Falmouth Town manager Andrew Westgarth believes a top six finish and a cup final will constitute a successful season for his side.

Town beat Godolphin Atlantic on Saturday to move up to sixth in the South West Peninsula League Premier ahead of two huge cup semi-finals this month.

Next up for Town is the small matter of a Cornwall Senior Cup semi-final tie against St Austell on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

Town will go into Tuesday's match at Newquay's Mount Wise stadium knowing that a win will see the club reach their first Senior Cup final for 22 years.

It will be the eighth time the two teams have met since the start of last season, and while Falmouth have the edge in the head-to-head in that time, winning four games to St Austell's two, Westgarth feels the Lillywhites are favourites for Tuesday's tie.

“It’s going to be a tough game," he said. "Last week [against Tavistock] St Austell were on fire and I’m sure they’ll be buzzing for it and fancy themselves as favourites, and rightly so with our win record at the minute but it’s all set up for an exciting game I think.”

The match will be the first of two semi-finals for Town in March, with a Walter C Parson League Cup semi against Cullompton Rangers coming up on Wednesday, March 27.

The chance to be in two cup finals breathes plenty of life into Town's season despite seeing their league hopes falter, but Westgarth has not given up hope of a strong finish to the league campaign.

“It’s good for morale for us to win this game but I’m not writing the league off," he said. "The league’s not gone in the sense of where we can finish. We can get top six and if we can get top six and a cup final then it’s not a bad season.”

Westgarth admitted that his overriding feeling after Saturday's win at home to Godolphin Atlantic was of "pure relief".

Luke Brabyn scored twice as Town beat the Newquay-based side 3-1 to end a run of three successive defeats in the SWPL Premier, with Tim Nixon adding the third late on.

“I thought we did well but I must admit when the final whistle went it was pure relief really," Westgarth said. "It has been a tough period for us but to see that third goal go in at the end I was absolutely delighted.

"You’re fearing the worst when they’ve equalised, but full credit for someone to step up the plate and grab the game by the scruff of the neck and Luke Brabyn was the difference.”

Brabyn was the hero for the home side, scoring two goals and earning plaudits from his manager for opting to pass to Nixon to score the third when he had the chance to go it alone and seal his hat-trick.

“I was so pleased for him, and the third, he showed his class. He’s gone clean through, the ‘keeper’s come out and so many players would have shot to get their hat-trick but he rolls it across for Nixon for a tap in, it showed his class.

"Brabyn’s a top player for us, he started on the right, then he went on the left and then he goes up front. He’s played in so many different positions. He’s a manager’s dream really.”

Town have struggled in recent weeks with form and player availability, but they were able to welcome back regular trio of Brabyn, Joe Cooper and Ryan Martt, while Tim Nixon was the latest player to make a return from injury.

Westgarth said: “Last week we had no Nixey [Nixon], no Brabyn, no Coops [Cooper], no Martty [Martt] and those guys have come on and made the difference. Nixey’s come on for the last 10-15 and scored the third goal. When we’ve got our squad together at home we’re a very good side.”

Town's recent selection struggles did at least allow second-team player Fraser Harris to make the step up into the first-team ranks for Saturday's game, playing the final 15 minutes in midfield after replacing Luke Johnson.

Young midfielder Sam Pickup has also enjoyed a rise in the pecking order recently, having started the last two matches and giving a good account of himself in both.

Westgarth said: “He’s a fantastic football player, Fraser, and if you ever watch him for the second team he looks so relaxed and composed and I thought when he came today he looked comfortable.

"It’s a bit like Sammy Pickup though, Sammy’s been with us all season but he’s found game time a little bit limited with either playing for the county or college, but he started the last two games and was excellent again today.”