A THIRD league defeat was inflicted on Helston Athletic on Saturday as they travelled to Sticker.

When the 90 minutes were up, the hosts had claimed all three points with the 3-2 scoreline which saw the Blues drop down to fourth spot in the South West Peninsula League West table.

The home side entered the game having won eight out of their last nine matches while Athletic had bounced back from two losses in a row to win their last couple of games.

These included an impressive 3-1 victory at home to fellow promotion chasers Illogan RBL in the Walter C Parson Cup.

However, against another side with aspirations of earning their way into the Premier division, they could not find the right amount of quality to bring them a positive result.

Liskeard Athletic had turned Sticker over four days earlier when the teams played out a 4-1 scoreline.

But the home side came out of the blocks in a determined mood and took just two minutes to take the lead.

Their opening goal came in the sublime form of a lob from Jack Bowyer which drifted over James Wignall and into the goal.

Lewis Prince came close to extending the advantage a few minutes later when his shot crashed into the crossbar.

Mark Goldsworthy hit the woodwork himself at the other end when he sent the ball to the base of the post.

He did get on the scoresheet in the 45th minute though to level proceedings.

It seemed like the sides would go into the break at level pegging, but in the fourth minute of added on time the hosts went back in front as Jay Hill rounded Wignall and slotted the ball into the net.

Another equaliser was found by Athletic through an own goal.

With ten minutes on the clock in the second half, Mikey Davies sent a cross into the box which found the head of Andrew Avery.

But his attempt to send the ball out of the box careered into his team-mate Micky Rowles-Jane and went in.

Sticker did not buckle though and five minutes later had retaken the lead again when Jason Rogers reacted quickest to a rebound after Wignall saved his initial shot.

Athletic could not find another equaliser after this and were overtaken by rivals Penryn Athletic and Mousehole in the league table.

They will not be too worried though as they hold games in hand against all the sides above them.

HELSTON: Wignall, Shainberg, K Davies, Thomson (c, Thirkle, 22, Miller, 63), Howlett, Robertson, Adlard, Young, Westgarth (A Stidwell, 69), Goldsworthy, M Davies.

SUB NOT USED: Russell.