Match Reports
April 2008
St Helens Town
St Helens Town end the season with this draw against 5th placed Squires Gate but they had enough possession to have won several games but some poor passing and a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal saw them settle for just a point.
The events started prior to kick off with the Under 7 side parading their plethora of trophies to the larger than normal crowd. The game kicked off and the hosts were in the ascendancy, a couple of early corner from Chris Bermingham caused problems in the Squires Gate area but Town failed to turn this pressure into a goal. Rob Whyte was causing the Gate backline plenty of problems and he was caught from behind on one foray forward by Kevan Ford with a caution his punishment for the challenge, the resultant free kick was sent into the box and dropped to Whyte whose effort was charged down and cleared.
Just before the quarter of an hour mark another dangerous corner saw Town almost take the lead, as Andy Walker’s far post header was cleared off the line by Dave Booth.
The visitors first effort on goal came after half an hour when Mick Haworth took advantage of an error in the midfield and advanced to fire an effort at goal which Andy Lynskey comfortably blocked.
Bermingham found Whyte on the left wing with an excellent ball from the centre circle and the striker sent a dangerous cross into the box from the byline that Dyson turned goalwards only to see his shot turned away from goal and cleared.
Whyte was again signalling his intent to take his tally for the season to 20 goals as he attempted to latch onto a great through he touch the ball past Stuart Horn and attempted to collect it when a challenge was made by the defender which Whyte went down under, the referee seemed to have deemed it a legitimate challenge but the assistant on the far side flagged, after a brief consultation a free kick was awarded to the home side and Horn sent from the field of play.
Karl Ledsham playing in his last game for Town before venturing off to
The second half saw more Town pressure, Ledsham sent a left footed effort over the bar from a corner and Whyte advanced onto a through ball rounded the keeper who had ventured a long way from his area but he was thwarted by the recovering defending of Ford. Ledsham had a goal-bound header cleared and the visitors almost stole the game on the counter attack with 81 minutes on the clock. Substitute Seydou Bamba picked the ball up in his own half and showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing defenders at the edge of the box he crossed to the unmarked Steve Hibbert but his effort was well off target.
At the other end Dyson should have hit the target with a header at the far post but he only managed to put his header into the side netting. With the final whistle approaching a quick Town attack caught Gate out and Ledsham exposed the space in behind to get to into the box he drew the keeper and squared to the unmarked Peter Phillips who had an open goal to find and somehow managed to miss it, his blushes were however spared by the assistant who was flagging for offside.
So the game ended in a stalemate but with the positives of Town ending the season on a seven match unbeaten run and securing their third clean sheet of the season. Praise must be given to all the players management and back room staff at the club who had done a great job this season ensuring that
Subs Not Used;
Squires Gate; Woodhead, Benfield, Horn, Booth, T.Phillips, Ford, Ryan, N.Dyson, Haworth(Bamba 70), Hibbert, Muscroft(Rhodes 60).
Sub Not Used; Moretti.
Bacup Borough 2-2 St Helens Town
1-0; Dominic Slaven 21 Minutes; 1-1; Rob Whyte 28 Minutes; 2-1; Dominic Slaven 67 Minutes; 2-2; Brian Hatton 80 MinutesTown visited Bacup for their final away match of the 2007/8 season and after a battling performance, twice raising themselves off the canvass to take a point back home to Merseyside.
The opening stages of the match showed the end of season qualities that many games at this time of the term have. Both sides seemed tentative and looked to be weighing each other up like two pugilists in the opening round. The hosts carved out the first real opportunity of the match after 20 minutes when Dominic Slaven was found free in the Town area but he shot straight at John Fletcher deputising in the visitors goal. Slaven made amends for his error moments later as he fired the hosts into the lead. A cross was sent into the box from the right wing towards Tony Carroll on the far post the striker was climbing all over Peter Phillips but play was allowed to continue and as the ball was return into the box Slaven turned it home much to the dismay of the Town players, officials and supporters.
