SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE PREMIER WEST

Helston Athletic 0 AFC St Austell 1

A CALLUM McGhee penalty 18 minutes from time was enough to secure a third win in five games for St Austell at Kellaway Park on Tuesday night.

Despite the Lillywhites dominating for long spells, the game was still goalless when substitute Jayden Gilbert was brought down in the box and McGhee did the rest.

Neil Slateford is St Austell’s usual penalty taker but he was unavailable for this game.

The result lifted the visitors to second place with a five-game unbeaten start to the season as they look forward to returning to Poltair Park on Saturday against Dobwalls.

Manager Chris Knight said: “It was another game where we created a number of openings without ever being troubled really, but the longer the game goes on you begin to think it’s going to be similar to Saturday at Hayle.

“We do need to kill teams off earlier and it’s a case of if we can get the first goal early we go on to be comfortable. But credit to Helston, they were bright and lively so fair play to them. Despite it reading as a 1-0 I was really happy with the way we played ironically and we created a number of great chances.

“Obviously when you’ve got your star striker (Rubin Wilson) stood watching in a knee brace it’s a bit soul destroying, but it is what it is so we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have to find a way.

“With Slates away and Olly (Brokenshire) injured I was worried we would lack leadership, but the lads all stood up to the task and in Kieron Bishop we had the best player on the pitch, a brilliant performance.

“It’s another win and a clean sheet, so we are delighted and move on to Saturday.”

HELSTON ATHLETIC: Barrie-John Wyatt; Micah Davy, Freddie Walter, Blake Gordon-Dunn, Sam Fisher, Ketan Cooper, Jasper Turner, Hayden Black, Henry Chappell, Finn Costa (Osiah Spellman), Josh Daniel. Subs: Calum Knowles, Rocco Williams, Ben Mack-Wills, Toby Griggs.

AFC ST AUSTELL: Morgan Coxhead; Josh Bragg, Martyn Duff, Noah Teagle (Jayden Gilbert, 43), Aaron Dilley, James Ward, Freddie Kemp, Callum McGhee, Haiden Chapman (Cam Patterson, 70), Alfie Flack, Kieron Bishop. Subs not used: Luke Potter, Tom Whipp, Jake White.

St Austell man-of-the-match: Kieron Bishop.