Helston Athletic 0, Tavistock 4

Helston Athletic suffered defeat at home to Tavistock after playing an hour with ten men in their SWPL Premier clash at Kellaway Park on Saturday.

Ryan Beattie saw red for the hosts on 30 minutes after picking up a second yellow, and Tavistock capitalised by scoring four second-half goals through Dave Hallett, Liam Prynn, Josh Grant and Jack Crago.

The first half hour was a balanced affair, with Helston’s Hugh Howlett putting in an important challenge to deny Jack Crago before Tavistock keeper Josh Oak saved Charlie Young’s free-kick.

But the big moment came on 30 minutes when Ryan Beattie, already on a booking, received a second yellow card for a late challenge.

Tavistock immediately created a host of chances but were let down by their finishing, as Tallan Burns fired over the bar before Josh Grant inexplicably missed the target from six yards.

The Lambs’ pressure continued up until half-time but the game remained goalless, with Luke Brown testing Barrie Wyatt from outside the box before Howlett did well to block Grant’s dangerous cross.

The visitors wasted no time in getting on the front foot after the break as Reece Shanley curled a shot narrowly wide within 20 seconds of the restart.

Helston’s resistance was finally broken in the 63rd minute when Tavistock won a free kick on the edge of the box, with Hallett superbly firing into the top right corner.

Tavistock then doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances on 74 minutes. Jack Crago's shot struck the post before Prynn’s follow-up appeared to be cleared, but the linesman signalled that the ball crossed the line.

The floodgates had opened by the 80th minute and the visitors scored twice in three minutes. Grant scored a penalty after Crago was brought down, before Shanley made it four after good work from Prynn.

Crago then passed up the chance to score a fifth with Wyatt doing well to deny him, before Helston substitute Tyler Oliver couldn’t make the most of Josh Oak’s weak clearance to grab a consolation for his side.

Packet Pick – Hugh Howlett was a key figure as his defence kept out a strong Tavistock side for long spells of the game, despite being a man down.

Helston: B Wyatt, S Jenkin, K Davies (c), R Beattie, H Howlett, H Jewell, K Marks, C Young (T Russell 78), P Cattran, L Tripconey (T Oliver 65), K Cornish (J Thirkle 31).

Helston are at Witheridge this afternoon, before a Kellaway Park double header against Torpoint Athletic on Thursday night and Stoke Gabriel on Saturday.