The home sides advantage was to be short lived as the visitors took advantage of an error by former
Town should have gone in at the break leading but squandered an excellent opening. Good work by Muktar Mahama on the on the left wing culminated in him sending a cross towards Whyte, the striker met it with a stooping header which was held by Horridge.
On the
Bacup punished this miss soon afterwards when Slaven was again in the right place at the right time to turn home a right wing corner with the Town defence seemingly napping. Town had Fletcher to thank for staying within a goal of the hosts as Carroll latched onto a through ball and found himself one on one with the keeper who stood up well and blocked the striker’s effort.
At the other end a probing run from
So Town and Bacup shared the spoils and the result secured that Town could not be caught by the
Bacup Borough; Horridge, Repullo(Indejees 85), Cross(C), Chadwick, Shepherd, Borg, Slavin, Stephenson(Herbert 59), Carroll, S.Stott, L.Stott. Subs Not Used; Hind, Ince.
Subs Not Used;
Tuesday 8th April 2008; Vodkat League, Division One
St Helens Town 2-0 Congleton Town
1-0; Rob Whyte 54 Minutes; 2-0; Iain Dyson 58 MinutesSt Helens Town gained revenge for their 5-2 reverse at Booth Street with an excellent win at Knowsley Road against fourth placed Congleton Town.
Saints thought they had taken an early lead on 7 minutes when good work by Karl Ledsham on the left hand edge of the penalty area saw him sent a well placed lofted ball towards Rob Whyte who rose highest and headed home only to be denied by the offside flag for a very marginal decision.
Congleton responded as Andy Lynskey had to be alert to push a Matt Haddrell effort around the post for a corner from the ensuing set piece Andy Alston met the ball but could only steer his free header over the bar. More pressure from the visitors saw Jordan Johnson denied by a strong hand from Lynskey and at the other end Ledsham could not get a significant contact on an excellent cross from Whyte.
Lynskey was again in the action just after the half way mark in the half as he made an excellent double save to keep the scores level. First the stopper denied Haddrell’s shot from 12 yards and the ball broke to Johnson who was denied by an excellent reflex save on the near post.
As the half wore on Lynskey continued his fine form as he first denied Andy Hurst who had latched onto a through ball and then after the same striker had beaten his marker he was denied in a one on one as Lynskey made himself big and blocked his effort.
The half ended with St Helens threatening as a swift counter attack saw Whyte receive the ball from Lynskey and bring Chris Bermingham into play. The ball was then whipped into the box and Whyte’s flick broke to Andy Walker on the far post, his effort flashed dangerously across the face of goal but to no avail as it ended up behind for a goal kick.
The hosts started the second period off thunderously and were awarded a penalty in the second minute of the half. Whyte latched onto a through ball and advanced into the box leaving Alston in his wake, the centre half’s attempted tackle from behind saw him catch the striker and Mr. Marsden had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Neil Jones stepped up and sent his penalty centrally but low this time and blemished his 100% penalty record this season as Stuart Heeps recovered to hold onto the spot kick.
St Helens were not to be denied for long as they took the lead soon afterwards. Peter Phillips advanced from his right back position and sent a probing ball into the visitors’ penalty box, Whyte leapt well on the back post and headed home past Heeps to send the home fans into raptures.
The single goal advantage was to be doubled less than five minutes later when skipper Iain Dyson was found by a well placed free kick from the right wing, his effort a well executed scissor kick saw the ball fly into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
On the hour mark Lynskey was again called on to preserve the clean sheet as he had to be alert to push Carl Nesbitt’s effort around the post and again soon afterwards he held Alston’s header from a corner with some excellent handling.
The visitors night in front of goal was summed up in the final stages when the top goalscorer in the league at the moment Haddrell saw a ball break to him on the edge of the box and he got a shot off that looked to be arrowing home but struck the crossbar and went harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
So St Helens kept only their second clean sheet of the season and this was mainly down to the excellent Lynskey and some fantastic all round defending by the team who again gave their all for the cause in what was effectively a dead rubber as St Helens are safe and Congleton have no chance of finishing in the top three of the table.
St Helens Town; Lynskey, Phillips, Webster, Dyson(C)(Hatton 81), Reilly, Jones, Walker, Sumner(Gilchrist 75), Ledsham, Bermingham, Whyte.
