BEN Collins' second-half strike condemned Helston Athletic to defeat in their first home game of the season against Liskeard Athletic.

James Lorenz had put the visitors in front with a fine finish midway through the first half, only for Hugh Howlett to level soon after the break, but Collins rifled home what proved to be the winner on 62 minutes.

Liskeard were first out of the blocks, with Jarrad Woods curling a free-kick high and wide from the edge of the box in what was the only notable chance of a comfortable first quarter for the goalkeepers.

Lorenz soon tested Helston's Jason Robertson on two occasions midway through the half, although it was the home side having the better of the ball.

But Lorenz opened the scoring just before the half-hour after racing past the defence to meet a through ball on the left, and curling it into the far bottom corner.

Helston tried to respond before the break, with Mark Goldsworthy seeing three separate efforts being blocked by a Liskeard body.

The hosts had to wait until two minutes after the break to level matters, with Howlett heading in Matt Bye's corner at the back post.

Scott Beattie missed the chance to do the same from another corner a minute later, before Ryan Knight and Macaulay Thorp drove wide at the other end.

The next action saw Liskeard restore their lead, with Collins tucking a shot away on the break just after the hour.

Despite the hosts throwing men forward it was the visitors who looked more like scoring immediately after. Woods curled a shot into Robertson's arms while Knight missed a big chance to kill the game off.

Helston had more of the ball but struggled to get a shot on goal, with Bye firing wide from 18 yards when they finally did so.

Two of their best chances came in injury-time, with Goldsworthy winning the ball six yards out and teeing up Olly Brokenshire, who hit the deck as he attempted to fire home. The midfielder screamed for a penalty but referee Kevin Knowles waved away the protests.

Their last opportunity came in the final action of the game, with Bye's corner being agonisingly headed over by George Roberts from six yards.

Helston: J Robertson, K Davies, G Roberts, R Beattie, H Howlett, H Jewell, R Chinn, M Bye, S Beattie, M Goldsworthy, N Slateford. Subs: K Cornish, O Brokenshire, A Flack, A Wharton, C Wheat.

Liskeard: O Chenoweth, A King, S Gilbert, M Outtram, D Peel, M Thorp, L Johnson, J Lorenz, R Knight, J Woods, B Collins. Subs: J Discombe, C Copp.