgan Vallejo showed tenacity and composure to take on four Falmouth players before being brought down on the edge of the area.

His fine work wasn’t matched by the following effort however, as the free-kick was blazed over the bar and into the car park from Nick Boase.

It was then Falmouth’s turn to hammer a shot over the bar when Jack Webber received the ball on the edge of the area, his first-time strike went into the nets above and behind the goal rather than its intended target after half an hour.

Town eventually took the lead, which they deserved on the balance of play in the 35th minute. Penryn goalkeeper Adam Robathan made a mess of his clearance directing his kick straight to Falmouth’s number nine Bray-Evans.

The striker did well to hold off the presence of the covering defender and prod a weak effort beyond the goalkeeper which crept in via the post. 

Falmouth Packet: Bray-Evans celebrates opening the scoring Bray-Evans celebrates opening the scoring

Centre half Toby Clark almost doubled the lead with 39 minutes played. He did well to get on the end of a twice deflected cross but saw his header ricochet back off the upright.

Clark was celebrating one minute before half time though as he converted from a corner. Falmouth’s initial effort from Brabyn was well cleared off the line by the covering Bradley Leivers, but his block only fell to the centre back who was able to hammer home from close range to make it 2-0 moments before the referee's whistle.

The unrelenting Falmouth attacks continued after the break and with 47 minutes played Bray-Evans scored what was the goal of the game and maybe Town’s season so far.

The forward and Luke Barner combined, the latter flicking the ball onto Falmouth’s number nine who had continued his run into the box to latch onto the end of the lofted pass, before directing his effort clean on the volley into the top corner.

Falmouth were looking increasingly more threatening than their first-half attacks and did well to pin Athletic into their own half.

The afternoon continued to go downhill for Penryn as they were then reduced to ten men in the 66th minute. Penryn substitute Joe Mcilroy, who replaced the injured Russell May, was given his marching orders when he body checked the onrushing Marcello Jones.

Falmouth Packet: A South West Peninsula League record of 1,171 fans attended the fixture.A South West Peninsula League record of 1,171 fans attended the fixture.

Falmouth made their extra man count in the 73rd minute when Bray-Evans bagged another. Town worked an attack nicely down the right with Brabyn. He picked out Jones who backheeled into the path of Bray-Evans who smashed in at the near post.

Penryn were then offered a lifeline back into the match in the 76th minute when Leivers was felled by Kirk Davies inside the penalty box. Boase stepped up for Penryn, aiming for the bottom left corner. But Ryan Barnes guessed the right way and added another spot-kick save to his tally for the season.

Bray-Evans completed the goal scoring in the 84th minute with his fourth and Falmouth’s fifth of the afternoon. He was granted time and space on the edge of the area, and when urged to shoot he powered a strike into the top left corner via the slightest of deflections.

Ward had another opportunity to score from a corner in the dying minutes but his towering header was glanced agonisingly wide of the mark.

A big win in front of a big crowd means it is another three points for Town who maintain their 100% winning record for the season. Their next match is away to Okehampton on January 3 in the Walter C Parson Cup.

It is the only league game in which Penryn have failed to score in this season, and they will hope to return to winning ways when they host Newquay on January 8.

Team Lineups:

Falmouth Town: R. Barnes, K. Davies, T. Moxham, A. Calleja-Stayne, T. Clark, J. Ward, L. Brabyn, J. Webber, J. Bray-Evans, L. Barner, O. Walker

Subs: T. Annear, D. Broglino, M. Jones, T. Nixon, A. Wharton

Penryn Athletic: A. Robathon, K. McPhilbin, N. Boase, B. Leivers, B. Williams, R. May, R. Reeve, A. Hayhoe, K. Cooke, M. Vallejo, J. Daniel

Subs: C. Powell, J. Mcilroy, J. Davies, J. Rapsey

READ MORE: Falmouth Town break club record for most consecutive league wins