Subs Not Used; Mahama, Ferguson, Fletcher.
Congleton Town; Heeps, Harris, Bostock, Lycett, Alston(C), Nesbitt, Johnson, Twigg, Hurst, Haddrell, Banawich(Vickers 68).
Subs Not Used; Beigus, Jardine.
March 2008
St Helens Town 2-2 Winsford United
1-0; Rob Whyte 25 Minutes; 1-1; Lee Thompson 43 Minutes; 1-2; Danny Webster 55 Minutes; 2-2; Adie Reilly 88 Minutes
Town extended their unbeaten run to four games with a well-deserved point against Winsford United at
Town dominated the early openings but Winsford had a great opening when Lee Madin latched onto a through ball and his effort was parried by Andy Lynskey in the Town goal, the ball broke to Lee Thompson who had an open goal to aim at but managed to fire wide of the target.
The hosts responded soon afterwards when a fine move culminated as Steve Williams linked with Rob Whyte on the edge of the box and he found Iain Dyson who shot just wide of the upright. Dyson was again in the action as his shot from 25 yards went wide of the right hand post.
A dangerous in-swinging corner from Chris Bermingham caused Mike Langley in the visitors’ goal plenty of problems and he had to tip the ball over the bar as it veered towards goal. The Town pressure paid off on 25 minutes when a fantastic move saw Whyte fire the hosts into the lead. Bermingham back heeled to Karl Ledsham on left wing and he sent a great ball into the box, which Whyte side footed home from close range.
Lynskey got lucky on 34 minutes when what looked like a routine effort from Madin took a bobble on the way through to him and he managed to just touch it wide of the post. The hosts failed to take advantages of the openings they created as Ledsham was unable to flick a headed effort on target and then shot just over the bar from the edge of the box.
Town were made to pay for this wastefulness as Thompson netted a drive from 30 yards out just before the interval to send the teams in level at the break. The hosts seemed shell shocked by the sucker punch from Winsford and the visitors dominated the possession in the second period. The first effort of the half however saw Town threaten as they counter attacked with pace, Whyte latched onto a clearance beat his defender and found himself one on one with the keeper his effort was blocked and the loose ball cleared.
Winsford took the lead a couple of minutes later when poor marking at a corner cost Town dear. Danny Webster was found by the set piece and took advantage of the space he was afforded to headed home.
On the hour mark Ledsham had a surging run and shot from 25 yards out that
Winsford’s Les Miranda thought he was one on one with Lynskey in the Town goal as he latched onto a through ball but he had not counted on the excellent recovering challenge from Adie Reilly who made up ground and diverted his shot behind for a corner.
Reilly was to break the visitors hearts with time running out. Neil Jones delivered a fine free kick into the penalty area that Reilly rose highest to bullet a header home into the net to earn the battling hosts a deserved share of the spoils and again demonstrate the resilience of the team.
Subs Not Used;
Winsford United; Langley, Calland, Duckworth(C), Ridler, Webster, Owens, Sheppard, Ennion(Kennedy 83), Madin, Miranda(Connell 80), Thomspon(Bluck 63).
Subs Not Used; Dears, Callaghan.
St Helens Town
1-0; Rob Whyte 4 Minutes; 2-0; Andy Walker 53 Minutes; 3-0; Neil Jones (Penalty) 76 Minutes; 4-0; Andy Walker 82 Minutes; 5-0; Rob Whyte 86 Minutes
A fantastic week for
The hosts got off to a quick start as they took the lead after only four minutes. Skipper Iain Dyson flicked the ball onto Rob Whyte who confidently shook off his defender and round the keeper before slotting home.
Colls mustered a quick response as Tom Bailey broke the offside trap but his shot in the penalty area was wide of the target. Soon afterwards Danny Shannon advanced down the left wing before cutting inside and shooting into the side netting.
