Wadebridge Town 2, Helston Athletic 1 AET

HELSTON Athletic suffered an agonising extra-time exit from the Cornwall Senior Cup at the hands of Wadebridge Town on Saturday.

The Blues led thanks to Scott Beattie’s second-half strike and were just minutes from victory when Ben Williams levelled for the hosts to take the game to extra-time.

Neither side could score in the first period of extra-time, but Williams netted again with ten minutes remaining and send the South West Peninsula League Division 1 West side into the quarter-finals.

A quiet first half offered little signs of the drama that was going to unfold later on in the game. Helston ‘keeper Barrie Wyatt was forced into action to tip Kieran Rowe’s shot over the crossbar in the most noteworthy incident of the half.

But the Blues took the lead midway through the second half when Beattie beat the offside trap and coolly slotted past Wadebridge ‘keeper Rob Rosevear.

Wadebridge pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and as time looked to be up they found it in the 89th minute, with Williams tucking in the rebound after Dan Jennings’ shot was saved by Wyatt.

The Bridgers had the momentum going into extra-time after their late leveller, and although the score remained goalless at half-time, Williams struck the crucial blow in the 109th minute. Joel Cockings’ header from Connor Mewton’s corner crashed against the crossbar, with Williams on hand to steer in the rebound and send the hosts through.

  • Helston's next match is a South West Peninsula League Premier game at Elburton Villa on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).