BUCKLAND Athletic fell shy of adding turbulence to the Western League title race in a 3-2 defeat to league leaders Helston Athletic on Saturday.

The silver lining in the Bucks’ Cornish conquest was top scorer Jared Lewington extending his lead at the top of the Western League golden boot standings with an additional two to his tally. Lewington’s double was ruled a consolation by goals from Helston’s Sam Carter, Aaron Bentley and substitute Steve Colwell.

‘We knew what we were going to face in Helston but that doesn’t mean that we fear any team in our league,’ said Head Coach Dan Hart. ‘We had to do what we could with what we had. We did set up in a slightly different way and showed the respect that Helston deserve as champions-elect in this league. 

‘Even though we went behind twice in the first half, I felt that we were the stronger side and, speaking to some of their officials, they thought they could’ve gone into half-time three or four behind. We abandoned some of our usual principles and went a little bit longer and more direct because we felt we could get some joy that way, and we did; Jared managed to put one away. 

‘The goals that we did concede were very naive ones and defensive errors that summed our season up a little bit – we played some attractive and threatening football but whenever they created chances it ended up in the back of our net. 

‘Helston managed most situations to keep us at arm’s length throughout the second half.’

Lewington’s tally for the season now sits at an astonishing 36 goals from his 39 appearances. His nearest rival for the scorer’s accolade is Bridgwater United’s Jack Thorne, some seven goals behind but having played four more times.

‘Jared has 36 in 30 starts,’ Hart said of his talisman. ‘I’m very pleased with him and the continuation in the way that he is managing his body and learning to play in a different way to what he has done for a large portion of his career and becoming a player that is deadly in the penalty area and uses his strength in there. 

‘As long as he does that for us and continues to score goals, we’re delighted to have ensured that he is with us next season and we need to try now to get best in class throughout the team and not just one player who is top scorer in the league.’

The curtain falls on Buckland’s disappointing Western League campaign on Saturday, when they journey up to Mill Road to take on play-off side Barnstaple Town.