Toolstation Western League: Clevedon Town 1-2 Helston Athletic

Clevedon failed for the third time in week, against a hard working Helston Athletic side and Seasiders Manager admitted that Clevedon had let the game pass them by. 

Manager Alex White said: “After a bad week I wanted us to grab the game by the scruff of the neck,” but that became difficult when it was Helston who took the early initiative. 

Luca Smith produced a great save after only 3 minutes to keep out Rikki Shepherd. After Freddie King’s cross shot was blocked Helston grabbed the lead on 12 minutes when the Clevedon defence failed to pick up a long free kick into the box and Sam Carter put the ball beyond Smith’s dive and into the net.

Helston worked hard to deny Clevedon clear chances. A series of free kicks and some great crosses from Elliot Nicholson came to nothing and Alex Camm and Archie Ferris both missed chances.

Just before half time another Clevedon free kick was blocked close in and Ferris’ attempted back heel was blocked, so at half time, despite Clevedon’s best efforts, Helston held on to their narrow lead.

At the start of the second half a Camper long throw picked out Beresford in the box to lay the ball back for King to pick his spot and tuck the ball in the corner of the net giving Moore no chance to make it 1-1.

The feeling in the ground was that it just wasn’t Clevedon’s day and Helston rubbed salt into the wound when they broke, and substitute Rubin Wilson cut into the box to score the inevitable second for the visitors. 

There was one final chance for Ferris, but the final score remained Clevedon Town 0 Helston Athletic 2.

After the game, White said: “Credit to Helston I thought it was a really good away performance. They never let us settle into any rhythm, they were well organised and hardworking took their chances, but I never felt we were going to break them down.

"I think we let the game pass us by.  I thought we would really want the game, but I didn’t see it today which was disappointing and when games go like that we need problem solvers and we might need a bit of a shake-up."

The Seasiders now have two home Cup games next week against Mangotsfield United in the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm) and Radstock Town in the Les Phillips Cup on Wednesday 16th (7-30pm).