Helston Athletic Manager Steve Massey expects a tough challenge in their upcoming Cornwall Senior Cup Quarter Final away match at fellow Western League opponents Saltash United. 

Athletic go into the game having lost their last two in the league, and remarkably haven’t played at home since early December with two matches being axed due to Covid and heavy rain. 

Previewing their Quarter Final tie Massey explained that Helston will be missing some regular faces who are cup tied having played for other clubs earlier in the competition. He said: “It is going to be a real tough one, we have played twice in the last month it’ll get to. 

“I’d rather have gone in with games under our belt but it is what it is everyone is in the same boat. We had Steve Colwell come in from Bodmin but he is cup tied, Cory Harvey is cup tied. I think it is going to be a tough one for us, without doubt home advantage will help them as well. 

“We do have Tyler (Elliot) and Reece (Shanley) back they had Covid last week but we would have still played without them. They are fine to go now. 
“We will go with Leo (Summers) in goal, he is a young kid but we all have faith and confidence in him to do well.”

Helston have already played Saltash twice this season in the league with both fixtures ending in a draw. In just the second game of the season they went toe-to-toe and Helston took a first half lead through Ryan Turner. 

However the Blues had to settle for a draw when Callum O’Brien headed in a wide free kick early in the second half. In the reverse fixture just three game weeks later the game finished goalless with the teams once again sharing the spoils. 

Massey believes that this cup match will follow that trend of results: “It’ll be a close one, a goal in it I would say, it has to be finished on the day too so there will be a winner there.” Said the Manager. 

“We have evolved and changed considerably since those early days. Tyler Elliot and Reece Shanley coming in, we have had players depart. Saltash have been the same they have lost a few and recruited a few youngsters.

"I think it is going to a well anticipated and eagerly awaited cup tie. The Senior Cup is always prestigious in the county. The Easter Monday final is something that all the clubs look forward to and it is a real honour.” 

Massey added that going further in the competition would be great for the club, but insisted their most important task this season was their fight at the top of the league table, he said: “It would mean everything to the club, it is embedded in history in Cornwall the Senior Cup and the Easter Monday final. 

“I think we would take everybody out of Helston if we got there! It would be quiet in town that day! That’s what we have our eyes on but of course our main aim as always is promotion.

"We want to be right in there right towards the end of the season in the promotion hunt but so be it we want to be in the Senior Cup as we are heading to Easter.”

Kick off at the Kimberley Stadium is at 3pm. A bumper crowd is anticipated for the fixture with the home side adding discounted tickets to Plymouth Argyle season ticket holders, with their League One neighbours playing away from home.