HELENSBURGH FC shrugged off their first league loss of the season to record an impressive 5-2 win away to league leaders Newshot on Saturday.

The visitors had lost 4-1 away to Carradale the previous week – and looked set for another bad away day when their hosts surged into a 2-0 lead with just 11 minutes on the clock.

But Helensburgh bounced back in style, levelling the match before half time and seizing the lead early in the second period before stretching away to secure a comfortable victory.

It was plain to see from the kick-off that the hunger was back in the Helensburgh team after their Carradale defeat, with the visitors pressing their hosts high up the park in the early stages.

The first couple of chances fell to Howells, but a poor first attempt and then a decent save kept the scoreline blank.

But against the run of the early play Newshot opened the scoring in the third minute when Kyle Brown set up Ross Stevenson for a well-struck shot which beat keeper O'Brien.

And Helensburgh looked to be facing an uphill struggle when poor defending allowed Ryan Mullen to double Newshot's lead.

But the visitors soon hit back, with Adam Sharkey reducing the arrears after being set up by brother Kyle, and then Paul New brought the teams level after a great run from midfield which allowed him space to slot the ball past the Newshot keeper.

Kyle Sharkey came close on a couple of occasions before the interval but was denied by the keeper.

But Helensburgh were in no mood to let go of the upper hand in the second half, and with the visitors' midfield taking an iron grip of the game, Karl Johannsson gave Burgh the lead for the first time when his rasping shot gave the keeper no chance.

Adam Sharkey nabbed his second to put daylight between the two sides, coolly slotting home after being put through on goal, and Helensburgh created several chances before David Sinclair sealed the points with goal number five.

Assistant manager Dave Boxall said: "This performance was in complete contrast to the one from the previous week, and to do it at the home of the league leaders, who had been unbeaten in the league, was even better.

"No failures in a squad performance that was simply outstanding."

Squad: O'Brien, A. Sharkey, Cameron, Steven Bailey, Stuart Bailey, Black, Sinclair, Martin, Rowe, K.Sharkey, Howells, New, Johannsson, Fowliss, Jefferys, Maule.

* This Saturday, December 2, Helensburgh travel to Bearsden to take on Rannoch AFC in the President's Cup.