NEWQUAY continued their push for a play-off place in their first season at Western League level with another excellent away performance and victory at Fairfax Park on Saturday.

Since September 13, when they lost 2-0 at home to Paulton Rovers, the Peppermints have put together a seven-game unbeaten league run, scoring 27 goals and conceding only eight, which has lifted them to seventh place.

They are now only five points behind fifth-placed Sidmouth Town with a game in-hand.

On Saturday, Newquay never looked back after exciting striker Rhys Simmonds fired them into a second minute lead and when Allam Ahmed – another ‘find’ from the club’s youth system – made it 2-0 in the 18th minute with his first league goal, the Peppermints were in control.

Owen Howe pulled a goal back for Bridgwater just after half-time, but Newquay found another gear and goals in the last 20 minutes from substitute Tom Shepherd and Jack Bray-Evans put them out of sight at 4-1 ahead.

Howe scored his and Bridgwater’s second goal in the last minute but it was the smallest of consolations.

Newquay boss Shaun Middleton said: “It was a proper performance yesterday. Everyone was on their game.

“We played really nice, clean football and looked so dangerous in attack, solid defensively and really robust and tenacious in midfield.

“We scored some top goals against a very physical and big team who wanted to rough us up a bit, but the boys showed we can mix it.”

He added: “A big thank you to all the travelling supporters who keep making these long journeys.”

There’s another one for the Peppermints faithful this Saturday – a trip to Shepton Mallet, who beat AFC St Austell 8-0 at the weekend.

Newquay return to Mount Wise for their first home game for a month when Wellington are the visitors on Saturday, November 8.

NEWQUAY: Brodie Cole; Jamie Edlin, Harry Downing (capt), Cam Turner, Tom Moxham; Aaron Dilley, Harry Richards (Lucas Potts, 82); Rhys Simmonds, Allam Ahmed (Ollie Butterworth, 83), Jack Bray-Evans (Phil Lowry, 82), Louis Price (Tom Shepherd, 68). Sub not used: Ross Fallens.

Newquay man-of-the-match: Harry Richards.

Elsewhere in the division on Saturday, Helston Athletic moved back to within six points of the final play-off spot with a superb 2-1 victory at high-flying Paulton Rovers, writes David Sillifant.

The Blues made the long trip from West Cornwall having stuttered in the league in recent weeks, but in good cup form having advanced in both the FA Vase and Western League Les Phillips Cup.

However, they fell behind eight minutes in as Kailan Gould’s cross found Elliot Dugan who pulled the ball back for Kane Simpson to make no mistake.

The home side had plenty of chances but were pegged back on the stroke of half-time via a looping header from Max Hill.

A second set-piece – this time put in by Josh Storey – put Helston in front on 61 minutes and although Rovers continued to bang away, they couldn’t find a way past the Blues’ heroic defence.

HELSTON ATHLETIC: Morgan Jones; Cam McCabe (Jake Warman, 75), Tom Whipp, Max Hill, Josh Storey, Olly Redd (Finn Costa, 50), George Marris, Matt Searle, Liam Higgins, Nat West (Jude Tripconey, 55), Kyle Marks. Subs unused: Liam Eddy, Blake Gordon-Dunn.