Helston wilt as Athletic increase pressure (From Falmouth Packet)

Helston wilt as Athletic increase pressure

10:48am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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HELSTON ATHLETIC 2

W Scoley, S Owen, D Thompson

PENRYN ATHLETIC 3

S Hawke, L Eddy

FINISHING as runners-up to Truro City in the Jolly's Combination League this season would still have ranked as a major achievement given the circumstances surrounding their team, but Helston appear to made it difficult for themselves after a 3-2 defeat at home to Penryn Athletic.

With rivals Perranwell winning 3-2 at St Agnes this was a must win game for Helston, but their passion and will to win surfaced far too late in the game as Athletic held on for their victory.

Helston made a bright start and looked the more dangerous of the two sides, but it wasn't until the 18th minute that they really threatened when Dominic Pullen headed just wide from Andy Miles cross.

Two minutes later Pullen had another great opportunity when Phil Black cut into the box and knocked a ball across the face of goal where Pullen blasted his shot past the post from six yards.

Athletic weathered the early pressure and began to get back into the game and they signalled their intent with an effort on goal when Owen's header was cleared off the line.

Helston's form began to slip as the half wore on and they were guilty of making too many misplaced passes, but they had another good opportunity in the 39th minute when Pullen put his header past the post from close range.

Helston suffered a setback three minutes later when Athletic took the lead. Malcolm Moyle collected Chris Symons' long kick and set up Will Scoley to drive his shot into the corner of the net.

A minute into the second half Athletic almost grabbed a second goal, but Hennesy managed to charge down Owen's lob.

Three minutes later Helston were not so fortunate when Athletic broke clear with the Blues looking for an offside flag that never came. Owen fed Moyle and when his cross was only partially cleared Owen pounced to give Hennesy no chance.

The game was rapidly slipping away from Helston and in the 70th minute it looked all over as Athletic snapped up a third goal when Hennesy stumbled in attempting to collect Scoley's free kick to give Dave Thompson a free header.

The Blues began to make changes in a bid to stimulate some action, but a fine cross from Justin Miles was again headed over the bar by Pullen.

Two minute later Helston at last showed some of the commitment they displayed in the first 15 minutes and pulled a goal back when Craig Taylor broke in midfield and found Steve Hawke who fired his shot past Chris Symons.

Four minutes later Helston gave themselves some real hope when they scored a second goal when Steve Hawke found Liam Eddy who deceived Symons when his volley looped up into the air and over the keeper's head and into the net.

With six minutes remaining Helston were given the perfect opportunity to level the scores and salvage a point when Eddy was brought down in the box. However, it wasn't Pullen's day as Symons saved his penalty.

With the miss went their chance, but the Blues have only themselves to blame after conceding some sloppy goals and then turning in a pedestrian performance until the last 20 minutes.

Helston: B Hennesy, C Breasley, C Davis, A Sharkey, J Miles, P Black, A Miles, S Hawke, L Eddy, D Pullen, K Trevaskis. Subs: C Taylor, N Rollinson, E Dunn, B Hawke.

Athletic: C Symons, K Davis, W Scoley, M Potts, S Jewell, R Canale, D Knowles, D Thompson, S Owen, D Martin, M Moyle. Subs: C Southworth, P Hart.

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