Helston Athletic welcomed Shepton Mallet to Kellaway Park yesterday (Jan 2) for their first game of 2023.
Before the fame kicked off, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Lisa Tripconey, David Treloar, former groundsman, and Alec Strike, grandfather of Youth Secretary Chris Strike, and stalwart of local rivals, Porthleven FC.
As the game kicked off, there wasn’t much between the two sides for the first 15 minutes, with chances restricted to efforts from distance, with shouts for a handball after seven minutes waved away.
After 22 minutes Haines was shown a yellow card but the subsequent free-kick came to nothing.
The teams remained fairly evenly matched, with neither side having anything to show for their efforts. Around the 38-minute mark, Helston’s Shepherd is almost through, but a last ditch tackle stops him from getting a shot away, Bentley comes close from the subsequent set piece, miscuing his attempt.
Shepton Mallet were awarded a free kick at the end of the first half, but Wilkinson’s effort clears the Helston bar.
Into stoppage time, Copp was sin-binned for The Blues, with both teams going in goalless at the half-time break.
The second half was much like the first, with neither side taking the lead.
After 55 minutes, Shepton Mallet brought on Sloggett, who replaced the injured Jenkins, then, five minutes later, Ball replaced Wilkinson.
The game continued at a stalemate, with nothing to decisive from either side.
Mallet’s Constable shot on goal was saved and Helton tried to break but it eventually comes to nothing.
On 68 minutes, a stray shot from Gould went wide, with Helston bringing on A Bentley and Stevie Colwell for Josh Storey and Matty Bye two minutes later.
Helston’s Shepherd came close to finishing a sweeping move for The Blues, volleying over on the angle from an Elliott cross.
Eventually, the deadlock was broken with Rubin Wilson heading home after Copp got to the byline and crossed the ball in.
Mallett decided they weren’t to be beaten just yet, and five minutes later, equalised through Constable setting up Seviour who finished, making it 1-1.
After the equaliser, Shepton began to take control of the game, with Constable brought down in the box, although penalty claims were quickly waved away.
Helston got back into the game and had a number of efforts saved by the Mallet keeper although, ultimately, they were not enough.
The game ended in a draw with both teams taking a point.
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