Helston Athletic 0-0 Mousehole
Western League Premier Division
Wednesday 30th March 2022
At Kellaway Park
Summary
With their second score-less draw in a few days, a resolute performance against strong and direct opponents enabled Mousehole to move up to second place in the League – the highest-ever position in the club’s history – making the remaining six games of the season a very exciting prospect.
Pre-match points
This ‘local derby’ clashwas originally scheduled for Boxing Day, but an outbreak of Covid in the Mousehole squad led to the Western League postponing the fixture following Government guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.
Helston are currently on a good run of form, unbeaten in their last five games, after a disappointing January in which they dropped out of the leading positions.
Mousehole are in third place after a 0-0 draw at home against Exmouth Town on Saturday, but a win or even a draw this evening would see them climb above Exmouth into second spot.
The return Mousehole/Helston fixture at Trungle Parc is on Good Friday (kick off 11am), with Mousehole Development Team’s St Piran League match against Hayle following at 3pm.
Mousehole’s starting line-up news is that Kyle Fraser replaces the injured Josh Otto at left-back, Louis Price starts as the central forward and former Helston striker Mark Goldsworthy makes the substitutes’ bench after injury, as does Andy Elcock.
The weather is cool and dry, and there’s a very big crowd ready for kick off.
The key moments
22 minutes: It’s been an uneventful first half of the first half, but Helston have the first real chance, Ollie Chenoweth palming out Reece Shanley’s cross-cum-shot and Stuart Bowker prodding wide from 8 yards under pressure
28 minutes: Jack Calver has the large Mousehole contingent excited with a driven free kick just over the bar from 25 yards
30 minutes: Louis Price forces his way through on the left and his cross goes just past the far post with Helston keeper Mike Searle looking relieved
32 minutes: Max Hill does well to block a goalbound Helston shot inside the six-yard box
38 minutes: Jack Calver whips another 25-yard drive past the far post
42 minutes: Max Hill makes another important clearance in front of goal from Kai Cornish’s dangerous low cross
43 minutes: The resultant Helston corner is scrambled off the line firstly by Mark Richards and then by Ollie Chenoweth
45+1: At half time it’s 0-0, with Mousehole having done well to repel the hosts, who’ve arguably looked the more likely to score with Mousehole not yet finding their rhythm against a strongly pressing side on a dry bumpy pitch
The second half:
54 minutes: Stuart Bowker is clear on goal with Ollie Chenoweth coming out to narrow the angle, and as the two collide there are loud shouts for a penalty as the Helston striker hits the ground – but Simon Long is unimpressed and awards a goal kick
71 minutes: Mousehole substitute – winger Callam Mconie is replaced by midfielder Andy Elcock
15 minutes to go: Helston are getting the ball forward at every opportunity, but without much success as Mousehole look reasonably comfortable at the back
80 minutes: The Seagulls are showing signs of more positive forward intent. Hayden Turner drives a curling free kick not far wide from an angle on the left
82 minutes: Mousehole come very close! Andy Elcock’s penetrating pass releases Louis Price for a surging run on the right and his low cross in front of goal is superbly cleared over his own crossbar by Jordan Bentley from point-blank range
87 minutes: Mousehole substitute – midfielder striker Jack Calver is replaced by Mark Goldsworthy
89 minutes: Helston have sight of goal – Stuart Bowker lets fly from 20 yards, his left-foot shot clearing the crossbar
90 minutes: Tallan Mitchell is darting through the middle of the home defence and is thwarted before he can shoot by a last-ditch tackle just inside the area
90+3 minutes: Helston have a free kick 40 yards out – maybe their last chance? The visitors’ defence again deals competently with the floated ball into the box
90+4: Louis Price leads the charge from his own half as Helston are caught upfield, but the full-time whistle brings the action to a close. So, it ends scoreless in a game played at a hectic pace but with little fluency and few quality moments for the large crowd to admire.
What this result means for Mousehole
The Seagulls have shown great resilience to pick up consecutive 0-0 draws, and this point from their game in hand puts them above Exmouth Town into second place – a remarkable achievement in their first season after promotion.
Tavistock, Mousehole and Exmouth have now played an equal number of games (30), with 66, 62 and 61 points respectively. Each side has some difficult challenges in their last six matches of the season, so the month of April should be a fascinating time with two promotion spots on offer. Mousehole have four home games and two away (fixtures shown below)
Mousehole line-up at Helston (with used substitutes):
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Billy Curtis (C), Mark Richards, Max Hill, Kyle Fraser, Steve Burt, Tallan Mitchell, Jack Calver (Mark Goldsworthy), Callam Mconie (Andy Elcock), Louis Price, Hayden Turner.
Other substitutes: Jared Sims, Jamie Devine, Aaron Dilley
Match officials:
Simon Long (Referee), with Darren Winkworth & Neil Rudkin (Assistants)
Attendance: 408
Mousehole’s remaining fixtures:
This Saturday, 2nd April: HOME v Bitton, 3pm
This is also ‘Megs Day’, in honour of Malcolm Brown’s 60+ years of service to the club, with all former players invivted
Tuesday 5th April (provisionally): HOME v Keynsham Town, 7.45pm
Saturday 9th April: Away v Wellington, 3pm
Good Friday, 15th April: HOME v Helston Athletic, 11am
Easter Monday, 18th April: HOME v Ashton & Backwell United, 3pm
Saturday 23rd April: Away v Keynsham Town, 3pm
