SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE PREMIER WEST

AFC St Austell 4 Helston Athletic 0

KIERON Bishop scored twice in the second half at Poltair on Saturday as AFC St Austell cruised to three points which keep them in touch with leaders Penzance at the top of the table.

They were Bishop’s first goals of the season and his contribution helped to offset the loss of top-scorer Liam Eddy, who is facing a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury.

The Lillywhites were ahead as early as the third minute when Mark Goldsworthy took advantage of some poor defending to make it 1-0.

Surprisingly that’s where the scoring ended for the first half as the home side failed to take the chances that would have made the second half a formality.

But two minutes into the second half prolific striker Ryan Richards notched his 10th goal in 10 games since joining the club in early September.

Bishop made it 3-0 midway through the half and rounded it off with a quality finish near the end.

Joint manager Chris Knight said: “We started the game really well and when we scored early I thought we’d be comfortable. But we huffed and puffed a bit up to half-time and we were a bit frustrated not to kill the game off really.

“Second half I thought we were great, played with real tempo and I was delighted we could give a crowd of over 300 something to enjoy, it was a great afternoon.

“There were a number of stand-outs. Jude Tripconey was excellent, Kieron Bishop was outstanding and Kieran Powell and Brokes looked solid, but I thought Henry Wilson was the best player on the pitch.

“He started a bit slowly for us, he will be the first to admit, but now he’s fit and in the last two games he’d been unbelievable.

“We are in a good place with competition for places and it was a very enjoyable Saturday all round.”

AFC ST AUSTELL: Josh Clark; Freddie Kemp, Jude Tripconey, Henry Wilson, Olly Brokenshire, Kieran Powell (Tom Whipp), Kieron Bishop, Martyn Duff, Jack Wharman (Josh Bragg), Mark Goldsworthy (Callum McGhee), Ryan Richards (Haiden Chapman). Subs not used: Jamie Ward, Alfie Flack.

Lillywhites’ man-of-the-match: Henry Wilson.