Combination League: Helston Athletic 4-1 St Just

Helston Athletic took advantage of numerous postponements elsewhere to close the gap on the top two in the Combination League following a confident 4-1 win at home to St Just on Saturday.

Tom Russell gave the home side the lead after 14 minutes before Jamie Thompson’s free-kick doubled the advantage before the break.

Kegan McPhilbin made it three just before the hour to effectively end the game as a contest, with sub Joe Wright adding a fourth ten minutes later.

The Tinners bagged a consolation with 13 minutes to go and despite further pressure from the visitors the game was long over as a contest, with the three points putting the Blues level on points with second-placed Perranporth.

Helston striker Dan Stidwell (right) gets a shot away during Saturday's game

The match at Kellaway Park was one of just two games to go ahead in the division after heavy rain across the county decimated the local football programme.

Although the game survived the rain it was still subject to fiercely strong winds, with some attempted long balls bordering on farcical at times.

But the hosts largely ignored the weather woes and settled themselves early on, with Fraser Patterson and Dan Stidwell missing good chances inside the first seven minutes.

Stidwell spurned another opportunity a few minutes later when he flicked brother Ben’s header at goal from a few yards out, but St Just ‘keeper Martin Grenfall made one of many crucial interventions to hold the effort on the line as the visitors struggled to get out of their half.

One thing that didn’t struggle to get out of its half was one of the corner flags which, under the effects of Storm Deirdre, found itself blown midway into the opposite half.

Jamie Thompson's free-kick flies into the net, leaving St Just 'keeper Martin Grenfall rooted to the spot 

The home side finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, thanks to Russell’s cross from the corner of the box which evaded everyone and curled into the far corner.

Patterson then saw two chances to double the lead go begging, but the second did arrive on 32 minutes via Thompson’s superb free-kick which flew into the corner from 25 yards.

The Blues should have had more than a two-goal lead at the break but were denied by some superb goalkeeper from Grenfall, including a splendid double save to deny Jowan Shainberg and Stidwell within moments of each other.

Helston continued the onslaught after the break with Thompson twice missing the target, while an Ashley Ellis free-kick that went narrowly wide reminded the hosts that they were still in a match.

But that match was all but over on 58 minutes when a quick attack ended in Thompson having a shot blocked on the line before ending up at the feet of McPhilbin, who took a touch before hammering into the net from inside the box.

Three became four ten minutes later with substitute Joe Wright tapping in the rebound from Ben Stidwell’s header less than three minutes after joining the action.

It could easily have been eight or nine by this point on another day, with Wright turning down the opportunity of a fifth by blazing over the bar from close range.

The Tinners netted a consolation with 12 minutes to go when a St Just man got his head to a cross with Helston ‘keeper Martyn Webster unable to keep it from dropping inside his left post.

The visitors didn’t give up their search for another, with Ellis denied the goal that his efforts up front deserved after his mazy dribble and shot found the arms of Webster in the dying moments.

Helston: M Webster, I Drysburgh, J Shainberg, F Conway, B Stidwell, H Howlett, J Thompson, K McPhilbin, D Stidwell, F Patterson, T Russell. Subs: C Tanner, J Wright, M Hallibone, A Collick, G Blake.

St Just: M Grenfall, N Curnow, C Curnow, C Collins, S Nicholls, W Southcott, A Curnow, R Badcock, A Ellis, J Sturgeon, R Semmens. Subs: T Sturgeon, R Gendall, D Stodman.