Ian Pethick

Thanks John, really interesting read. Looks like the competition was an important stepping stone into being successful Western League sides for Falmouth, Saltash and Liskeard. Slightly off topic, but the history of 3 times winners Road Sea Southampton is a fascinating one. Formed in 1972 and heavily backed by Road Sea (a local freight company), they dominated Sunday football in the Southampton area before applying to, and being accepted by the Southern League despite having never played Saturday football. In 5 seasons in the league they won the division 1 title and finished 5th in the Premier Division (behind Cheltenham and Crawley Town amongst others). They then moved to the Wessex League and finished 2nd in 1986/87, the same season they won the Pratten Cup for the final time, after which they lost the financial backing of Road Sea Freight and abruptly folded. Ranks alongside non league teams such as Colne Dynamoes who came from nowhere, shone very brightly, then disappeared.

Enjoy these highlights, and the footage is well filmed and edited, but would somebody please give Steve Massey a copy of the teamsheet? Understand that he is there to provide colour, and not formal commentary, but he barely mentioned any of the Millbrook players by name. Not even during the penalty shoot out

Looks like The Ashes are heading towards a play off, but it shouldn't take the gloss off the season. After the turmoil with the Dane Bunney dismissal last summer, and then the circumstances surrounding Shane Krac walking away mid season, Danny Lewis has done incredibly well to stabilise the ship, get it back on course and run Mousehole close. Suspect many at Saltash will be hoping for a rather boring and uneventful off season this year.

Even if doesn't happen at Bridgwater on Tuesday night, then I can't see Mousehole not getting 3 points from their last 2 matches. But, if Saltash lose at A&B on Thursday night then the match at Trungle v Wellington on Saturday will turn into a winners celebration. They would be worthy champions, and I'm sure they will do well at step 4.

One hand on the trophy now. Win at Bridgwater on Tuesday night, and they're champions.

Am I right in saying that the Pratten Cup was played on a Sunday, with it being invitational for South West sides? Would be interesting to see a list of winning sides, and when it was last competed for (the trophy must be gathering dust in a clubhouse somewhere).

No surprise, but a real headache now regarding fixtures (and for the groundstaff at Bolitho). Unless they try again tomorrow night (which I would think unlikely), the only dates left at Bolitho Park are either Monday 17th April or Friday 21st April (admittedly, the later would save on Bracknell's travel expenses as they are fixtured to play at Parkway on the 22nd April) . This now means 6 games to play in the last 8 days of the season. Sat - Truro v Met Police Sun - Blank Mon - Blank Tues - Parkway v Winchester Weds - Truro v Salisbury Thurs -Parkway v North Leigh Fri - Blank Sat - Parkway v Bracknell All fingers must be crossed that Tiverton v Parkway tonight goes ahead.

How does that compare to attendances over the last 10 years or so? I am assuming that in the days when the Senior Cup and Junior Cup Finals were a double header, both games counted towards the figure. Always remember the Junior Cup curtain raiser being a large and particularly boisterous crowd, sometimes more so than the headline Senior Cup Final.

Surprised he didn't do a John Terry, appear in full Helston kit and charge to the front and pick the trophy up.😀

Bradley Leivers impressed at Penryn in their COVID wrecked St Pirans season. Believe that step 4 Tavistock were keen on him this season

Was always going to be a season of Matt Cusack sorting out the squad he inherited ( looking at Full Time, 34 players have appeared for them this season)and getting his coaching, tactics and ideas across. Would think as well that Steve Massey is still a big presence at Helston, and that Cusack has to work hard to keep him in the commentary box and away from the dressing room. Lifting the Senior Cup and finishing in the top 5 (as they could still do) would demonstrate real progress though, and leave them well placed to push on towards the title race next season.

On the occasions I have seen Truro this season, Danny Sullivan has made them tick. Very hard for sides to pick up when he plays in that hole behind the strikers (the classic Zola role). When they lost at Chesham he went off injured early on, and in the defeat at Hendon he was clearly half fit when he came on. Pretty sure that none of the Parkway midfield has managed double figures this season, they"ve been very reliant on Jack Crago and Ben Seymour for goals (and Seymour has only scored twice in the league away from Bolitho).

Mousehole's fine unbeaten run had to end some time, 28 without defeat is some achievement in a league as competitive as this. Gives another twist to the title race as well. Gives Helston a big boost going into Monday's CSC final as well and, given how strongly they are finishing the season, must be grounds for optimism that Matt Cusack's side can be up there with the likes of the revitalised Buckland next season.

Going on the evidence of the last few years, Lee Hobbs usually moves 4 or 5 out each summer (and is not afraid of making calls on big names and established favourites). Speaking to regular Bolitho attendees, 2 of the players they have concerns about are Billy Palfrey and Mikey Williams. Both have been great players in this era, but have suffered through injury this season and (in the case of Williams) being used in defence. Have to say though that several of the signings made last summer didn't come off (Tyler Langmead, Theo Simpson and Rece Shanley) Don't think major surgery is required, but upgrades in several areas (goalkeeper, goal scoring midfielder and more options up front must be high on the wish list) as well as squad numbers and depth required if the club is to get closer to the play offs. Look at the big squads that the likes of Weston, Chesham and Bracknell carry for example, and then look at Parkway being unable to fill the bench on a few occasions this season. A lot will depend on the budget available to Hobbs, and also where the board see the club heading next.Would certainly think that his position is secure, and that he is highly regarded by the people in charge. It was widely rumoured though that he didn't get the money that he thought was needed last summer and was also unable to get the funding to add personnel in January. Would think that if Truro City get promoted to step 2, that this may cause a few of their current group to become available. The likes of Plymouth based Ben Adlesbury and Danny Sullivan left Taunton due to the extra commitment required to play at that level.

Not the first, doubt they'll be the last. Suspect a few Peninsula League clubs chased the step 5 dream this season, the financial hangover may well kick in this summer.

Yes, didn't realise Barum had so many matches left to play. They would have to win all of their remaining 8 matches though to overhaul Mousehole, and hope you lot lose your last 5. Mathematically not quite over for them, but it probably is in reality.

Parkway slipped to their 3rd successive away league defeat as they returned to action after an enforced wet weather break to play off chasing Supermarine. Result means little with the season now effectively just being played out, but this run of just 1 win and 1 draw from the last 6 games on the road (with only 4 goals being scored in this time) takes the gloss off the previous much improved results away from Bolitho.

This result means that Saltash are now guaranteed a top 2 finish, and Mousehole just need 1 more point for the same (although their goal difference is vastly superior to the other theoretical contenders Bridgwater, so effectively an extra point). Just the who wins the title and goes up as of right to be decided now.

As a born and bred Liskeard boy I'm genuinely torn on whether I want Saltash to be successful. 🙄 I really used to despise those Ashes teams of the 80's.

Wonder what was going through Darren Gilbert's mind when he was watching the club that he was the driving force behind for many years, get so comprehensively beaten.

Football law usually kicks in, sooner or later some clubs are going to relegated. Does happen unfortunately.

Harry Jeffrey and Harvey Mullis are two players that I think will feature very prominently in transfer rumours threads.

Neil Price at Launceston would be a decent shout for manager of the season.

How about coming up with an eleven, but having a maximum three players (for example) for each club? Would think that River Allen will walk into most people's sides, a step 3 quality player passing the time at step 6. I'm not a SWPL watcher, so will leave it to others.

Rocky, you do seem to have a thing for Saltash.