HELSTON 3

ST IVES TOWN 1

HELSTON continued their revival in the Jolly's Combination League with a useful 3-1 win over St Ives Town, but they left it late to assure themselves of all three points.

If they had not collected all the spoils they would only have had themselves to blame after missing some gilt edged chances in both halves.

It was nip and tuck at the start, but goalkeeper Ian Chatfield came to the Blues rescue when he did well to tip a shot from Chris Lock over the bar in the eighth minute.

It was a shaky period in the game for the home side, but they steadied the ship after taking the lead in the tenth minute when they broke away. Phil Black, who had an impressive game throughout, delivered a great cross to the far post when Darren Steadman headed the ball against the inside of the post and over the line.

The Blues had their tails up and in the 14th minute only a great block tackle prevented Steadman from unloading his shot after John Simpson had set him up.

The game tailed off in the middle, with neither side able to create too much, but in the 35th minute Alex Sharkey made a determined run and found Aaron Collick, who laid the ball into Sharkey's path only for the defender to shoot over the bar.

Four minutes before the break, Town failed to clear an attack and the ball fell to Steadman who drilled in a shot that grazed the bar.

St Ives began the second half much brighter than Helston, and an early free kick whistled over the bar.

Helston should have added a second goal when Black found Neil Crook with a great cross, but he put his header inches wide of the post. He had a second opportunity following a break by Steadman, but saw his shot saved by the 'keeper.

It was during this period of play that Helston created a number of good chances, with Graham Blake also scooping a shot wide of the post.

Helston started to ring the chances, with Reg Pearson and Dean Fray being thrown into the action, but it was St Ives who were beginning to look the more dangerous side.

Helston's inability to score an equaliser was never far away, and when Richard Wilkinson brought down Lee Norman in the box, the substitute made no mistake from the spot kick.

Shortly afterwards, Town had another great chance to grab a second goal when a shot rebounded off a post, but Norman blazed the second attempt over the bar.

The Blues regained the lead nine minutes from time following a free kick. Dean Bray drove it into the box and Crook hit his first-time shot into the roof of the net to give the goalkeeper no chance.

The game still wasn't safe as it entered injury time, but St Ives were dealt a blow when they had Chris Russell sent off for two yellow cards, and almost immediately received a fatal blow when, from the free kick, Chris Strike curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net to seal victory for the Blues.

On Saturday Helston visit.

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