Bank Holiday Monday saw two past season champions go head-to-head in a Cornish derby match in the Southern League , writes Emma Ferguson. 

Helston Athletic were at home to Mousehole, with both teams winners of the Western League for the last two seasons before enjoying promotion.

In front of a busy crowd at Kellaway Park, Helston took first blood in the opening five minutes when Jack Crago saw a looping header beat opposing goalkeeper Oliver Chenoweth in the away goal.

Athletic set the pace after that, doubling their lead in the 23rd minute with when a clash in the box saw Aaron Bentley jump highest to head home a second for The Blues.

This saw the start of a flurry of attempts of goal, with Crago coming close for his second in the 26h minute, with Jordan Bentley then nodding one just over the bar 60 seconds later.

Mousehole rallied, however, and in the next minute the Seagulls came the closest to a shot on target that they had seen so far, when Mark Goldsworthy charged down Athletic’s goalkeeper Kyle Moore. His effort was in vain though, flashing by the right side of the post.

After five minutes of additional time, Helston headed into the break 2-0 up.

Mousehole came out fighting in the second half and it wasn’t long before they had halved the deficit.

Goldsworthy, who knows his way around Kellaway Park as a past captain of Athletic before joining Mousehole in 2020, finished in style to bring the score to 2-1 in Helston’s favour.

The Blues nearly regained their lead soon after, but the ball proved just a little too high for Aaron Bentley to head home.

A substitution for Athletic saw Reece Thomson coming on for the Blues.

Just before the hour mark, Jack Crago restored the two-goal lead for Helston when he slid a shot on target through the legs of the visiting goalkeeper.

There were further celebrations for Athletic when Aaron Bentley then headed home his second, for a brace in the 67th minute.

Mousehole managed to pull one back in the 77th minute, but it was Helston’s day.

Six minutes of additional time was announced, and with three minutes to the whistle William Sullivan almost managed to grab the goal his performance deserved when a driving run saw him attempt a finish at angle, the ball sliding agonisingly past the wrong side of the goalpost.

The final whistle blew to see Helston take home a well-deserved 4-2 win, despite an improved performance from the Seagulls in the second half.

Attendance at Kellaway Park was 387.

Athletic’s win came hot on the heels of another triumph, this time in their first ever match in the Isuzu FA Trophy, against Didcot.

After conceding a controversial opener, The Blues held firm to win back three of their own to bring the closing scoreline to 3-1, thanks to a brace from Reece Thomson and one from Gregory Eastman.

Saturday's match saw The Blues making history as the furthest ever away day match – travelling some 520 miles over the course of the round trip across the border.

The two teams will next meet in the Southern League in November.

Meanwhile, Helston’s next match in the FA Trophy will be on Saturday, September 7, at home to Melksham Town, with a 3pm kick-off.