PORTHLEVEN were unable to prevent Sticker from returning to the top of the South West Peninsula League West table on Saturday.

A couple of goals from Jack Bowyer in the first half helped the home side to a 2-1 victory and also elevated back above Helston Athletic at the summit of the division.

However, despite the score, Port put in a decent display and did not show any signs of giving up during the 90 minutes.

They were left rueing a couple of mistakes at the back which gave Bowyer a hand in both goals, but manager Dennis Annear said he was happy with the overall performance.

“The boys kept battling throughout and played some good football,” he said.

“Obviously, a couple of mistakes let us down, but the lads know what mistakes they made and they will learn from it.

“Sticker are a good side and there is a reason why they are at the top of the table, but a couple of their committee members told me after the game it was the best game they've seen all season, which made me very proud.”

The match started evenly as both sides scrapped for early dominance.

Mickey Bowles-Jane went close for Sticker when he headed the ball over after a Jason Rogers corner, but just before the half hour Bowyer made it 1-0 to the hosts.

From a ball played out from the defence, the forward raced onto it and from 25 yards out coolly slotted a shot past Benji Bryant in the Fishermen's goal.

Port nearly got an equaliser when Jordan Annear's free kick was spilled by Ryan Holland, playing against his former side, but the chance went begging.

Then with three minutes to go before half time, Bowyer made it 2-0 as he made the most of a slip by Bryant in the penalty area and tapped the ball home.

The visitors came out after the break and pushed forward with the majority of the possession falling to them.

But for all their trying, Port could not register a goal until the 89th minute when Annear's header went into the net despite Holland getting a hand to it.

An away day at Penzance is next up for Port on Saturday.

PORTHLEVEN: Bryant, Wormington, Liam Hunter (Jorey 80), J Greet, Heywood, D Greet, Best (Luke Hunter 82), Thomas (Orchard 57), T Annear, J Annear, Williams.