Saltash United 2 Helston Athletic 1

Saltash moved up to second place in the South West Peninsula League premier division after a hard-fought victory over an impressive Helston side at Kimberley Stadium on Saturday.

With rivals Tavistock and Falmouth drawing 3-3 with each other, and St Austell losing 3-0 at Ivybridge, the Ashes took advantage thanks to a Richard Maddison winner seven minutes from time.

Full back Dave Barker scored his eighth goal of the season to put the home side 1-0 up in the 32nd minute.

But Helston, who had dominated the opening half an hour during which Kyle Beattie hit the woodwork twice, continued to play well and they deservedly equalised in the 79th minute through Ryan Chinn.

The visitors must have thought they had done enough to earn at least a point – but Maddison’s goal left them empty-handed for the long trip home.

Helston thought they had taken the lead in the eighth minute when Kyle Beattie’s header was close to being over the line after it had crashed against the underside of the bar. But the referee, having checked with his linesman, waved play on.

Phil Cattran then took advantage of hesitancy in the Saltash defence after 22 minutes to fire a left foot shot inches wide, and six minutes later Matt Byre, signed in midweek from Bideford, saw a close range effort blocked when he looked favourite to score.

The visitors continued to dominate possession and threaten around the penalty area but they were again denied by the woodwork in the 31st minute when Kyle Beattie’s powerful left foot free kick from 30 yards clipped the top of the bar with Saltash keeper Ryan Rickard rooted to the spot.

Against the run of play, the Ashes broke the deadlock two minutes later when a superbly-weighted pass from Lee Phillips set up Barker, and he drilled the ball into the far corner.

Helston had an opportunity to equalise seven minutes into the second half when a long clearance by goalkeeper Barrie Wyatt found Cattran racing through on the left. He cut inside and produced a low shot which Ashes keeper Rickard saved with his legs.

After Maddison had wasted a chance to double Saltash’s lead on the hour, Cattran had another opportunity three minutes later and this time his low right foot shot was brilliantly saved by Rickard.

But the visitors finally got the equaliser they deserved in the 79th minute when a corner was headed towards goal and Chinn’s volleyed flick beat Rickard.

It could have been better for Helston two minutes later when Cattran was played through on the right side of the penalty area but he blasted his shot high and wide.

It was a let off for Saltash, who took full advantage two minutes later with Maddison restoring the home side’s lead.

Even then, Helston refused to accept defeat and they created several half chances, the last of which saw Bye fire a 20-yard shot over the bar in the second minute of time added on.

Saltash gave a debut to new signing from Launceston, Reece Thomson, who came on for the last 30 minutes and impressed with his bursts from midfield.

Saltash: R Rickard, D Barker (C Martindale 60), C Summerfield (C O’Brien 75), S Leary, C Menhenick, D Trott, R Maddison, S Farrant, L Phillips, S Cleary (R Thomson 60), D Lewis. Subs not used: J Simmonds, S Sargison.

Yellow cards: S Farrant (30), D Barker (56), R Thomson (90).

Helston: B Wyatt, K Davies, G Roberts, K Beattie, J Cooper (H Howlett 58), R Chinn, L Tonkin (A Wharton 86), M Bye, S Beattie, P Cattran, K Cornish. Subs not used: T Cheshire, K Daughtery.