PAULTON Rovers’ splendid run of seven successive wins in the Premier Division of the Jewson League was ended when they lost 2-1 at home to Helston Athletic.

Paulton went into the game with plenty of confidence with their excellent run of form that had taken them to third in the table, just behind the leaders.

Helston had faltered somewhat in the last few weeks and so the home team were big favourites for this one. And it seemed like the game wasn't going to supply any shocks as Rovers came out the blocks the quickest, immediately putting Helston's defence to the test.

The breakthrough came as early as the 8th minute when Kailan Gould - who was excellent for the whole game - crossed from the right finding Elliot Dugan who steered the ball to the far post for Simpson to poke the ball in from close range.

It was just the start that was needed to settle the hosts and they were in again just a minute later when Kyle Witt worked his way into the box before curling a shot just wide of the top corner.

Helston responded though and and a good period with the ball and a chance fell for them in the 18th minute but the header was steered wide of the goal. This was followed by a great move a

round the field by Rovers; the ball eventually falling to Wayne Nderemani whose cross found Elliot Dugan but his header flashed over the crossbar.

Kyle Witt went close with a freekick in the 28th minute and Simpson danced around the Helston defence before shooting from a tight angle hitting the post in the 38th minute. Rovers went close again in the 43rd minute went Kailan Gould found Martin Lenihan on the edge of the box but his shot fired just over the bar.

The first of two sucker punches came at the end of the first half. Helston, who had barely created any chances after the header that was steered wide, found the net after Liam Higgins’ cross in from the left found Max Hill who beat Tom Bradley to the ball and looped a header into the empty net after Sam Jepson had rushed out to take the cross.

Buoyed by the goal, Helston looked more progressive at the start of the second half holding the ball for longer periods of possession but still not really creating anything clear cut.

Rovers were still pushing though and looked the more likely to add to the total. In the 53rd minute, Simpson played through Elliot Dugan who put the ball into the net only to be called offside.

Then the second sucker punch came in the 61st minute as Rovers gave away a dubious freekick on the lefthand edge of the box. As the ball was crossed in Josh Storey got in front of his man and simply steered the ball in from close range. It was a sickener for the hosts who should have been out of sight already.

With the lead to hold onto, Helston then became incredibly stubborn and defended valiantly for the rest of the game. Naturally, and understandably, they also used the usual football tricks to frustrate the hosts but even then, Rovers still created enough to level the game.

Jon Green