Falmouth Town gained their first win in a month and progressed to the next round of the Throgmorton Cup with this hard earned win over Division 1 West new boys Perranporth.
Included in Town’s line-up were two new signings; Tom Barwell from Launceston and Ryan Fice from Ivybridge.
The visitors, one of the favourites for the title, had the first chance of the game when they won a free kick on the edge of the area. Former Town favourite Ian Gosling chipped the ball over the bar.
Falmouth had more of the attacking play and went close in the 17th minute when from a corner, Tom Smith rose the highest and headed into the side netting.
Three minutes later, from a corner on the left, Mike Davies headed Matt Drummond’s effort off the line and from a corner from the right, Kevin Lawrence was on hand to head off the line again to keep the score line intact.
Barwell was felled on the edge of the Perranporth area by Justin Miles but the free kick into the box was headed out and the chance was gone.
It was no surprise when Falmouth took the lead in the 33rd minute. A good ball into the box by Bobby Bryant was latched onto by Fice six yards out as he poked it past Ben Mitchell to net on his debut.
Loanee from Truro City Dan Green had a long range effort as half time approached but it was marginally too high and went over.
Three minutes into the second period Green again had a shot on goal which brought a superb save from young Perran keeper Mitchell.
Ryan Fice was impressive on his debut for the club, he went close to doubling his tally, but his effort fell wide with the keeper beaten.
In the 63rd minute a tackle by Barwell on Rob Stapleton earned the Town man a yellow card with Gosling also being booked in the skirmish.
Sean Flynn was booked in the 70th for a foul and following this both teams made changes.
Falmouth brought on Nick Pugliese for Barwell and Perranporth introduced Ben Goldring and Richard Ivers for Lawrence and Stapleton.
Three minutes later, Ben Stidwell brought another good save from Mitchell as the keeper spread himself to save the shot.
Rob Carey was introduced up front for Falmouth in place of Ryan Fice in the 83rd minute.
In the second minute of injury time, Danny O’Hagan missed a glorious chance to wrap the game up when, under pressure he shot over from six yards.
In the seven minutes of injury time played, the script was written for Perran to bag an equaliser and in the sixth minute of it, they did.
A free kick was swung into the box and only half cleared, Gosling pulled the ball back for Justin Harrington to tap home from close in to force extra time.
During the break, Falmouth brought on Lee Coxon to replace Robin Teagle.
In the first minute, a looping shot from Carey was cleared off the line, or so thought the Perran players as the referee, on his assistant’s say so, gave the goal.
Bobby Bryant shot over from a good position in the 95th minute.
Falmouth wrapped the game up in the 108th minute when he prodded the ball home from inside the six yard box.
In the 113th minute, Ian Gosling’s volley found the back of the net to reduce the deficit but Falmouth held out and will now entertain Bodmin Town in the next round on Thursday 22nd October.