HELSTON Athletic edged closer to the South West Peninsula League West Division title on Saturday as they earned another three points in a hard fought 2-1 victory.

The Blues overcame a big hurdle in the form of fellow promotion chasers Sticker, who knew anything other than a win would kill off their chances of going up.

In the 13th minute the visitors took the lead when a cross from the left found their top scorer Jack Bowyer free in the box with the young striker calmly controlling the ball before netting his 41st league goal of the season.

Athletic had been on top up until this point but did not let their heads drop and within five minutes had equalised through Charlie Young, scoring in the fifth consecutive game as he slotted the ball past Ryan Holland after Mark Goldsworthy's cut back from the byline.

Matt Lloyd then put them in front in the 27th minute with a deft touch dinking the ball over Sticker's goalkeeper after being out through and beating the away defence's offside trap.

Proceedings in the second half got a lot more tense as Sticker pressed hard to force mistakes off their opponents, who found their passing game fall completely out of form.

However, the visitors were unable to cause any real trouble for Jason Robertson in goal as the Helston stopper put in a commanding performance which included a fine save in the 74th minute after Bowyer broke past the defence.

Eyes now turn to Wednesday night for the Blues as they take on St Dennis in the semi final of the Cornwall Charity Cup at Falmouth Town.

HELSTON: Robertson, TT Santos, H Santos, Thomson (c), A Stidwell, K Davies, Adlard, Young (Bell 71), Lloyd (M Davies 57), Goldsworthy, Russell (D Stidwell 88).

UNUSED SUBS: Slade, Webster.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jason Robertson.