Penzance's late winner at St Austell shapes Peninsula League week

George Molcher had not scored since February. On Wednesday night at Poltair, ten minutes after coming off the bench, he threaded a low shot inside the near post with virtually the last kick of the game, and Penzance had beaten leaders AFC St Austell 1-0. Manager Mark Vercesi had admitted that for the final twenty minutes, with the hosts pushing four forwards, he would have taken a point. 'Hero – absolute hero,' he said of the finish.

The result lifted Penzance to second, seven points behind St Austell but with four games fewer played, and left them as the only unbeaten side in Premier West. They followed it on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Callington Town, where, according to the club, Harry Salmon made a brilliant late save from Soper to protect the lead. Callington had beaten Bude 2-1 in their previous home game, and Penzance's own match report notes that Callington can overhaul both of the top two if they win their games in hand. The week began for Penzance with a Saturday win at Sticker, secured by a Vercesi header.

In the FA Vase, Elburton Villa beat Step 5 Tavistock 2-0 away to reach the second-round draw. Honiton Town drew 1-1 at Torridgeside and went to penalties, a result that followed a 4-1 home win over Newton Abbot Spurs and a 2-1 midweek defeat to Ilminster Town. Spurs lost 6-0 at Wantage Town, and Bridport went out to Cirencester Town in a game in which Sam Fisher scored a hat-trick. Bridport's club said afterwards the team could be proud of reaching the first round.

The most affecting night came at Crediton United, where a crowd of around 200 gathered at Lords Meadow to pay respects to head groundsman Andre Pike, known as Fids. A minute's silence was followed by a minute's applause before Crediton beat Okehampton Argyle 4-0, with Shay Corrick, Seb Roche and Thierno Lo among the scorers. The club later corrected its first account: Roche scored two, and Corrick and Lo one each. Okehampton had a player sent off after 25 minutes. Crediton lost 2-0 at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday, and Bishops Lydeard had lost 2-1 at home to Cullompton Rangers earlier in the week.

Cullompton had begun October with a 6-0 win over Teignmouth that took them top of Premier East with games in hand. Elsewhere, Mousehole won 4-1 against Launceston at Trungle Parc, with goals from Lucas Best on his debut, Isaac Joy, Kian Obayan and Victor Mullalay.