By Michael Addison
USW Mens 1sts fell to defeat in the first round of the National Trophy as Jake Curtis’ late strike for Plymouth Marjon killed off the home side’s second-half comeback from 3-1 down.
Two early goals from Jacob Smith and Charlie Elkington had put Marjon 2-0 ahead within the first 10 minutes, Nico Gowran replied for USW before Smith scored again to restore the two-goal margin.
Gowran and Kavan O’Leary made it honours even going into the game’s closing stages – before Curtis’ last-gasp intervention.
Early on, Smith’s run towards the edge of the box saw Marjon’s number 17 strike past Harley Tucker to put the visitors ahead.
Marjon’s second came minutes later as great combination play allowed Charlie Elkington to drill the ball home off the inside of the left post.
USW responded well with their opener starting from ‘keeper Tucker distributing long.
Pic: Eleanor Clifton
Laurent Ngunjoh controlled well and his pass set Gowran away to place the ball past goalkeeper Andrew Sowdon to put USW on the scoresheet.
The away side had chances to add to their lead. Ovo Ememerurai found himself one-on-one with Tucker, but dragged his shot wide.
Then Gowran almost turned provider down the right-hand side, curling in a low cross which nobody could guide home.
When Tucker, just after the half-hour mark, was booked for a late challenge on Ememerurai, the Marjon man curled his free-kick into the net at the near post to make it 3-1 at half-time.
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USW got a goal back from a corner as Lewis Taylor’s cross was headed in by Gowran for his second of the game.
Minutes later, defender Kavan O’Leary beat the offside trap, chipping the ball over Sowden to give USW a deserved equaliser going into the final stages.
However, the winner came in stoppage time as Marjon captain Curtis, unmarked down the left wing, calmly slipped the ball past Tucker to give the visitors victory.
Next week, USW travel to Marjon again in the Western Tier 1, looking to build on a three-game unbeaten run in the league.