NEWQUAY will go into their last game of the season against Wendron on Thursday evening (April 17) needing one point to secure the title after a hard-earned victory at Penlee Park on Saturday.

A draw would put the Peppermints on 72 points and, with a superior goal difference of 21, that would mean rivals Liskeard Athletic could not overtake them, even with victory at Millbrook on Good Friday.

The game at Penlee was hardly a classic but Newquay got the job done with a goal in each half from Dan Carne and substitute Alex Cole.

Penzance had not lost at home since mid August, when Liskeard triumphed 4-3, and they fought all the way to preserve that impressive record but fell short in the final third.

Newquay suffered an early blow when striker Callam McOnie limped off after 16 minutes but that allowed Jack Bray-Evans into the action after completing his three-match suspension.

On a pleasantly warm afternoon following morning rain, first effort on target came after 26 minutes when Phil Lowry’s shot was parried by home keeper Mikey Flores.

But two minutes later the Peppermints broke the deadlock as Tom Shepherd’s cross from the right was flicked goalwards at the near post by Lowry and Carne arrived to poke the ball over the line after frantic efforts by the Penzance defence to keep the ball out.

It was almost 1-1 five minutes later when Newquay right-back Jamie Edlin was relieved to see his hurried clearance fly inches wide after a superb low cross from the right by Charlie Willis raced across the six-yard line.

Willis then had two good chances, the first seeing a shot blocked after great work down the left by Curtis Smith, then he curled an effort just over.

Lewis Caspall had a fierce drive charge down as the Magpies also made a positive start to the second period but only a breathtaking save from Flores at point-blank range denied Carne his second minutes later.

Newquay needed a second goal to ease any nerves and it came in the 62nd minute when just seconds after coming off the bench, Cole was in the right position to bundle home Turner’s left-footed free-kick from the right.

The celebrations on and off the field illustrated just how much that goal meant to Newquay.

Penzance did not give up. Teenage striker Brook Williams, on for Jacob Trudgeon, fired over from a Caspall cross. Then player/manager Mark Vercesi, himself a second half substitute, connected with a deep Willis free-kick but Tom Moxham hooked clear.

Finally, Williams, fresh from a two-goal salvo for Cornwall Under 16s the previous night, was just unable to convert a whipped cross from the left by Smith as the Peppermints moved ever closer to promotion.

PENZANCE: Mikey Flores; Archie Reynolds (Ewan Trevains, 61), Curtis Smith, Josh Storey, Chris Wormington, Sam Young (Ollie Butler, 61), Jacob Trudgeon (Brook Williams, 55), Charlie Willis, Charlie Young, Lewis Caspall, Silas Sullivan (capt, Mark Vercesi, 61). Sub not used: Tyler Tonkin.

NEWQUAY: Brodie Cole; Jamie Edlin, Tom Moxham, Cam Turner, Harry Downing (capt), Ross Fallens (Owen Johnson, 89), Tom Shepherd, Aaron Dilley (Lucas Potts, 75), Callam McOnie (Jack Bray-Evans, 16), Phil Lowry (Alex Cole, 61), Dan Carne (Oliver Butterworth, 90+3).

Men-of-the-match: Penzance – Sam Young; Newquay – Cam Turner.