Helston Athletic’s lack of Boxing Day fixture has made them ‘hungrier’ for their New Years Day clash away to Buckland Athletic according to Manager Steve Massey. 

Helston had been due to play Mousehole AFC on December 26, but the game was postponed on Christmas Eve due to Covid 19 cases in the Mousehole playing squad. Meanwhile Buckland, who are 11th, were defeated 3-0 by league leaders Tavistock.

 Speaking ahead of their latest game Massey said: “With our game being postponed I got to see them (Buckland Athletic) first hand on Boxing day, they’ll be saying themselves that they didn’t defend as well as they can do.

“Their position is a little bit false, I think they are far better than their position says. We are in real good shape, if anything not having a game has made us hungrier.

“Some of the boys had requested, which I don’t mind, to play games and the clubs they have been at have been respectful. There has been a few that have got 60 minutes that I say they can play for. Everybody is up for it, and we are really looking forward to it, particularly after Boxing Day.

“Even the supporters were building up ahead of steam, people are just coming out to watch games. The gate at Falmouth was fantastic. I would have said a big chunk of those would have been at our game.

"There is a hunger and desire for football down here. I’ve always said that out of the whole of Cornwall this area down here that can attract football fans. I feel it is a real football fanbase down here.”

The battle in the top half of the Western League is proving a close one with second to seventh place separated by just three points.

Massey believes the tightness of the teams means it is vital to get points on the board in as many games as possible, he said: “It is very important to try and get something out of every game, that is why the Shepton Mallet one (the 3-1 defeat) was really disappointing. I would imagine they were buoyed as they were on a run that saw them slip down the table.

“Everybody is capable of taking points off each other you just have to make sure each game that you go into that we are just totally focused on getting the points from it.”

The Helston Manager admitted he believed his side had shared the spoils on too many occasions for his liking so far this campaign: “We are looking to take as many three points and wins as possible because we have drawn too many this season.

"That would be my ‘half-term report’ we have drawn too many games particularly when we have been in the position to win them or could have won them. It is a real big one we are well aware that anyone in the top seven/eight could get promotion so we are in for a real good game.”

Kick off at Homers Heath is at 3pm, Helston know a win depending on results elsewhere could take them to second in the table.