Town could have doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Chris Bermingham sent a dangerous corner into the box that fell to Whyte on the far post whose header down just went the wrong side of the post. This was followed by Andy Walker having a shot from the edge of the box, which went just over the crossbar. Good work by Dyson saw him get to the by-line and send a dangerous ball towards the edge of the six yard box which Alex Lord got a vital touch to send away from danger with three Town players loitering with intent behind him.
The second half with Town on the front foot as
Almost constant Town pressure culminated in a third goal on 76 minutes when Whyte broke into the box beat Lord and was hacked down with the referee pointing to the spot. Jones stepped up and continued his perfect record from the spot powering the ball past Harris from 12 yards.
Walker was back in the action on 82 minutes as a quick counter attack saw substitutes Muktar Mahama and Brian Hatton link with the latter sending a cross along the edge of the 18 yard box, Whyte dummied the cross and sold his defender and allowed the ball to roll to Walker whose strike was pin-point and arrowed into the top right hand corner of the net.
The victory procession was completed on 86 minutes as Whyte turned well in the penalty box and slotted the ball home into the bottom right hand corner of the net to take his tally to 15 for the season in just 20 starts.
This result saw Town rise to 14th place in the table and take them to 34 points from 33 games and whilst not mathematically ensuring safety should be enough to ensure Town play First Division football next season.
St Helens Town; Lynskey, Phillips, Webster, Dyson(C)(Mahama 80), Reilly, Jones, Walker, Gilchrist(Freeman 67), Ledsham(Hatton 80), Bermingham, Whyte.
Subs Not Used; Ferguson.
Atherton Collieries; Harris, Lord(C), Levendis, Morris, Smalley(Waterworth 80), Davies, Bailey(Barker 84), Walker, Holt, Massey, Shannon(Barnes 64).
Subs Not Used; Conlon.
Tuesday 11th March 2008; Vodkat League, Division One
St Helens Town 4-2 Formby
0-1; Charlie Jones 24 Minutes; 1-1; Andy Walker 25 Minutes; 2-1; Iain Dyson 36 Minutes; 3-1; Mark Kerr (Own Goal) 46 Minutes; 3-2; Paul Lamb 51 Minutes
This evenings contest took place at a blustery
The home side started well and had a couple of early openings. Andy Walker saw his effort from just inside the box block by the visiting stopper and the ball broke to Rob Whyte whose resultant shot was blocked behind for a corner. Adam Gilchrist sent in the set piece under the crossbar and Lee Gunnion had to be alert to claw the ball out from under the woodwork as it curled dangerously towards the goal.
Town pressure continued with Iain Dyson snatching a shot off target when one on one with the keeper and Karl Ledsham flashing an effort wide of the left hand upright. Gunnion almost gifted Whyte the opening goal when he fluffed an easy claim and as the ball dropped to the striker he appeared to pulled to hitman back but no foul was awarded.
To rub salt in the Town wounds it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play. A quick counter attack saw Paul Lamb beat the offside trap and advance before finding Charlie Jones 8 yards out whose shot was almost cleared off the line by Andy Webster but managed to squirm home.
The response from Town was immediate as good work saw
Less than 30 seconds into the second period Town were to extend their lead. The lively
The two-goal advantage was not to last long as the visitors rallied and pulled a goal back some five minutes later. A Formby attack saw Paul Lamb advance towards the box where his initial shot was blocked the ball bounded around the penalty area and somehow found its way back to Lamb who slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
Bermingham spurned an opportunity to restore the two-goal lead as he headed a corner over the bar when well placed and Formby’s Jones saw Fletcher in the Town goal tip his powerful drive over the bar.
Late on in proceedings Town secured the three points as they netted a fourth goal to finally end the hopes of Formby. Walker helped the ball over the top of the Formby back line and the willing Whyte took one touch to beat his defender and then accelerated away from the chasing Formby players and with his second touch he fired past the advancing goalkeeper into the back of the net to secure Town’s ninth league victory of the season and take their points tally to 31.
Subs Not Used;
Formby; Gunnion, Craig(Dutton 85), K.Gornell, Rose, Kerr, McMullen, Cavanagh, J.Gornell(C), Jones(Turner 73), Lamb, Wilson.
