KJM SPORT MATCH REPORT Saltash Utd 1 Helston Ath 2

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 November 2023 16:52

Published on Wednesday, 22 November 2023 16:49

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT Cornwall football's touchline ace

Saltash suffered their fifth successive defeat - which includes three in cup competitions - as they were edged out of the Les Phillips Cup by Helston at the Waterways Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Ashes took a fifth minute lead through Joe Preece’s deflected effort but Jacob Smith’s fierce drive levelled it up 15 minutes later.

And the tie was settled on the hour by an excellent looping header from Rikki Shepherd, who used to play for Millbrook when Macca Brown was in charge there.

Brown, now in his first season of rebuilding at Saltash, said: “I feel like I’m repeating myself on a game by game basis at the moment, but regardless of the results I’m really proud of the players and how they’re going about their business right now.

“There’s nothing worse than putting so much in, and getting absolutely nothing out and they’re experiencing that every week at the moment, losing by the odd goal, and that’s a horrible feeling as it’s very difficult to find the words when it’s like that.

“It would be easier if we were playing poorly, or if the attitude and mentality was terrible but it’s the complete opposite.

“We are left at the end feeling beaten up, but the only answer is to pick yourself back up off the canvas and get back in the ring and that’s what we’re doing and because of that we’ll get our rewards in time.”

He went on: “I enjoyed the game. We started well with the goal but I thought Helston were also sharp from that point.

“Rikki (Shepherd) was electric in the opening stages and we had to adjust slightly to deal with that but we did, and Tylor (Love-Holmes) was superb up against him and kept him relatively quiet for the remainder of the half.

“At half time we were happy, disappointed with the goal we conceded as Barks (Dave Barker) danced through a couple of challenges which shouldn’t happen, but from that point the game was even and we did well.

“The second half was just about the big moments. We had three fabulous chances, Tom Huyton from six yards out and then Ed Goodman with a similar chance, albeit more difficult, but both should do better, Tom especially has to score.

“We were pressing for a second and then out of nowhere a deep cross comes into the box and Rikki scores an unbelievable header really.

“I’ve watched that lad play hundreds of games of football over the last 10 years and score all sorts of goals, but I’ve never seen him score a goal like that, and I was quick to tell him afterwards as well.

“And those are the fine margins that make the difference in these kind of games.

“We started to turn the screw a little bit more but one thing Helston are very good at is managing games when they’re ahead.

“They slow it down and get around the ref at every opportunity to win free kicks and it works for them, it’s not a criticism because it’s something our younger lads can learn from but it can just kill momentum.

“Tylor had another great opening and again it should finish with a goal but Kyle (Moore) has done well to be fair.”

November has not been kind to Saltash despite a marked improvement in performances.

Brown said: “It’s been a cruel few weeks for us in a big month. We lost some key players at a time when cup football kicks in and it’s probably cost us in that respect and we are out of all competitions which is hard to take.

“Coming off the back of our 5-1 win in the last round a few weeks ago at Blazey, if you had said that would be the case then I wouldn’t have believed you, but we’ve been hit hard with injuries and players moving on and that’s where it’s hard to take.

“Now it’s about focussing on turning the season around in the league and I don’t see any reason why we can’t. We have 20 games left and the signs are there that we aren’t far off.

“We’ve run Bridgwater and Helston really close in the last couple of weeks and we’ve gone toe to toe with both of them, so we can be enthused by that and look to kick on.”

Saltash: J Duffey, T Love-Holmes, E Wright, E Goodman, H Greening, L Murray, T Huyton, T Badcott, A Goulty, R Thomson, J Preece.

Subs: J Jefford, R Howe.

Goal: J Preece (5).

Helston: K Moore, D Barker, T Elliott, H Jewell, J Bentley, A Bentley, T Payne, J Smith, J Copp, R Shepherd, J Simmonds.

Subs: M Baga, S Colwell, K Cornish, C Damerell, S Clifton.

Goals: J Smith (21), R Shepherd (60).

Yellow cards: J Copp (42).

Sin bin: J Copp (42).

Referee: Ryan Dennis.

Attendance: not known.

SWSN Stars Saltash - Tom Badcott; Helston - Jordan Bentley.

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