PORTHLEVEN co-manager Graham Blake is not concerned about his side's slump in form, despite his team suffering their fourth consecutive defeat in the South West Peninsula League at Wendron United.

TJ Walter and Rory Jarvis put Jack Greenwood's side 2-0 up at half-time at the Underlane, before Scott Palmer missed the chance to close out the game when his penalty was saved by Martyn Webster.

Dan Richardson scored a fine consolation free-kick late on but there was no time to look for an equaliser as Porthleven slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

Porthleven co-manager Graham Blake said: "We're just going through a little bit of a rough patch at the minute, but we're not playing bad football actually, because first half we played exceptional football, probably the best we've played for a long time with the conditions, but we just cannot put the ball in the net.

"We've changed up the way we play a little bit, we're moving the ball forward a lot more than side to side, and it's created a lot of chances. Yesterday we must have had ten shots in the first half that just skimmed past the post or fired wide. It's not that we're playing bad, we're creating chances but just can't score, it's as simple as that.

Porthleven had enjoyed a fine start to their debut SWPL Premier campaign under their new co-managers of Blake and Jamie Thomson, winning four and drawing two of their first seven games.

But they have only been able to add eight points in the ten games that followed, losing the last four in a row.

But Blake is keen to impress on his side that form is temporary and that his team can still enjoy a strong finish to their first-ever season in the division.

"I said to the players after the game and you said we've got to remember that this is just a patch we're going through," Blake said. "I think when you're a new management team at the start it's going all rosey and you go through that purple patch, and then it's down to reality when you've got to go through this time of the season.

"I think it'll be the better of us, I think sometimes you've got to lose to win. If we can get through this little rough patch we can come out better on the other side. If we can win a couple of games now and go on a little bit of a run we can finish the season really well."

Blake will hope that the arrival of Darren Walker can play a part in a turnaround in form, with the former Helston Athletic third-team manager joining him and Thomson in the Porthleven dugout this week.

Walker managed the Blues' third team while Blake was manager of the second team at Kellaway Park, and Blake feels Walker will be able to lighten the load on him and Thomson.

"He's not got massive experience and he's come into football a bit later, but he's a really nice bloke and he knows his stuff," Blake said. "Me and Thommo [Thomson] have realised also that you can't do everything on your own, just the two of us. You need a team around you, especially at this level.

"I think in this league you need as many people around you as possible, just to take a little bit of weight off me and Thommo. Thommo does the training and I'm doing the man management stuff, and Darren can come in and just do a little bit of talking to players and it just helps.

"He's a great addition, all of the players and all of Porthleven are really pleased with it."