Subs Not Used; Howard, Atherton, Jones.
Glossop North End 3-1 St Helens Town
1-0; Rick Bailey 20 Minutes; 2-0; Steve Young 23 Minutes; 2-1; Iain Dyson 49 Minutes; 3-1; Darren Hamilton 61 MinutesToday’s match saw Town take on Glossop North End and the weather as the home side won the toss and decided that they would play the first half with the wind at their backs.
The early stages saw the hosts playing raking long balls into the wind which were causing Town plenty of problems and clearances over head height did not find their intended target instead finding their way deeper into the Town half. Glossop first attempt at the Town goal saw Dave Morris have a shot blocked and the ball broke to Rick Bailey whose shot from the right hand side of the box was again blocked by Town.
Glossop finally took advantage of their pressure on 20 minutes when a counter attack caught Town short at the back with Keiron Lugsden chasing the ball with Andy Walker trying to avert the danger, the striker had his effort saved by Andy Lynskey but the ball broke kindly towards Bailey on the left and his effort put the hosts into the lead. The advantage was soon doubled when Steve Young’s tried his luck from 25 yards out and his wind assisted shot found the back of the net.
The closing stages of the half saw Town muster some threat on the Glossop goal. Iain Dyson linked with Craig Davies and the latter got into the box with Young hampering him, the striker’s shot broke off the home keeper and was claimed at the second attempt. In added on time at the end of the half a counter culminated with Dyson shooting into the side netting when well placed in the Glossop box.
The second half started with the visitors putting the Glossop goal under sustained pressure. Davies beat Danny Yates to a through ball and the defender caught the striker but he was honest and carried on his run when others may have gone down, he was driven wide and the chance was lost. The disappointment was not to last long as Dyson chased a lost cause and stole the ball off Young before advancing along the byline curling the ball into the net past the keeper from close range.
Town were looking to level the scores and good work by Karl Ledsham in the box saw his leave two defenders in his wake before squaring into the danger zone but a vital touch from Young turned the ball behind.
The game was over as a contest when Glossop caught Town out to net a third goal. Morris was found free on the right and he motored towards goal before sending the ball towards Darren Hamilton on the far post who turned the ball home.
This knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and Glossop’s better adaptation to the weather conditions saw them see the game out and secure their ninth win in their last 11 league contests. Town now have ten days to analyse this defeat before the visit of Formby to
Glossop North End; Fielding, Young, Kay, Kelvin Lugsden, Yates(C)(Trucca 47), Gorton, Bailey, Morris, Keiron Lugsden, Hamilton(Evans 73), Westmorland(Acton 58). Subs Not Used; Hind, Ince.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher,
February 2008
Tuesday 26th February 2008St Helens Town 1-1 Newcastle Town
1-0; Matt Bradbury (Own Goal) 35 MinutesAnother contest saw Town take on a top five time for the fifth time in five games and this time they got the reward their battling performance deserved. The side that took on Trafford had been rounded upon for it’s lack of endeavour and commitment to the cause these things could not be said of the performance tonight as they match the visitors for the majority of the contest and defended well when called upon.
Skipper Iain Dyson had an early effort when his turn and shot from the edge of the box sailed just over the crossbar with the keeper beaten. The visitors responded as Richard Minor beat the offside trap and found himself one on one with Andy Lynskey in the home goal, the stopper stood up well and blocked the effort at his feet.
Newcastle pressure culminated in a right wing free kick from Dean Gillick being sent into the box, Lynskey pushed the ball off target and it broke to Matt Bradbury on the far post but he could only headed wide of the target when unmarked. Soon afterwards Simon Eldershaw latched onto a through ball and headed the ball past the advancing Lynskey but Neil Jones had covered well and headed the goalbound effort behind for a corner.
