AFTER 17 successive defeats, including 15 in the league, St Austell finally opened their wins account for the season on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over fellow strugglers Nailsea and Tickenham.

The three points lifted the Lillywhites above their Bristol rivals at the foot of the table and gave them hope that they could yet pull off the ‘Miracle of Poltair Park’ and avoid relegation.

The visitors had led at the halfway stage but striker Jake Harris’s equaliser on the hour signalled a rousing comeback which ended with Lewie Rendle’s 81st minute penalty, confidently converted by the left wing-back.

Manager Adam Castlehouse said: “The game wasn’t much of an advert for the Jewson Western League; however, I’ll take any kind of result at this stage!

“Once again, I thought the officials were poor. The game needed a calm head in the centre, and unfortunately it wasn’t what was on show.

“Nevertheless, we have finally done it! There was real determination shown in our match against Newquay in midweek and that showed again yesterday.

“We have really struggled to get a consistent side out on the pitch this season but the lads we had in the squad yesterday really showed their worth.

“We are changing our recruitment approach and with lots of young lads now representing the club, we are starting to see the desire and the hunger levels increasing.

“We deserved the victory and we must use this as a catalyst.”

The Lillywhites now have a break in league fixtures until October 25 when they travel to Shepton Mallet (3pm).

AFC St Austell: Josh Clark, Sonny Cooper, Lewie Rendle, Tyler Pickering, James Baker, David Joseph, Owen Mills (Matty Pilkington), George Davey (Alfie Middleton), Jake Harris, Sam Lang (Theo Roberts), Bailey Bellis (Josh Mills).

St Austell man-of-the-match: James Baker.