Orlando Anker was the man of the moment again for Helston Athletic as for the second game in a row he came off the bench to score the winner as Helston beat Brislington 1-0 on Saturday, February 5.

Reece Shanley's goalbound cross was flapped at by the Brislington number one, who could only palm the delivery into the path of Anker, and the former Newquay man made no mistake in finding the bottom corner with his first-time response.

The win ended Athletic's dismal league run of four successive league defeats. Although it was Athletic's second victory in a week having beaten Millbrook 2-1 in the Les Phillips Cup at Kellaway Park on Wednesday, February 2.

Helston Athletic Manager Steve Massey stated the importance of the win following what has been a difficult period for his side. He said: "The longer the game went on the more frustrated. We still had all the possession, bossed the ball and the territory. We were thinking 'don't let it be another weekend when they counter-attack us or we make a mistake that allows them in'. 

The three points keep Helston eighth in what is a closely contested top half of the Western League with just seven points separating second from eighth in the division.

"It was a win that was needed to stop the four league defeats." Massey continued "It felt very good. There is still a lot more work to be done. It wasn't just me pointing it out to them, the lads know too we are still right in there. Because we went on a bad run it shows just how well we were doing beforehand."

The experienced gaffer hailed the talents of substitute Anker but warned that the young goalscorer still has a lot to learn in the game. He said: "He probably has been caught up in the bad run of results (as everyone has). He has that something that he can come off the bench, at the moment. 

"When we have wanted to put our foot on the pedal against our opponents he's been the one to come on and do it, the goal in midweek was a good winger goal as you could see. 

"He certainly didn't hit the Saturday winner as cleanly as he did on Wednesday night but when that little bit of luck goes your way it is nice. He's a good kid he has bags of talent but he still has an awful lot to learn but he has great potential and talent."

You can watch the full match highlights here.

Helston will now prepared for a home match against bottom of the table Bridport, who lost 9-0 in their last outing. The two sides met at the start of the season in what was Helston's first ever match in the Toolstation Western League. 

The Blues got their campaign off to a sublime start where a hat trick from Mattie Buchan, a Kai Cornish brace plus strikes from Phil Cattran and now leading scorer Stu Bowker secured a comfortable 7-1 win.