Helston Athletic Manager Steve Massey bemoaned his side's 0-0 draw with Ilfracombe Town as the worst 90 minutes of football he had ever been involved in as the point all but ended the Blues' hopes of a top-four place in the Western League.

A game of few chances meant that Helston are now seventh in the league table but have two games in hand on fourth-placed Bridgwater.

Although there is an eight-point deficit between the sides meaning Athletic would have to win all three of their last league games and hope results elsewhere work in their favour to earn a top-four place.

Speaking to the Packet Massey said: "It was probably the worst 90 minutes of football I have ever been involved in and the sooner I get it out of my system, it's 90 minutes I will never get back in my life!

"They were never going to score, we looked like we might score at one or two times but other than that the pitch was a bit bobbly. It just had an end of season feel written all over it. That wasn't the case we set out to do."

After Ilfracombe triumphed to a 7-2 hammering when the teams last met in a 'freak result' earlier in the season it was somewhat of a shock that this affair ended level. The Manager admitted he had used that loss as motivation for his side heading into this outing.

"Ilfracombe's highlight of the season and this shows how far we have come as a club, was beating us 7-2." He said.

"They are still talking about it, they will forever talk about it. You had to be there to see it, we had most of the possession and chances but every time they shot it went in. It was a freak result and you can see they have gone downhill since then. There was plenty on it for motivational purposes but it was really flat. I had a scratch team out, the three subs that came on should have been rested.

"It was only us going to score, they were highly delighted with it. That's what they came for they had a lot of players missing. The first 45 minutes set the pattern really and it was awful in regards to we gave the ball away and didn't create much at all which is a worry in regards to the bigger picture."

Helston have plugged the gaps defensively but in recent matches, they have lacked a clinical touch going forward. A combined total of five goals from their last five games has seen them win two, draw two and lose one, conceding just two goals in the process: "We didn't have a problem until the new year of scoring goals, even on that bad run we were still looking back and thinking we had chances." The Manager said.

"In our last three games we have kept two clean sheets but only scored one goal. We have taken two goals from a possible nine which isn't good enough at all. It is disappointing in that aspect because we feel we are much better than our results have been going."

Athletic had a bare bone squad going into the match with a number of first-team regulars unavailable. Both Tyler Elliott and Reece Shanley were absent due to suspension whilst both Kai Cornish and Harrison Jewell were away on holiday.

It meant that Helston had to name Chairman Paul Hendy as a sub and give substitute appearances to Rocco Hill and Josh Storey who have both recently been recovering from injury.

At this stage of the season, Massey now believes his side has to focus their attention on the Les Phillips Cup which they are in the semi-final of away to Bridgwater United on Saturday, April 30. "I think you have to (focus on it) as a bit of silverware. We are one game away from being able to do that.

"Even like the knocks we have, we are looking at them and thinking let's get them right for the 30th. That's what Saturday was, I know I hate it. I always say I won't be at a football club just to fill fixtures. There is a big prize at the end of it."

The final of the competition will be played on Saturday, May 14 at Wells Football Club.

Helston's next match is another local derby against Mousehole on Good Friday. The last meeting between the sides, in mid-March, ended in a 0-0 draw at Kellaway Park. Mousehole are currently third in the table and must win the match to keep up with the two sides at the top who are chasing automatic promotion.