Rubin Wilson notched a brace for Helston Athletic as the Blues secured their first league points of the season with a 3-2 win over Wellington.

Wilson put Helston a goal up in the first half from the penalty spot after being dragged down by the keeper.

The visitors levelled within 30 seconds of the second half restart when Miles Quick rifled into the bottom left corner.

But Helston added two more with Wilson heading in from a Tom Payne free-kick before Rikki Shepherd remained onside before rounding the goalkeeper to complete the home scoring.

Wellington scored with six minutes to go to create a nervy ending for Helston when Sully Mckenna nodded home from close range but their hopes of a comeback were dashed when they received two red cards in stoppage time.

At a scorching Kellaway Park Helston began proceedings with Tom Payne making his first league start for the Blues after suspension while Aaron Bentley, Josh Storey and Tom Hands were absent through injury.

The visitors nearly led with just two minutes on the clock when Miles Quick flicked a header goalwards but his effort could only ricochet off the bottom of the crossbar.

Both teams failed to get the ball down in the sweltering conditions but it was Helston who dealt the first hammer blow of the match with a quarter of an hour played. Rubin Wilson was sent in on goal and attempted to take the ball around the onrushing Charlie Hawkins. However, the home forward was clipped by the goalkeeper giving referee James Long no choice but to award a penalty. After a lengthy debate with fellow striker Rikki Shepherd, Wilson decided to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball down the middle to put Helston in the ascendancy.

Falmouth Packet: Rubin Wilson scores for Helston to make it 1-0Rubin Wilson scores for Helston to make it 1-0

Drinks breaks allowed players to get fluids on board but really disrupted the flow of the football with the first half becoming very much a midfield encounter. On 31 minutes Jordan Bentley was whiskers away from scoring his first league goal of the season but the defender could only flick a header narrowly wide of the target from a superb Payne delivery with what was the last meaningful attempt of the half.

The visitors flew out of the blocks after the second half whistle and were celebrating within 30 seconds of the restart through a goal made in the Quick family. Jake Quick dinked a delightful ball over the top and in behind to his brother Miles, who met it on the half volley to power it across goal and into the far corner.

A disastrous start for Helston who then showed great character to apply pressure on the Wellington back line. Wilson managed to position himself between the ball and the keeper a a cross but could only flick a header wide with 52 minutes played.

Tyler Elliott squandered a glorious chance on 56 minutes after Shepherd had held his run to remain onside. The forward dinked the ball across to Elliott, who had much of the unguarded goal to aim at. But amazingly the midfielder could only head wide of the mark.

As they approached the hour mark though they did get the goal their pressure had deserved with Wilson scoring his second of the game. Shepherd earned Athletic a free kick 25 yards out, Payne took the honours, whipping a delightful ball into the mix, and there was Wilson unmarked and rising highest to use the pace of the ball to guide a header into the net.

Falmouth Packet: Celebrations as Wilson scores the home side’s secondCelebrations as Wilson scores the home side’s second

In fact the forward could have had a hat trick in the next attack as Helston hit Wellington on the break, but his low, left-footed shot was well pounced on by the keeper on 64 minutes.

Jordan Copp and Steve Colwell were introduced as Helston looked to put the game beyond their Somerset visitors and they did just that one minute shy of the 70 mark.

A ball was clipped in behind the defence in the direction of Wilson who was offside. The linesman raised his flag signalling the decision therefore the visiting defence stopped in the tracks. Crucially though, the referee never blew his whistle and that combined with quick thinking from Shepherd sealed the home side's third of the match. The former Millbrook man dashed across to the ball before taking the ball past the keeper and tapping in to make it 3-1.

Falmouth Packet: Rikki Shepherd wheels away in celebration after scoring Helston’s third.Rikki Shepherd wheels away in celebration after scoring Helston’s third.

The away side were in complete disbelief that the goal had been allowed to stand, with members on the touchline telling the referee and linesman exactly what they thought of the decision.

Despite this, Athletic could have had added fourth when Copp, Shepherd and Wilson linked up nicely but the latter could only slice wide from the edge of the box with 80 minutes. Shepherd also went close soon after but could only drill a low attempt left of the post.

Those wasted chances nearly proved costly as Wellington hit back with a close-range header from Sully Mckenna in the 84th minute. A long throw in caused havoc in the penalty area, and after several nicks in the box it eventually fell to Mckenna to nod in at the far post to make it 3-2 well and truly game on.

It was a nervy end for Helston as four minutes were announced for stoppage time but those touchy feelings were eased when a double sending off reduced Wellington to nine men. Nathaniel Groom was shown a second yellow card for needlessly shoving over Harrison Jewell, he was followed to the changing room by captain Sam Towler who was shown red for dissent allowing Helston to hold on for the win.

A first three points of the season sees Helston up to 15th in the league table. It is a busy week for the club with two Cornish sides to play in the next seven days starting away at Saltash united in the league on Tuesday, August 16 before an exciting FA Cup preliminary round match at home to local rivals Falmouth Town on Saturday, August 20.

Lineups:

Helston Athletic: C. Harvey, F. Walter, J. Bentley, I. Burdon, K. Cornish, H. Jewell, M. Bye (C) T. Payne, R. Wilson, R. Shepherd, T. Elliott

Subs: N. West, J. Copp, S. Colwell, S. Carter

Wellington: C. Hawkins, M. Murphy, J. Quick, S. Phillips, E. Collins, T. Stone, N. Groom, S. Towler, J. Quick, M. Quick, J. Bown-Porter

Subs: S. Mckenna, J. Nicholson, R. Poulsom, G. Wright.

Referee: James Long.

Attendance: 93