Hellesdon returned to action with a visit to Thorpe Rec to face bottom club Saint Andrews. The opening half was largely a low quality, scrappy affair with both sides struggling in windswept conditions and fluent moves were few and far between.
With neither keeper unduly troubled up to that point it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when a misjudged header from Ben Hughes allowed Whiting to gain possession in the box and he coolly lofted the ball over Tom Coombe from 8 yards. The Lions looked to respond quickly with Jack Hurrell testing home keeper Owen who saved comfortably and then soon afterwards a smart turn by the striker gained him space for a shot but he pulled his effort well wide of goal.
Hellesdon then had a concerted spell of pressure which yielded three corners in quick succession but Saints stood firm and a stoppage for on field treatment to a home player disrupted momentum to add to an increasing sense of frustration for the visitors who hadn't done themselves justice in a poor opening half.

Half time: Saint Andrews 1 Hellesdon 0

There was a far more lively start to the second half as Hellesdon raised the tempo and Joe Keeley had a great chance to level almost immediately but he put wide at the near post after Connor Simpson had fed an inviting ball into the box.
Then in a space of a minute or so Kegan Charlesworth was denied by a fine save from Owen and then a defender on the line as he twice got on the end of excellent crosses by Simpson from the right flank. The keeper then produced another save from the same source before Saints missed a chance at the other end following a quick break.
A further indication that it wasn't Hellesdon's afternoon came when the female official awarded the Lions a free kick on the edge of the box rather than a penalty after Keeley had been upended and Saints survived the set piece.
Another stoppage for on field treatment , this time to the Saints keeper, again disrupted the game following which Hurrell fired well over from just inside the box. Owen then fisted away an effort from Hughes as the Lions grew ever more desperate against stubborn opponents but hopes of getting anything from the game were effectively snuffed out when around 5 minutes from time Saints were awarded a penalty after an ill judged tackle by Dillon Alexander and Whiting beat Coombe from the spot.
The Lions missed the drive of Connor Charlesworth, still out through injury, and the absence of Tom Blake through suspension was another blow on an afternoon when they also had cause to feel hard done by through decisions at times.

Result: Saint Andrews 2 Hellesdon 0

Team: Tom Coombe, Connor Simpson, Ross Pantry, Ben Hughes, Dillon Alexander, Mac Gee (c), Owen Spooner (Lewis Wardale), Jack Guyton, Kegan Charlesworth, Joe Keeley, Jack Hurrell.