Helston Athletic 4-0 Saltash United Cornwall Women's Cup

Athletic dominated the opening stages of the game and deservedly took the lead when Saltash defender Yasmin Franklin prodded past the keeper and into her own net following good work from Helston’s Sasha Sparkes.

The Blues doubled their advantage in first half stoppage time thanks to a clinical finish from Eve Moore following another episode of poor defending.

Shortly after the interval Beth Prouse looked to get the final touch on a corner as the ball bundled into the back of the net at the near post to make it 3-0. Before Sparkes finally got the goal she deserved when she buried a shot into the bottom left corner with 14 minutes to go to add a fourth.

Delight, and jubilation for Paul Parfitt’s Helston Women's first team who have this season played their first campaign in the South West Regional Women’s League, their next fixture is away to Liskeard on Sunday, May 1.

A healthy crowd of over 250 fans attended Burngullow Park, the home of Sticker AFC, and were immediately greeted by attacking play from the Helston side, however they failed to find the right ball at the vital early moments as Saltash looked to weather the storm.

When Helston did look to be in on goal desperate Saltash bodies threw themselves on the line to keep the score level. After nine minutes Sasha Sparkes broke the offside trap, but perhaps took a touch too many to allow for a gutsy intervention from a backtracking Ashes defender.

There were moments where Saltash looked dangerous on the break and Helston centre back Georgie Sweet had to be alert after 17 minutes to make a superb sliding tackle to stop a Saltash striker in their tracks.

That tackle proved vital because just two minutes later Helston were in front. Eleanor Sparkes played a delicately weighted pass into the path of Sparkes who again had gone unnoticed.

The striker looked to bury the effort but a last-ditch toe from Yasmin Franklin, cruelly took the moment away from Sparkes, but kindly rolled the ball into the back of the net past her own keeper to put Helston in the ascendency.  

Saltash began to push slightly higher to get some respite but the Helston attacks remained as they pursued a second goal. Abi Locke saw a chipped effort not quite go high enough to trouble the keeper on the half hour mark before Eve Moore missed a glorious chance eight minutes later.

Saltash could only head a Sparkes cross up rather than out as it fell to Moore inside the area, but with the goal at her mercy, the stretching striker could only hit her effort first-time over the bar.

Helston’s number one Emily Full had to make two quickfire saves following a wicked free-kick deliver from Morgan Friend shortly before half time as Saltash threatened to equalise.

Instead it was Helston who were celebrating the games second goal in first half stoppage time thanks to some intelligent play from Prouse.

After winning a free kick just inside the Saltash half, the Helston number two threaded a quick through ball in behind to Moore, catching the defence off guard. She still had a lot to do though but demonstrated exquisite composure to fire the ball into the top corner to double the advantage seconds shy of the half time whistle.

With the game at 2-0 as the second half began the third goal of the game was always going to pivotal in deciding the outcome of the rest of the match.

Fortunately for Helston, four minutes into the second half that all-important goal was in their favour as Prouse turned from goal provider to goal scorer.

Sparkes’ in-swinging corner failed to be punched away by the Saltash custodian at the near post as it somehow, perhaps unknowingly, went into the back of the net off Prouse to make it 3-0 on 49 minutes.

There was a brief stoppage after 54 minutes after Helston keeper, Full showcased great bravery to come a claim a free kick amongst a number of bodies. She took a whack for her troubles, but it was another example of the determination on show by the leaders.

As the half grew on Saltash began to throw more bodies forward in search of someway back into the match but a resolute back line kept the Ashes at bay more often than not. That allowed for more spaces on the counter for Helston. Sparkes did have the ball in the back of the net with 68 minutes on the clock, however the linesman disappointed the hard-working forward by raising his offside flag.

With 76 minutes played the game was put beyond all doubt with Sparkes finally grabbing a much deserved goal with a fantastic strike. The number nine was allowed to pluck the ball out of the sky on the edge of the area. The lack of press from the Saltash defence encouraged her to shoot and she truly obliged. Rifling a powerful drive into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0.

That allowed for steady end to the game as Helston showed good game management and a sturdy defensive performance to keep the game ticking over. Eve Moore was unfortunate not to make it a five goal hammering in the last minute of the game when she flicked a Sparkes cross toward goal, but the volley agonizingly hit the inside of the post.

Saltash thought they had grabbed what would have been a consolation goal in the 93rd minute after a red and white shirt bundled the ball in from close range after a free kick. However, the linesman had already raised his flag for offside much to the disappointment of those who had travelled down from East Cornwall.

All that was left was for Helston to see out the remaining seconds to secure the cup on what was an historic day for the club and a terrific all round performance from the Blues, a showing that was definitely worthy of winning the tournament for the first time in their history.

Lineups:

Helston Athletic Women: Full, Prouse, Demouy, Sparkes, Sweet, Lane, White, Yould, Sparkes, Moore, Locke

Subs: Sparkes, Bond, Sweet, Barker-Thomas, Clouter, Letcher, Verry

Saltash United Women: Cain, Friend, Mace, Parklyn, Franklin, Nenman, Swan, Hugh, Bryan, Ranachan, Champion.

Subs:Johnson, Hartill, Baker, Finch, Leapoard