FALMOUTH TOWN 1-0 HELSTON ATHLETIC
Falmouth Town eventually got back to winning ways in this hard-fought victory against their struggling local Southern League rivals Helston Athletic on a cold but dry night, in front of crowd of 474 hardy souls. A well-taken Luke Barner goal being the difference in the 89th minute.
With Jack Webber nursing a hamstring injury from Saturday’s game against Evesham, Jared Sims started in Midfield in what was Falmouth’s only change. The visitors surprisingly opted to start with Jordan Copp on the bench. Ryan Richards was again drafted in to start up-front. Recent signing Matty Bye was presumably suspended after his sending off last week but Helston’s other significant acquisition, Billy Tucker lined up wide on the right.
It was a cagey first 10 minutes with neither side creating any chances or good passages of play of any note. Falmouth were on top for the majority of the half but were guilty of giving the ball away carelessly at times. Helston for their part were clearly slowing the game down whenever possible in a bid to frustrate their hosts.
The first real effort on goal for either side came after 38 minutes. In a raid down the left flank, the ball was squared to the far post finding Falmouth’s Luke Barner unmarked. With only the keeper to beat he unleashed a powerful shot, but new Helston custodian Andrew Sowden-Bird was equal to it and palmed it round the post.
Against the run of play, Helston created their own chance two minutes from the end of the first half. A superb shot from the edge of the box from Ryan Smith forcing an acrobatic save from Morgan Coxhead in the Falmouth goal.
In summary, it was the end to a disappointing half for Falmouth who would have been fancying their chances of winning this game given Helston’s recent form. From Helston’s point of view, it was a solid performance, as the plan was clearly to contain Falmouth with a view to nicking a goal if possible.
The second half was similarly scrappy. Neither side were creating any dangerous situations as the midfields cancelled each other out, and referee Andrew Long, who chose to ignore some hefty challenges early in the contest, started to hand out a myriad of yellow cards, only some of which were deserved.
The game looked to be heading for a certain draw but that was all to change two minutes from the end of normal time. A good move down the left involving substitute Luke Brabyn and Jared Sims resulted in a deep cross being delivered to the feet of Luke Barner. Clinically, he brought the ball down and lashed it past Sowden-Bird to claim the winning goal.
With all the bookings and substitutions, 7 minutes of stoppage time had accumulated. Falmouth endeavoured to run the clock down but in the 6th minute they had a big scare as Helston hit the post after a goalmouth scramble. However, Town survived to record a much-needed win to boost their chances of playing Southern League football again next season. They now look to Saturday and another away trip to Westbury, who sit in mid-table. Falmouth will be striving for an away win to propel them further up the table, and then be hoping for some favourable results elsewhere to keep their slim play-off hopes alive.
Helston Athletic: Andrew Sowden-Bird, Dave Barker, Craig Duff-Dick, Callum O-Brien, Ryan Smith, Dylan Mitchell, Steve Colwill(c), Jacob Smith, James Simmonds, Ryan Richards, Billy Tucker. Subs: Jordan Copp, Liam Eddy, Sam Stayt, Jude Jago. Ollie Redd.