Just after the half hour mark Andy Walker did well for the hosts on the right and sent a cross into the box which looped over Richard Froggat in the Newcastle goal and agonisingly evaded the outstretched foot of Dyson on the far post. A couple of minutes later Town took the lead thanks to some calamitous defending from the visitors. Lynskey sent a long goal kick bounding deep into the visitors half with Walker and Rob Whyte chasing it down the ball bounced into the box and with Froggat advancing Bradbury poked the ball past him and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The spurned a response from the visitors as Lynskey was called into action having to hold a powerful shot from Minor before he tipped an effort from Bradbury over the bar. Just before the break Gillick missed a golden opportunity to level the game as he shot into the side netting when well placed 6 yards out.
The second half started with Newcastle on the attack, Gillick sent a ball in the box which Eldershaw met but Lynskey tipped his effort over the bar. A quick St Helens counter attack saw Adam Gilchrist speed down the left wing beating his defender before delivering to Walker whose shot on the front post went into the side netting.
The visitors thought they had levelled on 53 minutes as Eldershaw who looked offside latched onto a through ball, his shot was blocked by Lynskey and broke to Minor who slotted home but the celebrations were cut short as the flag was raised for offside against him in the initial move.
On 73 minutes Newcastle were awarded a rather dubious penalty. Nick Wellecombe got into the box and was crowded out by some excellent defending, as seemed the order of the day for the visitors he went down rather theatrically and unbelievable Mr Copeland pointed to the spot. Justice was done as the errant Wellecombe dusted himself down and proceeded to blaze the ball over the bar, a shot that would have disappeared long into the St Helens night had it not met the boardroom window behind the goal, breaking it in the process.
The visitors did finally level the match on 80 minutes. A rather generous free kick was awarded just into the Town half and was sent into the area and took a deflection towards Bourne who prodded the ball home.
Skipper Dyson almost netted a winner for the hosts deep in added on time as he beat the offside trap and was 1 on 1 with Froggat but the keeper did well to block his shot at close quarters.
So the sides shared the spoils, the performance was not a polished one from St Helens but it is improvements such as these and this excellent show of character that will hopefully ensure that the side will be playing Vodkat League Division One football next season.
St Helens Town; Lynskey, Bermingham(Ledsham 76), Webster, Dyson(C), Reilly, Jones, Walker(Davies 84), Sumner, Gilchrist, Williams, Whyte.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Newcastle Town; Froggat, Gillick, Ridley, Espley, Bradbury(Mills 75), Wilkes(Linford 66), Minor(Sheldon 86), Bourne(C), Wellecombe, Eldershaw, Drumond.
Subs Not Used; Ritchie, Harper.
St Helens Town
1-0; Rob Whyte 2 Minutes; 1-1; Wez Wilkinson 8 Minutes; 1-2; Andy Lundy 20 Minutes; 1-3; Andy Lundy 55 Minutes; 1-4; Scott Barlow 63 Minutes; 1-5; Andy Lundy 75 Minutes; 1-6; Dion Depeiaza 88 MinutesTown matched Championship challenging Trafford for the vast majority of the first of this entertaining contest but unfortunately for Town they could not match the excellent performance in a woeful second half.
The hosts were missing both Adie Reilly and Neil Jones at the heart of their defence but got off to the best possible start as Rob Whyte headed home a left wing cross from Craig Davies in the early stages of the match.
The lead was short lived as they visitors levelled soon afterwards when Scott Barlow got down the right wing and cross towards Wez Wilkinson who was afforded plenty of space to slot the ball home. More Trafford pressure culminated in them taking the lead on 20 minutes. A long clearance dissected the Town backline and although Barlow was driven wide his cross found Andy Lundy unmarked in the Town area and he made no mistake.
Town would have levelled but for a good save from Andy Moore. Adam Gilchrist delivered a right wing cross towards the 6 yard box and it broke to Davies on the far post but the alert
Whyte was again in the action just after the half hour when he headed a cross just wide of the upright with the keeper beaten. At the other end Andy Lynskey had to be alert to divert the ball out of play at the end of a drive from Chris MacKay. Ledsham had a free header that went wide of the target and Dyson had an effort blocked before the break.
Town looked like a different side in the second period and Trafford began to take more and more control of the game. It was not long before the visitors extended their advantage but this effort owed a large portion to luck. Barlow had a powerful effort from the edge of the box well saved and the ball broke back to him his effort was miss hit but broke kindly to Lundy who slotted home.
