ST AUSTELL provided the perfect response to their Cornwall Senior Cup exit seven days earlier to record a win that keeps them firmly in contention for premier division football next season.

"This was just the game we needed," admitted manager Andy Dingle following the disappointment of the Senior Cup holders' exit at the hands of Penryn Athletic.

Indeed, in deservedly beating title rivals Perranporth, this result sends out a warning to their rivals that the Lilywhites mean business.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy but I'm delighted for the boys today," said Dingle.

"Everybody was really disappointed after the Penryn game so to come back from that and beat Perranporth is fantastic."

The game was effectively over inside a three-minute spell as St Austell raced into a two-goal lead in the opening half hour thanks to strikes from Chris Phillips and Martin Giles.

The first goal, in the 27th minute, came when Perranporth's defenders failed to deal with Dan Lean's long throw into the box and from Dan Nancarrow's flick on, Phillips was on hand to turn the ball past goalkeeper Dan Burrows.

And just minutes after the restart Perranporth found themselves two down when Giles beat Burrows to the ball to head into an empty net.

It was only then that the home side finally sprang into action and returning St Austell goalkeeper Garry Penhaligon looked beaten when Kayne Trevaskis crashed his volley off the bar.

Such was St Austell's determination to win this encounter that, even with a two-goal advantage, team-mates Gary Wheildon and Giles almost came to blows with each other after the latter conceded a free kick on the edge of his own area in the 76th minute. Not quite Lee Bowyer v Kieron Dyer, but enough for shocked team-mates to intervene.

And when substitute Dan Ford capitalised on a Penhaligon mistake to pull a goal back for Perranporth a minute later, for the first time in the game the home side were in the ascendancy.

But despite a late rally from the home side, Dingle's men defended desperately to hang on for a deserved and crucial victory that keeps their title hopes alive and well.