MULLION 1 PENRYN ATHLETIC 2

TWO players were taken to hospital during a match that offered a whole new description to the clich of a "game of two halves" and summed up an eventful Jolly's Combination League game at Clifden Park.

An injury to Penryn goalkeeper Robert Hoare, in which he sustained a broken leg, forced a stoppage in the game. With three minutes remaining the referee took the teams off the pitch for their "half-time" break and when play was able to resume they came back on to play the outstanding three minutes, change ends, and then play the second half.

Mullion included Rob Kew in goal, but he made a nervous opening and sliced a backpass from Mark Buchanan. Fortunately Alex Sharkey was on hand to deny Athletic from making the most of the slip.

The home side missed a great chance of taking the lead in the sixth minute when Darren Robertson met Sharkey's free kick into the box. He headed the ball back across the face of the goal where Wayne Briggs, from two yards, managed to put the ball over the bar.

Gareth Harris was unlucky when a superbly struck 25 yard shot curled just wide of the post, but seven minutes later the home side deservedly took the lead. Matt Fox was put through by Jason Robertson and although the 'keeper saved at his feet the rebound fell to Wayne Briggs, who chipped his shot over the 'keeper.

Three minutes before half-time Briggs ran on to a ball over the top by Chris Lawrence and slid in for a 50-50 ball with the 'keeper. Unfortunately Robert Hoare sustained a broken leg and had to be taken to hospital.

He was the second Athletic casualty because earlier in the match defender Paul Kneebone suffered a gash to his head after a collision and he also had to go to hospital. Mullion 'keeper Kew also had to be replaced during the interval after pulling a hamstring and was replaced by Marc Rose.

Mullion took up the second half where they left off the first and created chance after chance with Fox shooting over the bar and Darren Robertson skimming the bar after good work by Briggs.

Full report in this week's issue.