Things went from bad to worse as Lundy broke the offside and advanced towards goal his shot from the edge of the box looked to be going wide before Barlow slid in to divert the ball home much to the annoyance of Town as he appeared to be offside when the shot was struck.
A St Helens corner almost yielded a goal as Whyte turned the set piece goalwards but his effort was turned away by the keeper. Another dubious goal extended the Trafford advantage as Lundy appeared to control the ball with his hand before shooting past Lynskey.
Town fought back and had two great chances to pull a goal back. First substitutes Mahama and Walker linked with
The icing was put on the cake for Trafford as Dion Depeiaza rode a weak challenge to slot home from close range and send the
Subs Not Used; Fletcher,
Trafford;
Subs Not Used; Read, Southwood.
Wednesday 20th February 2008; Vodkat League, Division One
Flixton 1-3 St Helens Town
0-1; Neil Jones (Penalty) 25 Minutes; 0-2; Iain Dyson 69 Minutes; 1-2; Chris Downey (Penalty) 89 Minutes; 1-3; Iain Dyson 90 + 4 Minutes
The wait is over
The visit to
Debutant goalkeeper Andy Lynskey was called into action in the early stages having to be alert to tip a dangerous left wing free kick over the bar before e collected a defected corner low on the goal-line.
Town were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes when Craig Davies venture into the box was curtailed by Liam Hogan’s mistimed challenge and Neil Jones confidently found the bottom left hand corner of the net giving Ashley Woodhouse in the home goal no chance even though he guessed the right way.
Davies was again in the action just before the break as he collected a through ball and looked to be one on one with the home keeper, a great tracking and a well timed tackle from Hogan thwarted the chance and made amends for his earlier transgression.
The second period started with an expected period of Flixton dominance and again Lynskey and the visitors backline had to be alert to retain parity. One such incident saw a Dave Moore effort parried by the keeper and the rebound broke towards Scott Holt but the Town custodian reacted quickest to gather at his feet.
With just over 20 minutes left to play Town doubled their advantage. Steve Williams played a fine ball centrally towards Iain Dyson who latched onto it just outside the Flixton box, he had one touch to control the ball and with his second he found the bottom left hand corner of the net.
A great move looked to have put the visitors into a three goal lead on 78 minutes after a right wing cross from Craig Cushion was headed towards Muktar Mahama by Dyson, the skipper received the ball back from Mahama and sent the ball into the back of the net only to be denied by a dubious offside flag from the assistant referee.
This almost came back to haunt Town as more generous officiating saw Flixton awarded a penalty in the last minute of normal time which Chris Downey dispatched past the keeper.
With Flixton pushing forward in numbers during the five minutes added time it was backs against the wall stuff from the visitors. The result was put beyond doubt in the fourth added minute as a counter attack saw the ball worked from Mahama on the right to Dyson central and Ledsham on the right of the area, Ledsham then turned his marker inside out with an exquisite bit of quick footwork before pulling the ball back to Dyson who side footed home to secure a three points and ease the pressure that had built up on Town since the turn of the year.
Flixton; Woodhouse, Hall(Walsh 75), Monaghan, Ayres, Hogan, Barnes(C), Holt, Traynor,
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Congleton Town 5-2 St Helens Town
1-0; Matt Haddrell 27 Seconds; 1-1; Neil Jones (Penalty) 3 Minutes; 2-1; Matt Haddrell 8 Minutes; 3-1; Matt Haddrell 16 Minutes; 3-2; Craig Davies 33 Minutes; 4-2; Paul Harris 72 Minutes; 5-2; Andy Alston 90 + 3 MinutesSt Helens Town are still looking for their first points of the New Year after looking in contention to get a share of the spoils for a good proportion of the match this afternoon but failing to take advantage of this position.
The game got off to the worst possible start as the visitors fell behind on 27 seconds. Paul Harris advanced down the right wing and sent a ball into the box, which the prolific Matt Haddrell sent home off the underside of the crossbar with aplomb.
