SMILES were beaming across faces of anyone associated with Wendron United on Saturday evening as the team overcame rivals Helston Athletic in the Cornwall Senior Cup third round.
The Jolly's Combination League side will feature in the quarter final stage of the competition for a second year in a row thanks to their 2-0 victory with the goals coming from Chris Mulroy and skipper Justin Miles.
They put together a well oiled performance while their South West Peninsula League West opponents struggled throughout the 90 minutes, particularly on the passing front, and the Blues ended the game with nine men.
Dron flew out of the blocks and looked up for the challenge, deservedly taking the lead after seven minutes when Luke Wort darted down the right flank before sending the ball to Mulroy, who fired a shot across Jason Robertson and into the net.
Athletic struggled to settle into the match and were only able to create half chances once they had any sort of a foothold in proceedings.
Both teams were perhaps lucky to keep 11 men on the field ten minutes before half time when Miles' two footed challenge on Andrew Westgarth prompted a heated reaction from the visitors with Hugh Howlett giving a shove in the chest.
Referee Kevin Knowles chose to book the pair and six minutes later had another decision to make as Robertson brought Mulroy in the box after the midfielder beat the offside trap.
A penalty was awarded and a yellow to Athletic's goalkeeper with Miles stepping up and putting the ball past Robertson, who got his right hand to the spot-kick.
Helston applied pressure in the second half but the closest they came to scoring was in the 63rd minute when an effort from Mark Goldsworthy hit the crossbar.
In the final minute, Howlett and Hedie Santos were both shown their second yellows of the game and moments later the home fans and players were rejoicing a famous victory.
WENDRON: Row, Rowberry, Tresidder, Brewer, Miles (c), Madeley, Mulroy, Searle, Rose, Wort (O'Neil 75), Ambrose (Roberts 57).
UNUSED SUBS: Buchan, Andrew, Murray.
HELSTON: Robertson, B Stidwell, Santos, Thomson (c, M Davies 75), Howlett, K Davies, Adlard (Young 59), Russell, Westgarth, Goldsworthy, D Stidwell (Miller 59).
UNUSED SUB: A Stidwell.
RED CARDS: Howlett (90), Santos (90).
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