Helston Athletic (1) 2
Millbrook (0) 2
A.E.T – Helston won 5-3 on penalties
Goalkeeper Mike Searle was the Helston Athletic hero as the Blues won their first Cornwall Senior Cup final for 87 years on penalties, writes Gareth Davies.
In front of a crowd of 643 at Blaise Park, home of St Blazey, Helston were pushed all the way by Millbrook in a match that finished 2-2 after extra time.
Searle, who was at fault for both Millbrook’s goals, kept out the Magpies’ first spot kick from skipper Jack Wood before Helston successfully scored all five of their attempts to claim Cornish football’s top knock-out prize.
Despite the late drama, it was a match low on quality although for long periods, an enthralling watch nevertheless as underdogs Millbrook matched much-fancied Helston for long periods.
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The Blues drew first blood inside the opening 10 minutes when a long ball from Harrison Jewell found Rikki Shepherd in on goal. Shepherd, a former Millbrook favourite before moving to Kellaway Park last summer, showed great strength and determination to win the ball and lift it over custodian Jake Mead-Crabbin.
And another ex-Millbrook player Tom Payne nearly doubled Helston’s lead shortly after when his free-kick curled just past the post.
But that was as good as it got for Helston in the opening stanza as Millbrook dominated territory and possession without testing Searle. Led by the outstanding Wood, who curiously didn’t pick up the Man of the Match award, Mackenzie Brown’s side saw Tyler Elliott and Sam Carter avert danger after crosses from Caleb Summerfield and Kieran O’Melia nearly resulted in an equaliser.
As the interval approached, a rare foray forward from Helston saw Payne skew horribly wide when well placed.
The opening exchanges after the break were cagey with neither side creating a chance of note until the 65th minute when Millbrook drew level. O’Meila’s free-kick wasn’t dealt with by Searle and Ben Goulty nipped in to bundle the ball over the line.
It was nothing more than Millbrook deserved and bar two Helston half-chances which found the side-netting as the half wore on, the teams couldn’t be separated meaning extra time.
Just 90 seconds into the additional 30 minutes, Helston had a wonderful chance to take the lead again when Shepherd was denied by the legs of Mead-Crabbin. However, Payne once again failed to find the target and shot wide.
But in the second period of extra time, Payne made amends for his earlier misses with a brave header to put Helston back in front.
That wasn’t the end of Millbrook though as from the restart, they won a corner which O’Melia delivered for Ed Goodman to head home. Again Searle was at fault but his chance of redemption would come as after 120 minutes, the destination of the cup would be decided on penalties.
Payne stepped forward to open Helston’s account before Searle brilliantly denied Wood. Substitute Jordan Copp gave the Blues a two penalty cushion but Sean Thomson got Millbrook off the mark to halve the arrears.
Elliott restored Heltson’s two penalty advantage only for Ryan Knight to make the score 3-2. The shoot-out was delayed while Tiegan Rosenquest put his shin pads back on but the stoppage made no difference and Helston were just a penalty away from glory.
They thought the winning moment had arrived when Goulty’s effort hit the post and with Searle celebrating, the ball hit the Helston gloveman and crossed the line.
The wait for confirmation of a first Senior Cup triumph since 1937 didn’t last long for Helston as Jamie Simmonds cooly slotted home past Mead-Crebbin to spark wild Athletic celebrations.
Match information
Helston Athletic: Searle, Elliott, Rosenquest, Storey, Jewell, J Bentley, Colwell, Payne, Wilson, Shepherd, Carter. Subs: Simmonds, Burdon, Bye, Copp, A Bentley.
MIllbrook: Mead-Crebbin, Murray, Wood, Greening, Goodman, O’Meila, Thomson, Summerfield, Foster, Richards, Goulty. Subs: Youlden, Toulson, Johnson, Love-Holmes, Knight.
Referee: Mark King; Assistants: Bryan Holden & Max Davies
Attendance: 643