HELSTON ATHLETIC 2 - FALMOUTH TOWN 1

High-flying Helston Athletic overcame their fierce local rivals Falmouth Town again at Kellaway Park in a close fought encounter settled by the odd goal in three in front of a healthy crowd of 623, the majority of whom had made the short journey over from Falmouth, writes Scott McCormack. 

Falmouth started without combative midfielder Andreas Callejas-Stayne, who was serving a ban after having collected one too many bookings this season. They again started Kian Thomas down the left and opted for Andy Elcock, Jared Sims and Jack Webber in a five-man midfield with Oscar Massey being the lone forward option. Striker Rubin Wilson started on the bench against his former club.

Helston were without their talented manager Matt Cusack who was on his honeymoon and were also missing experienced right-back Dave Barker.

The game started fairly evenly, although Helston managed to force some corner kicks. It was from one of these that the ball was forced over the line by Aaron Bentley at the far post, but the goal was quickly disallowed due to a push in a defender’s back by Bentley Falmouth themselves had a period of pressure around the 15 minute mark resulting in a couple of corners of their own.

Oscar Massey launched the second one deep into the Helston area where ex-Helston captain Harrison Jewell rose and headed the ball down, only to see it parried away by Kyle Moore in the Helston goal.

As the game settled, it was clear that Helston’s tactics centred around finding ex-Plymouth Parkway striker Jack Crago, who was taking up a position wide on the left.

At every opportunity they attempted to play early diagonal balls behind another ex-Helston player Fred Walter at left back for Falmouth. Walter may not have to face a tougher test than this all season, and he coped well, although Crago did manage to deliver some inviting looking crosses which were not capitalised upon by Helston.

At the other end, Falmouth were relying on the electric pace of striker Oscar Massey, and it was on the stroke of half-time that he was played through down the right-hand side.

Advancing into the box, he watched his crisp strike fly agonisingly wide of the far post with Moore stranded. This was quickly followed by another powerful Massey shot from just outside the area, this time the effort was well saved by Moore.

The half finished at 0-0 but the second period was a different story.

Helston started strongly and forced Falmouth to defend a series of corners. Corners and set-pieces looked to be a likely way for the home side to make their breakthrough and it was from the third one that they opened the scoring.

Jordan Copp, whose distribution was excellent throughout the game, took the corner from the right and there was Aaron Bentley again to convert with another far post header. The fourth such goal that Falmouth had conceded in the last three games.

The goal seemed to galvanise Falmouth and within seven minutes they were level. Good interplay wide on the left between Bradley Leivers and Jared Sims ended with a Leivers cross from the by-line. Luke Barner met the cross with a sublime first touch giving him time to smash the ball past Moore to level the scores.

Falmouth would have hoped to now put the pressure on Helston, who had conceded a fair few goals in their recent games, but it was not to be. Within three minutes, Helson took the lead again.

Another raking ball found Crago down the left. He got past Walter and this time his cross was met by impressive Helston centre-forward Reece Thomson, who hit a first time shot goalwards which was stopped by a miraculous reflex save from Coxhead in the Falmouth goal. Unfortunately for him the ball fell to the onrushing Jake Smith who gave Coxhead no chance to make it 2-1.

The remainder of the half was a fairly even affair and the game finished after a late period of Falmouth pressure, although Moore was never properly tested.

Falmouth are now finding the highly competitive Southern League a real challenge, having recorded just one point from their last four games. They are now only two points above the relegation zone and Saturday sees them host league-leaders Yate Town at Bickland Park in what will be another challenging game.

Falmouth are a different prospect at home though and will hope to rise to the challenge in front of a hopefully vocal and hostile Falmouth faithful.

The next midweek game is another big one as Falmouth entertain a strong-looking Newquay side in their defence of the Cornwall senior Cup. Their visitors will no doubt will be challenging for the South West Peninsula League West title this season and will fancy their chances of an upset.