FALMOUTH TOWN 3-2 HELSTON ATHLETIC
Falmouth Town overcame a spirited comeback from their arch rivals and near neighbours Helston Athletic to finally triumph in this game with a scoreline of 3-2, to book a fourth Cornwall Senior Cup Final in five competitive seasons, in their quest to retain the trophy they won on the same ground last year with that dramatic last-minute winner.
Falmouth welcomed Ollie Walker back to the starting line-up with Jacob Bowker ineligible, but otherwise were able to field an unchanged line-up from their successful demolition of Cribbs AFC on Saturday. Helston on the other hand have been struggling of late to field a settled side, and started without a recognised striker, with the talented Jordan Copp and Ryan Smith playing in the advanced positions.
It was a stuttering start to the proceedings for both teams as the game organisers were unable to find a ball that was to the satisfaction of the referee. The game being held up for almost 5 minutes until a replacement set of match-balls were supplied by the Helston Athletic officials.
As is always the case with these local derbies, the players set a frenetic pace early on providing a fairly even first 15 minutes with both sides creating a couple of half-chances. Soon after, on 17 minutes, a Helston corner forced a goalmouth scramble but Falmouth survived and for the next ten minutes Helston were marginally on-top as Falmouth struggled to get up the pitch as they defended up the slope. In the 27th minute, a long-range Tom Annear free-kick for Falmouth was turned around the post by Ben Whiting in the Helston goal with a good save low down to his left.
The dangerous Ollie Walker and Luke Barner were unable to get in the game as the Helston midfield of Matty Bye and Jake Smith refused to allow Falmouth any time to settle.
The first goal of the game came after 34 minutes. A good move down the left involving Walker resulted in his forward pass being deflected into the path of Bradley Leivers. He hooked it back from the bye-line finding the onrushing Luke Barner, who lashed it in from near the penalty spot.
With the general play still fairly even, Falmouth scored an important second goal at an important time. On 44 minutes they forced a corner from the left. Luke Barner found the head of the dangerous Bradley Leivers who steered a powerful effort into the top right-hand corner of the net. It was an unfair score-line as Helston were at least Falmouth’s equal for most of the half, despite their depleted line-up. Dylan Mitchell, one of the Helston players who have come through their youth teams defying his tender years with a quality first half display showing excellent distribution as well as competing physically in his central defensive role. At the other end of the scale, the experienced Jordan Copp was showing his class in an unfamiliar role at the head of Helston’s attack, occupying his defenders and retaining the ball well.
The second-half started with an early third goal for the cup-holders after 3 minutes. A rare stray pass from Jordan Copp found Ollie Walker halfway into the Helston half. Walker drove into the box going one-on-one with Helston captain Dave Barker. As Walker drove to the bye-line, Barker could only bring him down and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped the prolific Rubin Wilson who dispatched it past keeper Whiting low to his left.
Surely the game was all but over but Helston had other ideas. 5 minutes elapsed and in a rare foray forward, a corner was won down the right. A great delivery found Callum O’Brien in the box who forced a powerful header past Morgan Coxhead to keep the game alive as contest.
Helston again at least equalled their opponents for the next 15 minutes and it was clear that the next goal was to be very important. With Helston forcing Town to defend deep, the introduction of another local talent, Ollie Redd, enlivened Helston further with his pace and industry, and in the 25th minute, a powerful run into the box resulted in a penalty awarded to Helston. Jordan Copp converted sending Coxhead the wrong way and it was game on!
Falmouth’s job was to manage the last 20 minutes to prevent what would have been a tremendous Helston comeback. Winning is becoming a habit for this team though and so it proved as they upped their game, weathered the storm and managed keep their opponents at bay until the final whistle was sounded after 5 minutes of stoppage time, much to the delight of the Falmouth-heavy crowd of 540. The Falmouth players looked less than happy that they had let Helston back into the game and had to be reminded by captain Tom Annear that they had just reached the Cornwall Senior Cup final yet again and to go celebrate with their fans.
Falmouth resume their league campaign with a tough away trip to Malvern Town on Saturday, still nursing feint hopes of a push for a play-off place if they can turn their games-in-hand into wins. Those games will be coming thick and fast and manager Andy Westgarth will be hoping that his key players remain fit during the run-in.
Goal Scorers:
FALMOUTH TOWN
Luke Barner 34’
Bradley Leivers 44’
Rubin Wilson (pen) 48’
HELSTON ATHLETIC
Callum O’Brien 53’
Jordan Copp 70’
Att: 540.
Helston Athletic – Ben Whiting, Dylan Mitchell, Callum Martindale, Callum O’Brien, Dave Barker©, Baga Mariko, Jake Smith, Ryan Smith, Sam Stayt, Matt Bye, Jordan Copp. Subs: Olly Redd, Regan Hull, Finn Costa, James Daniel, Sam Pallett.