OVERTHINKING tactics would be the biggest problem potentially for Helston Athletic when they play Illogan RBL on Saturday – according to Sid Taylor.

The Walter C Parson Cup tie will be the third time the two sides will have played each other this season.

Both the other matches have come in the South West Peninsula League West with the Blues claiming the spoils first time round with goals from Mark Goldsworthy, Andrew Westgarth and Jason Robertson helping them win 3-1 on August 30.

However when the teams met again September 27, RBL got their own back as strikes from Dan Richards, Tom Smith and Luke Johnson condemned Helston to a 3-0 defeat.

Athletic’s boss Taylor believes his side need to keep their minds focused on the style of play which has seen them hit the top of the league.

Taylor said: “The only problem you can give yourself when you get into situations where you play one team multiple times in a few weeks is trying to think too much about things.

“What we have to do is play to our strengths and play the game we want to play, sticking to the pattern which has already been successful for us this season.

“Illogan have come up from the Combination League and proven themselves with a terrific start to the season, so they will be full of confidence.

“They are physical and direct and we have no excuses from the last game, they played better, so we have to go in and work hard to change that around this time.”

Ash and Ben Stidwell will be unavailable for Saturday’s cup tie as they serve their suspensions after both being sent off against Penryn Athletic last month.

But defender Hugh Howlett and forward Jason Robertson will be back in the match-day squad after being sidelined recently, which Taylor called a “big boost”.

He said: “Both Hugh and Jason are big guys, over 6ft tall, so they will be able to compete with Illogan’s aerial game which is a big threat they use.

“Hopefully this will allow us to win more balls in the air and then get it on the ground and playing football like we want to.”

Taylor went onto say not have a game last weekend is not the best preparation, but he knows Athletic’s players will not need much motivating.

“After beating Perranporth last time out, it would have been good to get back on the pitch again to keep momentum going,” he said.

“But with teams like Foxhole and Truro dropping out, there are going to be cases of sides having weeks off and you have to deal with it as best as you can.

“The guys will have to do a really good warm up on Saturday to make sure they start well, but they are definitely going to be up for the game.

“It is one game each at the moment we want to make it 2-1.”