PORTHLEVEN co-manager Graham Blake is happy with his side's mid-season transfer business, having added three players to his squad.

The South West Peninsula League Premier West club added Kirk Davies, Hugh Howlett and Luke Hunter to their ranks earlier this week, following the departures of defensive duo Ed Timmons and Tom Whipp.

Right-back Davies joins from Helston Athletic in a like-for-like swap after Timmons was targeted by Blues boss Steve Massey, with the former Falmouth Town man making his debut in Helston's 6-2 win at home to Newquay last weekend.

Howlett also joins from Kellaway Park with Blake in the market for a centre-back after Whipp left for Bodmin Town, with midfielder Luke Hunter. also having recently arrived at Gala Parc from the opposite direction.

The trio of local signings sees Porthleven continue their focus on recruiting talented players from within their immediate catchment area.

Blake said: "I think the catchment area – Helston, Falmouth, Penzance, that kind of area – I feel you don't have to go any further than that, so we're happy to mop up and play these local lads.

"We're back where Helston were maybe a couple of seasons ago where you need your local people, you need people to support the club if you want to be successful and do well in the league, and if you've got that heart and people want to play for each other then I think when you haven't got the money that other teams have got then I think that's the way forward."

Blake saw an opportunity to sign Howlett after Whipp decided to re-join Bodmin, and he is delighted to be able to bring in a player he knows very well.

"If someone goes out you've got to get someone to replace them unless you've got a big squad," he said. "I personally think Hugh Howlett coming in is a massive bonus. I've managed him and played with him before but also he's just a lease of life for us; he's a local lad and everyone loves him."

Helston captain Davies joins Howlett at Gala Parc after Massey signed fellow right-back Timmons, with Blake opting to replace Timmons with the very man he was destined to replace at Kellaway Park.

"I jumped on the bandwagon and said, 'Let's have Kirk'," he said.

"We wanted to make sure that he was welcome down at Porthleven with us, and with us being old Helston boys as well it means we can all stick together."

Hunter comes in the opposite direction to Whipp, swapping Priory Park for Gala Parc, and Blake feels that the midfielder is the perfect fit for his side.

"The way Thommo [co-manager Jamie Thomson] and I like to play is from the back, you need a Plan B sometimes but when you play from the back and want to connect the midfield to the strikers, he [Luke] is that person.

"Always wants the ball, plays it simple, looking for a side pass or forward pass all the time, he's a great addition."

Blake confirmed that Chris Wormington would take on the captaincy role in Timmons' departure while fellow defender Ben Stidwell is still unavailable.

Blake also commended Porthleven's reserve team, who sit top of the Combination League as the halfway stage of the campaign nears.

The Fishermen's second string, who have lost just one of 12 games so far this season, will be eyeing up one of two promotion spots to the St Piran League West for the 2020/21 campaign.

Porthleven, who sit tenth in the SWPL Premier West table, are set to play their first league game in 49 days when they visit St Blazey tomorrow afternoon.

The Fishermen have played just twice since a 2-0 win at Liskeard Athletic in their last league game on October 19, losing 2-0 at Mousehole in the Walter C Parson League Cup and 3-1 at home to Wadebridge Town in the Cornwall Senior Cup.