PERSERVERANCE will be required over the next few weeks from Porthleven as they face big games without key personnel - according to Phil Kellow.

Tonight, the Fishermen welcome South West Peninsula League West leaders Mousehole to Gala Parc, with Wayne Quinn's side on a roll having won all nine of their fixtures so far this season.

What will not help Kellow's team is a selection headache as a long list of absentees are unavailable to play over the next few weeks, with games against Holsworthy, who have beaten them 3-0 already this season, and two with St Dennis coming up.

Among those missing are club captain Dan Greet, who is set to be on the sidelines for another four weeks with a broken rib, while Matt Best is out with a broken wrist.

Richard Kellow, shoulder, is also having to spend time on the treatment table.

Add the factors of midfielder Jed McCardie heading back to university and the departure of Liam Hunter to Mullion, then the issues continue to mount for Port.

Despite this, Kellow refuses to remain downcast and he told the Packet the team will just have to roll their sleeves up and do what they can.

Kellow said: "We are going to be in for a bit of a fight against Mousehole, but what we have to do is persevere and see what results we can get.

"We will be going into the match as a side with nothing to lose.

"By Christmas, hopefully we'll back to a full strength squad and then we'll start pushing up the league again.

"In the meantime, we'll look to fight for whatever we can get and just get the game with Mousehole out of the way and go from there."

On Saturday, Port fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to local rivals Helston Athletic in the Walter C Parson first round.

Charlie Young's goal was enough to separate the teams, but Port had their chances to tie proceedings up.

This included a penalty in the 75th minute which leading marksman Ryan Trathen had saved by Blues goalkeeper Jason Robertson and a strike from George Molcher which was ruled out in the dying seconds.

Even though the results did not go in their favour, Kellow believes his side's performance showed they are moving in the right direction.

"We played some lovely stuff on Saturday," he said.

"The boys stuck to the game plan and kept Helston at bay for most of the game, but it was just a moment where we switched off from a corner which let us down.

"I think our inexperience perhaps showed a bit as George Molcher had a chance to set up a goal but shot instead and I think Ryan was out-thought at the penalty by Helston's goalie.

"But I have to give the lads credit, particularly Ryan for having the courage to take that penalty, as I thought they outplayed Helston and all worked their socks off."