AFTER grabbing seven straight wins to start the league season, Helston have now lost their last two.

Their 5-4 defeat last Wednesday against Penryn Athletic was added to by Illogan RBL on Saturday when the Blues went and visited Oxland Parc.

Dan Richards, Tom Smith and Luke Johnson put efforts past James Wignall in the Helston goal during the afternoon, which helped the home team move back to second in the South West Peninsula League West Division.

Athletic’s manager Sid Taylor said his side, who won 3-1 on August 30, simply came up against a better team on the day.

Taylor said: “We went down there prepared, knowing what Illogan are like having beaten them once already this season.

“They have a small and narrow pitch and they are a really physical side and I think they will be a very difficult team for anyone to beat at their place.

“What they do is play to their strengths and if I’m honest, they deserved the win.”

Jason Robertson and Hugh Howlett were both unavailable for Helston going into the match and their strength would be much missed by the Blues.

It took just two minutes for RBL to open the scoring when Richards leapt up to nod home after the hosts had won a corner.

The league leaders put up a stern showing against last season’s Jolly’s Combination League champions.

But they could not find the required quality in front of goal to equalise and on the hour mark they fell two behind.

From another corner, Smith popped up at the near post and the defender steered his head home.

RBL completed the victory in the 80th minute when Johnson rifled a shot from just inside the penalty area into the net.

HELSTON: Wignall, A Stidwell (Shainberg, 80), B Stidwell, Collick, K Davies, Young, Adlard (D Stidwell, 65), Thomson (c), Russell, Westgarth (M Davies, 70), Goldsworthy.

SUB NOT USED: Davey.