Falmouth Town coach Charlie Davis was 'absolutely delighted' with his side's comeback win at home to rivals Helston Athletic in the Cornwall Senior Cup on Saturday.

The reigning champions fell a goal behind early on through Olly Brokenshire, but a hat-trick from David Broglino saw them go 3-1 up, before Brokenshire's late penalty gave the Blues, who had Billy Tucker and Jason Robertson sent off, late hope, but Town held on to knock Helston out of a cup for the second time in five weeks.

Davis said: "I'm always happy to win, it doesn't matter who it's against or if it's in the league or the cup, but it's got that extra tinge to it because of local rivals. They're a good side as well and if you're beating good sides then that's always got an extra feel to it, so we're absolutely delighted.

"The boys have put a massive shift in today and I think we were deserved winners."

Hat-trick hero

David Broglino grabbed the headlines with his second hat-trick in as many days, following a treble in Wednesday's 11-1 win at Godolphin Atlantic in the Walter C Parson League Cup.

His hat-trick on Wednesday comprised three penalties, with a further two coming from the spot on Saturday, as well as an excellent free kick.

"I don't know if he's ever scored so many goals in a season!" Davis said. "He had three penalties the other day and fair play to him for stepping up, and much like [Luke] Brabyn the other week in the Vase, someone's got to step up and take those set pieces, they're important.

"To score a free-kick like he did as well and in such a big game, fair play to him with the hat-trick."

'A great atmosphere'

Falmouth's 'F-Troop' showed up once again in numbers and voice to support their team.

The group made up the bulk of the 345 in attendance at Bickland Park, and Davis acknowledged the supporters' part in getting the team over the line.

VIDEO: Watch the key moments of Falmouth Town's Senior Cup victory over Helston Athletic

"I think you're either in one camp or the other," he said. "Some teams come down and absolutely love it; it's a great atmosphere that those guys create. We obviously love it and I think it does give us that bit of an edge when you need that bit of extra energy from somewhere and you've got to dig deep, and I'm sure there are plenty of teams that aren't quite so fond of them.

"If I'm honest, I think it's been missing for years from local football and I think it'd be great if teams came down here with a bit of support. That atmosphere is absolutely fantastic, I'm jealous of the boys that are able to go out and play in it."

'I was losing track of it'

The game was notable for some big refereeing decisions made by Shaun Edge and his assistants. Three penalties were awarded, two red cards were shown to Tucker and Robertson and Blues midfielder Matt Bye was also sent to the sin, while a total of ten yellow cards were dished out to members of both teams.

Those numbers may suggest that the game was a niggly, ill-tempered affair, but Davis did not feel that was the case.

"No, to be honest," he said. "I think some were maybe, and I'm talking both sides here, some were a bit quick to be bookings, but I'd rather have it that way than the referee letting things get out of hand.

"I was losing track of it to be honest, I didn't even realise that the lad [Tucker] was going to get his second yellow and be sent off.

"A bit confusing, but on the whole I don't think the referee was too bad at all. Maybe you could say we had a couple of soft things go our way and I felt Helston had a couple as well.

"I don't know what their view would be on that, but on the whole, nothing to complain about from our side."

Strength in numbers

Town's victory was made all the more impressive given they had several first-team players unavailable for the game.

Tim Nixon, Matt Buchan, Ollie Moody, Martyn Duff, Jack Bowyer, Jack Webber, Olly Walker and manager Andrew Westgarth were unavailable, while Ryan Martt, who has now left the club, would have played the original fixture last week had it not been postponed.

Davis refused to use the list of absentees as an excuse, acknowledging that Helston had a few missing themselves – namely Harrison Jewell, Lewis Tonkin, Kai Cornish, Scott Beattie and Liam Eddy – choosing to praise those that did play instead.

"It's funny actually because we played Helston when I came back from a summer break in America [in July], and I remember having a chat with Dave Deacon [of the Cornish Soccer podcast] afterwards and I specifically said then that I would never use that as any kind of excuse for a result, and I would say the same thing in victory as I would in defeat.

"I wouldn't be as disrespectful to our lads that are playing, that's why you have a squad, and I certainly wouldn't be as disrespectful to Helston and say, 'Oh we had a few out and still won'.

"They've got a couple of lads out as well, that's local football. You've got commitments, you've got injuries, and I think the schedule is tough on the boys as well. You play midweek games, you play on boggy pitches, and then you've got to work all week and I think that's difficult.

"Having said that, the boys have dug in. Luke Barner's been fantastic for us and he's pulled up just before half time. You look at the likes of Ryan Chinn, had to come off in midweek and he's hobbled around today and done really well. Sammy Pickup I'm delighted for, that's the best I've seen him play, we gave him a bit of a task in centre mid."

Will wings it

Reserve team midfielder Will Harding was one of the players to step into the void left by the absent players, receiving the call-up to the first-team on the morning of the game.

He began the game on the bench, but was introduced on left side of midfield in the 40th minute as a replacement for the injured Barner, and Davis was pleased with his contribution.

"I thought he did brilliant," he said. "He's such a laid back kid that I don't even think he was that bothered! He was absolutely fine with it, took it in his stride so fair play to Will.

"He's played in some really good Penryn sides previously and now he's doing well in our good second team as well. He's a nice lad, really nice footballer technically, and the boys have taken a shine to him today."