A CHANCE to secure the South West Peninsula League West Division title was spurned by Helston Athletic on Saturday.

The Blues travelled to Holsworthy knowing a win for them coupled with St Dennis drawing or losing against Bude Town would guarantee them the championship with a game to spare.

However, it did not pan out for the visitors as they drew 2-2, which ended up being the same scoreline at the other game everyone had their eyes on, with more agony coming from the fact Bude missed a penalty as well.

Positives can be taken from the day though as Athletic can finish no lower than second in the league and with the Saints' ground failing it's inspection, Sid Taylor's side will go up instead.

Nerves appeared to grip Athletic and after six minutes the Magpies took a surprise lead when Matt Andrew slipped his marker and from the edge of the area fired a shot past Jason Robertson.

For the rest of the half Athletic looked the better side but could not find the net, with Andrew Westgarth seeing a shot blocked on the line by Matt Carroll and Mark Goldsworthy firing an effort wide after outpacing Chris Ward.

Parity was restored six minutes after the break when James Miller cut into the box from the left wing before sending a shot across Darren Rose and into the opposite side of the goal.

Within two minutes though Holsworthy were back in front when soft defending by Athletic saw Ward's long ball from a free kick find Ryan Lee, who headed it in.

But it did not take the Blues long to find another equaliser as Charlie Young got on the end of a cross in the 57th minute to nod home at the back post.

News soon came through saying Bude had come from 2-0 down to level matters at St Dennis, meaning a third goal would give Athletic the title.

They pushed up the pitch hunting for the crucial score, but the closest they came was in the first minute of injury time when substitute Matt Lloyd was found free in the area from a corner, but headed over.

Young had earlier gone close when he poked the ball past Rose but saw it bounce wide and Goldsworthy also had a good penalty appeal turned down.

Victory at Perranporth on Friday evening will hand Helston the title, but a draw would probably be enough as their goal difference is superior to St Dennis' by 31.

HELSTON: Robertson, B Stidwell, Miller (M Davies 67), Thomson (c), Howlett, K Davies, Adlard, Young, Westgarth (Lloyd 71), Goldsworthy, Russell.

UNUSED SUBS: Bell, A Stidwell, Webster.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jamie Thomson.