Helston Athletic Women progressed to the final of the Cornwall FA Women's County Cup with a composed 3-1 win over Liskeard Athletic Women at Kellaway Park. 

Sasha Sparkes began the scoring in the opening minutes after rounding the keeper but the visitors equalised in the early encounters of the second half when Erin Spiller fired in off the upright.

Helston responded brilliantly though and a well-taken goal from Eve Moore plus a low header from Abi Locke secured the victory.

Helston Athletic Women will meet Saltash United Women in the final.

The home side began the game in perfect fashion scoring after just three minutes. Liskeard cheaply lost the ball in midfield which allowed Eve Moore to nip in and slide a perfectly weighted ball in behind the defence to Sasha Sparkes. 

The striker took the ball in her stride and confidently rounded the onrushing keeper before sliding into the empty net to make it 1-0.

Falmouth Packet: Sasha Sparkes opened the scoring for Helston Picture: Shane HolmesSasha Sparkes opened the scoring for Helston Picture: Shane Holmes

Moore was involved again after nine minutes when she tried her luck but Sara Rowe in between the sticks for Liskeard got down to her right to fingertip the ball wide.

Liskeard began to grow into the game with half-chances of their own but their crossing attempts were well snuffed out by a regimented Helston backline.

The away side did have a sighter after 38 minutes when Gemma Farley was granted space to bring down a long free-kick. 

The forward swivelled and shot but failed to get the connection she desired as the ball headed straight into the arms of Emily Full in what was the last major action to note of the first half. 

Trailing 1-0 Liskeard knew they had to start the second half well if they wanted to get anything from the match, and they did just that with a superb finish from Erin Spiller. 

After breaking free down the right the number 12 hit a hard low shot which took a nick off the bottom left post before finding the back of the net with 47 minutes played.

Falmouth Packet: Liskeard celebrate their equaliser Picture: Shane HolmesLiskeard celebrate their equaliser Picture: Shane Holmes

Helston needed to provide a response if they were to stop the game from going to extra time and potentially penalties. 

In the following minutes, the home side forced away custodian Rowe into two good saves. The first denied Beth Prouse from close range before the keeper was at it again, diving across the goal to deny a header from Charlotte Bond.

However,  with 53 minutes on the clock, Moore gave the goalkeeper no chance of making another save as she put Helston back in front. 

Falmouth Packet: Eve Moore celebrates her goal to make it 2-1. Picture: Shane HolmesEve Moore celebrates her goal to make it 2-1. Picture: Shane Holmes

Athletic won a throw on the left which Abi Locke brought down and intelligently set back to Moore.

The striker confidently rifled the ball into the top corner from just inside the box sparking mass celebrations on the pitch and the touchline.

Locke had an attempt at goal herself after 56 minutes but her audacious dipping volley fell the wrong side of the goal for Helston's liking.

The match began to get scrappy as Helston looked to see out their lead and Liskeard threw more players forward. The surface though playable at Kellaway didn't make it easy for either side to produce flowing football. 

Helston eventually put the game to bed with ten minutes to go when Locke got her name on the scoresheet with an expert header.  Initially, a cross had evaded everyone in the box with the ball falling as far as Sparkes. 

The striker kept the ball alive and teed up Bond to cross first time. The centre was perfect, evading two defenders and falling perfectly to the head of Locke who gratefully glanced home to make it 3-1.

Sparkes had the final opportunity to increase the scoring after 85 minutes as Liskeard switched to a 3-5-2 formation but her right footed shot from the left-wing flew over the target.

There were four minutes added on after the 90 for stoppages but Helston professionally held on to their advantage to progress to the final.