SWPL football finally returned to Pennygillam last weekend, 13 weeks after Launceston had last been able to stage a home game, writes David Harrison.

The relentless rain had left the surface sodden but a combination of hard work, 24 dry hours and a strong wind saw the ground survive an early-morning inspection and allow the game to go ahead.

The Clarets could hardly have chosen tougher opposition than table-topping Helston to reopen their stop-start season. The visitors, with promotion to the Western League very much on the agenda, arrived at Pennygillam on an unprecedented run of 22 consecutive league victories.

To add to the difficulties caused by the heavy surface, a young and inexperienced Clarets side had to play into the teeth of a gale during the first-half. Given the conditions, the team did extremely well to limit the visitors to a series of half-chances, none of which caused too many problems for home keeper Josh Colwill.

Just as a goalless opening 45 minutes had begun to look a realistic possibility, Helston struck twice inside four minutes. SWPL Golden Boot leader Mark Goldsworthy, already with 36 goals to his credit this season, cleverly worked an opening inside the penalty area. His angled drive flew past Colwill and into the far corner.

The visitors demonstrated their title credentials by immediately adding a second. The swirling wind was posing real problems for the Launceston defence, which failed to deal with an inswinging corner, struck left-footed from the right wing. The ball went beyond the far post but was returned into the middle where Alex Wharton was left with a simple, close-range header.

The Clarets defence, well marshalled by skipper Josh McCabe, had worked tirelessly in demanding conditions and didn’t deserve to go to the break two goals behind. By contrast, visiting keeper Jason Robertson, despite the best efforts of Tom Ellacott and Marius Pislaru, had enjoyed a quiet first-half.

After the interval the Clarets, with the wind at their backs, came more into the game but were unable to put the Helston defence under any sustained pressure. Denham Guild and Andrew Elcock worked hard in midfield but were unable to fashion any clear chances for their strikers.

The champions-elect made the points safe in the 62nd minute with the best goal of the game. Former Bodmin Town midfielder Neil Slateford made space on the left before looking up and curling a superb 18-yard drive beyond Colwill and just inside the far post.

Launceston fought hard all afternoon but came up predictably short against arguably the most talented squad in the county, recruited specifically with promotion in mind. The Clarets will face more realistic opposition over the remaining seven weeks of the season and with 15 games still to play, starting with a trip to Wendron United on Saturday (3pm).

Mousehole provide the opposition at Pennygillam on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

KIAN Burns was at the double but Camelford were left frustrated as they were held to a draw by struggling Penzance at Penlee Park.

The Camels arrived in West Cornwall without a game in four weeks due to the weather but started brightly, as they dominated possession with the wind behind them.

However, they fell behind inside 20 minutes as a defensive mix-up allowed youngster Callum George to roll the ball into an empty net.

But Camelford weren’t behind for long. Teenager Kian Burns, a shining light since signing in the summer, belted a shot into the top corner past the impressive Mikey Flores who went on to deny Mike Steele and Andy Boxall in the opening 45.

Burns was a constant thorn down the left-hand side and he doubled the Camels’ lead ten minutes before the break, cutting in off the flank before beating two defenders and slotting a shot into the corner from inside the box.

But Penzance, who were dominated throughout the first-half went into the break level as Jacob Cleverly smashed a shot past Luke Gwillam right on the whistle.

The second-half was a much more even affair but failed to produce a winner.

George missed a guilt-edged chance for the Magpies after being sent in one-on-one, while Burns was denied a hat-trick by an inspired Flores.

Camelford are scheduled to be at home twice in the next few days with St Austell visiting on Saturday (3pm) before St Blazey make the trip to Trefrew Park on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

Elsewhere across the SWPL, Holsworthy earned an excellent point in the Premier East at a Dartmouth side who have yet to lose at home this season, thanks to goals from Jed Harper-Penman and Carlo Chandler.

Down in West Cornwall, Callington Town were thrashed 4-0 at Wendron United.