HELSTON Athletic’s Emirates FA Cup run came to an end this week after losing to Bideford AFC in front of 223 fans during their Qualifying Round matchup.

The Blues made to trip over to Devon for the game at the Sports Ground, with both teams eyeing up cup runs early in the season.

Bideford got off to a promising start and threatened within 10 minutes when Archie Reay charged forward and played in Ryan Turner but Helston’s man between the sticks Kyle Moore had it covered.

Three minutes later the home side came again with a low ball across the face of goal from Finn Roberts but were unable to get anyone on the end of it.

The Robin’s fortunes changed minutes later when a shot is spilled by the Helston keeper and recycled by Jack Winsor who picks out Ryan Turner and the former Helston boy puts the ball into the bottom corner.

Helston decided it was their turn to have a go but couldn’t quite manage to make anything of the chances they created.

On 30 minutes, Moore kept the deficit down to just one goal after Craig Duff fired a free-kick his way and was forced to make another good save minutes later when Winsor found Duff in the box with a good cross.

The first card of the game came when Helston broke through the middle of the park only to be stopped by a shirt-pull by Mitchell who was given a yellow for his crime.

As the minutes of the first half dripped away, Helston came close again when a dangerous ball was whipped in but ultimately glanced wide.

A few minutes later, Bideford’s Duff was shown yellow after a mistimed tackle.

Helston again failed to capitalise when The Robin’s keeper fumbled the ball on the edge of the box but recovered before The Blues could strike.

Another missed chance came just before half-time when Bideford keeper Seedhouse made an incredible save palming a header low to his right on to the crossbar, keeping the home team’s narrow lead.

The visitors had enjoyed plenty of possession but were left with nothing to show for it as the teams went in at the break.

As the second half got underway, Helston forced Seedhouse to earn his supper once again as a Blues bombardment brought the game back up to pace over several minutes.

However, it wouldn’t last as, on 60 minutes, Bideford found a way to double their lead, again through Turner, who latched on to a ball over the top and slotted his effort passed Moore.

Helston’s day went from bad to worse when Rikki Shepherd laid the ball across the face of the goal only for his teammates to miss the opportunity to grab one back.

Dommerall then had his chance to shine but was unfortunate to fire his effort over the bar.

On 84 minutes, Bideford seemingly put the game to rest with Turner earning a hat trick after Byrne curled a corner in and Turner nodded it into the net from a few yards out.

The final nail in Helston’s coffin came four minutes into injury time when Finn Roberts dashed forward and unleashed a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

As the final whistle came, it was Bideford who earned their place in the next round of the FA Cup, with Helston undoubtedly rueing their missed chances.

Bideford AFC 4-0 Helston Athletic