Helston Athletic have shown "glimpses" this season of what it takes to play at the next level of football.

This is the view of first team manager Matt Cusack, speaking after his side's exit from the FA Cup last week.

Athletic were playing away at Weston-Super-Mare’s Optima Stadium for the Third Round Qualifying match of domestic football’s most famous tournament.

However, the task of playing against a side two leagues higher proved just too tough for the boys in blue, as they suffered a 7-2 defeat – although the scoreline did not reflect the spirit shown on the pitch.

Speaking afterwards to the Packet, in an interview printed in Wednesday's newspaper, manager Matt Cusack described last Saturday as a day of mixed emotions.

“On the one hand we had done so much getting to that round; we’d won four times to get there and we were the last team in Cornwall to be standing. It felt like we had the whole of Cornwall in our corner.

“On the other hand, we played a team two leagues higher, with an unbroken record and at the top of their league. It was always going to be a difficult task,” he said.

He described Weston as “ruthless” in picking up any small mistake, and it cost Helston.

“At half time we were 4-0 down and effectively the game was over. But we said, in the second half go in there and try to score, and see if you can win the second half,” said Cusack.

While they did go on to score, just two minutes into the second half, ultimately Weston also went on to claim the second half, by scoring three further goals to Helston’s two.

Cusack described the overall scoreline as “disappointing” but said: “I can’t fault the boys, it wasn’t lack of effort. Just on the day we were out-performed by a team two leagues higher.”

He added that it also gave an insight into what was required to play at that level – somewhere they ultimately hoped to reach.

“They’ve shown glimpses of what’s required to be successful,” he said.

The first team are now concentrating their efforts on the league, playing away to Buckland Athletic this afternoon.

Meanwhile Helston Athletic Reserves take on Redruth United in the Cornwall County Intermediate Cup and it's derby date for Helston's Development Squad, at home to Porthleven.