Torpoint Athletic 4 Helston Athletic 1

Prolific striker Luke Cloke helped himself to two more goals on Saturday as Torpoint returned to winning ways by sweeping aside a disappointing Helston at The Mill.

For Cloke, who only broke into the starting line-up at the end of October, these were his 14th and 15th goals of the season.

His was a man of the match contribution and the only setback for the powerful front man came six minutes from time when he had to leave the field with a nose injury.

But he revealed afterwards that he should be fit for the Boxing Day derby against Millbrook at The Mill, saying he might have to wear a face mask.

Torpoint never really looked back from a fast start, with Danny Zalick firing them ahead in the sixth minute with a fierce shot from 15 yards after latching on to a Cloke pass.

Cloke then had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes when he got clear in the penalty area and chipped the ball past Helston keeper Barrie Wyatt but watched in horror as the ball bounced wide.

Helston then drew level with a fine 26th minute finish from Phil Cattran and had a chance to take the lead a minute later when Scott Beattie was denied by a brilliant save from Jason Peters.

Torpoint broke to the other end and when the ball fell to Cloke 10 yards out he finished with confidence to make it 2-1.

And the home side rounded off an excellent first half display with the best goal of the game. Lewis Young, out on the left, produced the pass of the match to send Cloke through and the big striker curled a beauty of a shot from 28 yards into the far corner.

Cattran had a chance to reduce the arrears four minutes before the break but his fiercely hit low shot was brilliantly blocked by the legs of Peters.

Helston had an easier opportunity four minutes into the second half when Cattran produced a superb low cross into the six yard box but somehow Matt Bye hit the ball wide.

The visitors were given a lifeline in the 68th minute when Peters was adjudged to have tripped Cattran for a penalty, but Helston skipper Kirk Davies drilled his spot kick wide.

Five minutes later it was Torpoint’s turn to be awarded a penalty, with Josh Storey adjudged to have held back Cloke. This time, home skipper Lee Bevan stepped up and scored to make it 4-1.

Torpoint: J Peters, J McCabe, L Bevan, S Hill, E Crawford, J Heveran, L Young, R Kane, L Cloke (B Stacey 84), D Zalick (S Hepworth 87), R Simmons (G Hird 77).

Goals: D Zalick (6), L Cloke (28, 39), L Bevan (73 pen).

Yellow card: J Peters (68).

Helston: B Wyatt, K Davies, G Roberts, R Beattie, J Storey, H Jewell (A Wharton 77), R Chinn, M Bye, S Beattie, P Cattran, K Cornish (J Flamank 77). Subs not used: A Williams, K Daughtery.

Goal: P Cattran (68).

Referee: Steve O’Neill.

Attendance: 85.

Cornish Times Man of the Match: Luke Cloke (Torpoint) – looks a player.