Kernow Football Alliance Clinches Cornish Gold Cup in Thrilling Victory

The Kernow Football Alliance emerged victorious in the inaugural Cornish Gold Cup, defeating Chagos Islands (BIOT) with a score of 5-2 at Lux Park, the home of Liskeard Athletic. This gripping match was marked by standout performances from Dan Jennings and Max Gilbert, each scoring twice, and a debut goal from Louis Price.

A Flying Start

Kernow’s triumph began swiftly with Max Gilbert of AFC St Austell putting the team ahead, quickly followed by a second goal. Despite a spirited and aggressive effort from the Chagos Islands team, based in Crawley, they managed to pull one back thanks to a skilful run and finish by Hansley Sagai, making it 2-1 before half-time.

Dominance After the Break

After the interval, Kernow’s superior quality shone through. As the Chagos Islands side began to tire, three more goals for Kernow came, courtesy of substitute Dan Jennings of Liskeard Athletic and a debut strike from Newquay’s Louis Price. The visitors managed a late consolation goal from Dieron Munorrah, but it was not enough to mount a comeback.

Player and Coach Reactions

Kernow captain James Ward, representing Falmouth Town, shared his thoughts on the match: “I thought it was going to be a good afternoon at work having gone 2-0 up quite early but then we gave away a sloppy goal from our end to make it 2-1 going into half-time. That got their tails up. As the game went on there were some tackles flying in and it was a bit unsportsmanlike to be honest with you. I think it kind of ruined the game in my honest opinion.”

Chagos Islands manager Jimmy Ferrar reflected on the match’s intensity and his team’s performance: “It was a massive battle. It nearly spilled over a few times into what probably could have been borderline a bit too much of a battle but we progressed. I’m a bit bruised by that one because I think after half-time we could have come out and scored and it could have been a different game but we didn’t.”

Historical Context and Future Matches

This victory marks Kernow’s first outing on the international stage since their 2-1 win over FA Sapmi in the CONIFA World Football Cup qualifiers last year. The CONIFA World Football Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Kurdistan, was postponed due to security concerns and is now set for summer 2025.

Chagos Islands, representing the ‘Chagossian community in exile’, previously visited Cornwall almost five years ago, suffering a heavy 10-3 defeat, with Dan Jennings scoring four goals in that match. Ferrar is optimistic about future encounters, particularly the next fixture in Crawley, anticipating a vibrant atmosphere akin to a Turkish derby.

Team Line-Ups

Kernow FA: Ollie Chenoweth (Lewis Moyle, 61), Dave Barker, Ben Collins (Harvey Mullis, 59), James Ward (capt), Callum O’Brien, Shane White, Max Gilbert, Harry Jeffery (Sam Gerken, 59), Finn Harrison (Dan Jennings, 59), Louis Price, James Lorenz (Tyler Tonkin, HT)

Chagos Islands (BIOT): (from) Atkinson Sobha, Andy Batterie, Dezzi Sambouang, Ryan Lemaitre, Bakin Tiatous, Clyde Jacques (capt), Damien Fortune, Mattieu Dantier, Dieron Munorrah, Hansley Mercure, Owen Siatous, Samuel Rabot, Hansley Sagai, Alex Andre

With 200 Cornish fans in attendance, this match at Lux Park was a celebration of football, showcasing the talent and determination of both teams. The Kernow Football Alliance now looks forward to defending their title and continuing their success on the international stage.