MOUSEHOLE’S play-off hopes took a blow on Saturday as they were beaten 3-0 at strugglers Willand Rovers.

The Seagulls, who remain third, made one of their shorter trips of the season to East Devon as they looked to continue to cement themselves in the top five, but found Rovers in no mood to roll over.

They fell behind ten minutes before the break to midfielder Brandon Bak which was added to by frontman Finley Rooke on 55 minutes.

Rooke got the match-clinching third 11 minutes from the end as Willand moved seven points clear of the bottom four.

Helston Athletic’s survival bid took a huge blow as third bottom Thatcham Town ran out 3-0 winners in Berkshire.

The Blues made the long trip from West Cornwall targeting a victory that could bring them to within touching distance of fifth bottom Larkhall Athletic, but it was Thatcham that gave themselves an outside chance of safety.

Town knew realistically they were in last chance saloon if they were to avoid the drop and started like a train, taking a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes.

Christian Johnson made it two goals in four days after six minutes before Shamar Moore extended the advantage 12 minutes later. Whatever was said in the away changing room was blown out of the window five minutes after the restart as Jamie Davies beat Andrew Sowden-Bird.

Helston sit four points behind Larkhall having played a game more, although it could have been worse if the Bath-based outfit hadn’t conceded an injury-time equaliser to Malvern Town.

Falmouth Town provided two goals in injury-time in midweek to pick a point off Malvern, but the shoe was on the other foot on Saturday as play-off chasing Melksham Town left Bickland Park with a 1-0 victory thanks to Jake Andrews’ 90th minute winner.