Helston Athletic Women's Manager Paul Parfitt was full of praise for his side who stuck to their well-engineered game plan to defeat Saltash United 4-0 in the final of the Cornwall Women's Cup.

Helston bossed the opening stages and had a whole host of opportunities to put the game beyond doubt in the opening 45. They were two goals to the good at the break though from an own goal and then a clinical finish from Eve Moore.

Two more goals, from Beth Prouse and Sasha Sparkes, followed after the interval as Helston lifted the trophy for the first time. 

Speaking to the Packet the Manager said: "We had a game plan, we set out some specifics like long throws to get a foothold in the game and importantly control the first 15/20 minutes of the game which I thought they did superbly. 

"We played the game exactly to the plan and took some of our opportunities. As you say, we missed a few, but we were solid at the back. The entire defence did their bit, Emily Full was superb in goal and with a strike force like we have got we are always going to score goals so I am very pleased."

Helston had played Saltash twice already this season in the South West Women's Regional Football League drawing 3-3 and losing 2-1 in those meetings. However, this time Parfitt revealed that he had set up in such a way to prevent the Ashes from getting a foothold in the fixture, he said:

"I said to the girls beforehand traditionally in previous games we have given Saltash a headstart. So we set out technically not to do that and to kick on from there. That's how we aimed to do it.

"Our confidence grew, we knew when we scored the first and the second. We were dominant in the game there, and it was just to carry on from there, we were also fortunate we had a really strong bench as well."

The gaffer was delighted at winning the trophy, particularly as their cup aspirations were put on hold for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also set a challenge for his side heading into next season. 

"It's fantastic, last year we won the Cornwall Women's Football League, we said we wanted to win this trophy, we couldn't because we couldn't play through Covid last year." The Manager began.  "I am really glad that we are here and have won it today because this team deserves it. 

"I think at Helson Women we have to win a trophy a year! So next year it will hopefully be this one again and something else maybe."

Helston's next match is away to Liskeard on Sunday, May 1.