Porthleven 0 Helston Athletic 1

Mark Goldsworthy's first half penalty proved the difference as Helston secured a derby victory over rivals Porthleven at sunny Gala Parc on Good Friday.

A knee to the back of the leg by Tom Annear on the Helston striker after 34 minutes saw referee George Pattison waste no time in pointing to the spot, and Goldsworthy stepped up to send Port player-manager Dennis Annear the wrong way.

The result, coupled with promotion rivals Callington's 0-0 draw at Dobwalls, means Helston gain ground on Lee Beer's side at the top of division one west.

But Blues boss Sid Taylor admitted after the game that Helston's chances of promotion remain slim after their defeat against champions-elect Mousehole at Kellaway Parc on Tuesday night.

"I think Callington will get the promotion spot now," he said. "But we need to finish as high as we can, and that's third place.

"You never give up until it's mathematically impossible, but realistically I think it's gone. They'd need to lose three or four out of the last seven and that's not going to happen."

Porthleven had a hand in wrecking Helston's promotion charge last season, winning the Easter derby at Kellaway Parc.

So it came as little surprise that Helston started brightly, eager to avoid the same thing happening again.

They took control of the game right from the whistle, forcing Porthleven back into their own half.

But against the run of play it was Port striker Jordan Annear who had the first shot on goal, his low drive forcing a good save out of Helston keeper James Wignall after a flowing move which started deep in the Porthleven half.

Blues captain Jamie Thomson fired over from the egde of the box, before a quick counter attack saw Tom Annear bring Goldsworthy down in the box, and the striker picked himself up to tuck away the spot kick.

Helston almost made it two when Ben Stidwell's cross-cum-shot skidded off the top of the Port crossbar with Dennis Annear stranded in no-man's land, and Goldsworthy, lurking at the back post, headed the rebound just over.

Helston looked comfortable, but whatever Annear Snr said to his side during the half time break seemed to do the trick.

The Fishermen were unrecognisable after the restart, dominating possession and pinning Helston inside their own half.

Port right-back Liam Hunter hammered a volley just wide after Wignall spilled a cross into his path, and Jordan Annear saw a shot blocked by Ashley Stidwell.

Tarrrant almost levelled with a header which came back off the crossbar, as Port pushed hard for an equaliser.

And Jed McCardie, Porthleven's man-of-the-match, saw a long range effort sail wide in the dying moments.

But Helston held on, the men in blue greeting the final whistle like a long lost friend.

"We put them under pressure, and I thought on the whole we deserved something out of it," said Port manager Dennis Annear after the game. "We've hit the crossbar too, but  I can't criticise them too much because I thought we played well enough to get a point."

Helston: J Wignall, B Stidwell (A Collick 51), H Howlett, A Stidwell, D Jenkin, J Thomson (c), D Stidwell (K McPhilbin 64), C Young, T Russell, M Goldsworthy, M Fox (G Molcher 81) Subs (not used): J Adlard, P Black, M Wesbter, J Miller, C Strike.

Porthleven: D Annear, J Glover, D Greet, L Hunter, K Fraser, T Annear, J McCardie, T Hawkins, J Annear, F Williams (S Kay 56). Subs (not used): L Griffin, C Wormington, M Best.