Blues hand goals on a plate to Hayle

PARADING new signing Darren Steadman from Gulval, Helston were hoping for better things at Trevassack Park, but they went down to a 2-1 defeat against Hayle in the Jolly's Combination League.

This was a match from which Helston should have got a result, but they handed a couple of goals on a plate to their opponents and that was enough to decide the outcome.

Hayle had the advantage of the wind and slope in the first half and dictated much of what went on, but lacked a cutting edge to their game.

That wasn't evident in the fifth minute when the home side took the lead following a wayward header by Richard Wilkinson. Hayle seized on the opportunity, but the shot was deflected for a corner. Punishment, however, was still close at hand and from the resulting corner the ball was flicked on through a crowd of players and found Neil Crook who tumbled over when trying to clear and the ball ending up in the net.

Four minutes later Helston were back on level terms when Steadman ran on to Eddie Dunn's pass and squared the ball to Dean Bray. His shot was deflected across goal and Aaron Collick was on hand to help it into the net.

Hayle enjoyed plenty of possession, but made little headway against a side that generally defended well until the 38th minute when Hayle caught the visitors on the break and a cross caught out the 'keeper who could only help it into the net.

Helston looked the more likely side in the second half, with Phil Black going close with a shot that was deflected for a corner.

Further pressure saw Bray deliver a cross that eluded the defenders, but with Tom Russell coming in at the far post he headed straight at the 'keeper when he should have done better.

Helston had a let off when Chatfield raced out to clear the ball, but missed the ball that fortunately ran too wide for the home striker before he could do anything with it.

Steadman had a chance to get the Blues back on level terms when he was put through by Bray, but from six yards his lob cleared the 'keeper and the woodwork.

Both sides were beginning to find life difficult, but Helston missed another chance in the 62nd minute, when Collick shot just wide of the near post when set up by Black.

Hayle's Wayne Quinn began to impress with his control of the back four, with Helston not helping their cause by too easily giving away possession.

Both sides began to make changes, but Helston again went close when Bray hit a powerful drive against the bar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Just after, another good move saw Dunn find Graham Blake who went close with a shot that just cleared the bar, but all too often the Blues failed to exploit the wide spaces that might have brought them some success.

Helston: I Chatfield, E Dunn, N Crook, A Sharkey, R Wilkinson, G Blake, D Bray, A Collick, T Russell, D Steadman. Subs: C Taylor, R Pearson, J Simpson, C Strike.