WITH the weather beginning to create a fixture crisis in Cornish football, a couple of Kernow Stone St Piran League clubs managed to survive the conditions and were able to focus on the delayed quarter-finals of the Bond Timber Cornwall Junior Cup, writes Leon Prynn. 

Falmouth United booked their place in the semi-finals with a superb 2-0 win over competition favourites Pensilva, but Stithians suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of East fourth division side Biscovey.

Falmouth United made a great start against Pensilva when after 15 minutes 18-year-old Callum Jewell dispossessed a defender and showed great composure for a youngster to give the ’keeper no chance with his finish to put his side ahead.

The visitors found it difficult to stamp their authority on the game against a United side that showed far more commitment and it needed a top-drawer save from the ’keeper to prevent Reece Toms from extending United’s lead.

Pensilva showed more desire in the second half and began to show why they are so highly rated, but they found it difficult to find a way through United’s compact defence in which ’keeper Lewis Munden dealt competently with everything that came his way.

Player-manager Mike Rollason made a dramatic introduction to the game in the 79th minute when he put himself on as sub. Within a minute he had notched a second goal when Pensilva failed to deal with Reuben Talbot’s long ball and Rollason squeezed between two defenders to knock the ball past the ’keeper.

It gave United the cushion they needed and it was something they held on to for a disciplined and well-deserved victory.

Stithians had one of those days they would prefer to forget after going down 4-0 at home to Biscovey with Dean Dingle proving too hot to handle by snapping up a hat-trick.

The home side got off to the worst possible start after conceding a penalty just a few minutes into the game. Dominic Ede was brought down in the box and Dingle slammed his spotkick into the roof of the net.

Stithians were unable to make any real impression on the game as Biscovey dominated possession, but fortunately for the home side they were unable to turn it into goals.

Treve Bale had a rare chance to level the scores two minutes before the break, but struck his shot just over the bar with the ’keeper to beat.

Right on the half-time whistle Stithians suffered a major blow when Steve Crooks was sent off for a reckless tackle.

To their credit Stithians never gave up the cause, but their passive display was never enough to unsettle the visitors who added a second with one of the best goals you are likely to see when Dingle, on the half-way line beside the touchline, spotted the ’keeper marginally off his line and scored with a superb shot over the ’keeper’s head.

A slick move carved open Stithians’ defence in the 66th minute for Ede to finish in style and in the final minute of normal time Dingle completed his hat-trick when he had a free run in on goal.

The four semi-finalists are Falmouth United, Dropship, Biscovey and Lanreath.

In the Cornwall Intermediate Cup RNAS Culdrose pulled off an excellent 4-0 win at Tamarside club Gunnislake.

Dan Hindmarch opened the scoring with a half-volley into the corner of the net and Frank Archer added a second when he netted from a close range header following a well-delivered corner by Hindmarch.

The servicemen dominated possession and notched a third goal when Braden Danaher, after earlier hitting the woodwork, scored from a penalty.

Dylan Doyle completed the rout when he outjumped the home defence to nod in with a header from a recycled ball from a corner.

One game was played in the West premier division with the hotly-contested local derby between Pendeen Rovers and St Just finishing with honours even after a 1-1 draw and Mousehole Development had their expected 6-3 win over struggling St Agnes.

In division one, title-chasing St Ives Town were held to a 2-2 draw by West Cornwall after Town scored through Ross Duncan and Jack Stewart with the visitors replying through a brace by Robertas Sumnauskas.

Troon and Wendron United III also shared a 2-2 draw with Zach Alexander and Xolani Tukulula scoring for United.

Division three leaders Probus suffered a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of title-chasing Holmans SC with Nathan Williams (2), Callum Faulkner and Matthew Knurek scoring the goals.

Wendron United IV were 1-0 winners at St Keverne with a goal from Finn Hibbins and St Ives Mariners came out on top 5-4 against St Erme. Liam Taylor, Craig Donlevy, Jason Blight, Ryan Stanley and Adam Fallows scored for Mariners and Brandon McDonnell (2), Max Pethick and Craig Sanders replied for Saints.

Penryn Athletic Reserves have put some real daylight between themselves and Perranporth after thrashing Storm 13-0. Liam Dent was in unstoppable form and bagged seven goals with the other goals coming from Kyle Cook (3), Steve Brewer, Dan Reeve and Bradley Southeard.

In the Percy Stephens Cup Lanner overcame Mullion III 3-1.