1 week Ago
Helston’s Struggles Continue as League Leaders Take the Points The league leaders arrived in town, and as expected, it was going to be a challenging fixture for Helston. With a squad stacked with ex-professional footballers—some boasting impressive careers at the highest levels of non-league football—Yate Town were rightly perched at the summit, reflecting both their experience and financial backing. Looking back on Helston’s previous meeting with Yate in early December, it was a tough result to swallow.
Having held their own for most of the match, two late goals in the 84th and 88th minutes sealed a 2-0 defeat. Still, Helston remained in fourth place in the league standings at that point, seemingly poised for a strong season. However, what followed was a remarkable downturn in fortunes—one that few could have predicted.
From mid-November, Helston endured a torrid run of form, winning just once in more than twenty matches. Their promising early-season momentum evaporated rapidly, and despite having started the campaign as the last unbeaten team, their form dipped drastically, dragging them toward the relegation zone. What had begun as a promising playoff push descended into a bitter collapse.
Windy Conditions and Missed Opportunities As the match against Yate kicked off, the blustery conditions became a key factor. Helston opted to take advantage of the wind in the first half, hoping that forecasts of calmer weather later in the day would prove correct. However, their hopes of exploiting this advantage didn’t materialise.
Heading into half-time with the scoreline still goalless, there was a cautious optimism that Helston had weathered the storm. However, Yate Town showed their class in the second half. When they broke the deadlock around the 60th minute, the sense of inevitability set in—Helston simply lacked the firepower to mount a comeback.
A tally of just thirteen goals in their last twenty-seven matches underscores the difficulty they've faced in front of goal. Helston’s struggles are particularly stark when compared to their early-season form. Back in November, they were among the division’s top scorers, netting goals with ease, sometimes in batches of four or five per match.
Since then, their form has deteriorated beyond recognition, resulting in a slide toward the relegation places. Yate’s experienced striker Ross Stearn proved to be the difference, bagging a brace that highlighted his finishing prowess. His second goal was particularly impressive, as he calmly manoeuvred past a helpless Helston defence, leaving multiple defenders and the goalkeeper stranded before slotting the ball home.
Survival Battle Intensifies Although Helston aren’t mathematically relegated yet, the situation is dire. What was once a five-team battle to avoid the drop is now down to three—Helston, Larkhall, and Shaftesbury are all fighting for survival. With just four matches remaining, Helston must find something extraordinary if they are to escape the drop.
Having shown relegation form for the past twenty matches, they now need to deliver promotion-worthy performances over the next four. All eyes now turn to their crucial clash against Shaftesbury next Saturday. With both teams in terrible form, the stakes couldn’t be higher—Helston will take to the road for a nervy encounter on Shaftesbury’s 3G pitch, knowing that a positive result is essential.
The question remains—can Helston defy the odds and turn things around when it matters most? Keep up to date with all the Helston AFC news on X (Twitter) @Helston Athletic FC or on Facebook search Helston Athletic Football Club and the all-new and improved Helston AFC website! Also now on Instagram, search for Helston Football Club. Watch the action-edited highlights of the first team on YouTube—search Piran Films..