The lead was to be short lived for the hosts as parity was restored in the third minute. Craig Davies did well on the right before sending a cross into the box which just evaded the returning Rob Whyte before breaking to Tom Sumner who’s attempt to take on his marker culminated in him being hauled down and a penalty being awarded. Neil Jones stepped up and confidently thundered the ball past Adam Wilkes.
Congleton responded by regaining the lead. Haddrell was first to react to a loose ball in the box and he sent to ball home from close range to double his tally for the afternoon.
St Helens spurned two chances to level matters when first Iain Dyson shot just over the bar from the edge of the box and this was followed by Dyson linking with Sumner who in turn released Davies he got to the byline and crossed towards Whyte, home keeper Wilkes was in attendance but ended up counting his blessings as he was beaten to the ball by Whyte but the striker could not turn the ball towards the danger zone and the chance was lost.
Haddrell compounded this wastefulness by completing his hat trick just after the quarter of an hour mark. A Congleton corner was sent into the Town box and cleared off the line by Steve Williams on the far post the ball fell to the hosts hitman and he made no mistake returning the ball with interest into the back of the visitors net.
St Helens grabbed a lifeline on 33 minutes as they got to within a goal of their hosts. Adam Gilchrist’s left wing corner looked to be a comfortable take for the Wilkes but he dropped the ball and it broke to Whyte with his back to goal, he crafted an excellent effort over his shoulder which was headed off the line but fell to Davies who sent the ball home to make it three goals in three games since joining the club.
The second half was a bit of a damp squib in comparison to the first half as the majority of the game was played out in the centre of the park. The outcome of the contest was to be settled on a 90 second passage of play around the 71st minute. St Helens broke forward at pace down the right wing and Davies cross come shot from the edge of the box fizzed across the danger area and evaded all comers to harmlessly go behind for a goalkick. Moments later the visitors took advantage of Jones dwelling on the ball at the back for St Helens and this culminated in Harris slotting home centrally from 10 yards out.
This was compounded a couple of minutes later when the visitors were reduced to 10 men, Sumner being sent off for his continuing dissent and salt was rubbed in the St Helens wounds as former player Andy Alston rose highest at a stoppage time corner to net the hosts fifth goal and put a rather flattering edge to the scoreline in what was a closer game than the score suggests.
With four difficult games coming up in the next two weeks and the teams in and around St Helens Town starting to gain points the squad are now nervously looking over their collective shoulders and will have to brake this barren run sooner rather than later or they could get dragged back into the relegation mire.
Congleton Town; Wilkes, Vickers, Bostock, Jardine, Alston(C), Nesbitt(Swann 83), Harris, Woolley(Banawich 72), Hurst, Haddrell(Twigg 83), Johnson. Subs Not Used; Heeps.
St Helens Town; Leather, Webster, Williams, Dyson(C), Reilly, Jones(Walker 79), Sumner, Ledsham, Gilchrist(Phillips 79), Whyte, Davies.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson
St Helens Town Salford City
0-1; Jon Robinson 6 Minutes; 0-2; Bernard Morley 15 Minutes; 0-3; Mattie Burke (Penalty) 35 Minutes; 0-4; Mattie Burke 49 Minutes; 1-4; Craig Davies 53 Minutes; 1-5; Mattie Burke 68 Minutes
The form book rang true for this match as Championship chasing
It was Town who started the game with more intent as they probed the
Town fought straight back from this set back and looked to have levelled when Dempsey did well down the left before releasing returning skipper Iain Dyson he advanced and slotted the ball home only to be denied by a debatable offside decision.
As fate was not to be Town’s friend tonight
When you are down the bottom of the league things just don’t seem to go for you as was demonstrated in the next two passages of play. First Dyson beat the offside trap and his shot come cross was powered across the face of goal, any touch would have turned the ball home but it evaded all gathered in the box and went harmlessly behind. This was followed by Karl Ledsham sending a dangerous cross from the right across the face of goal but again the ball managed to vacate the danger area without so much as a deflection.
Matters went from bad to worse for Town as keeper McCall was sent off for the second time in two matches for striking out at Robinson and Matty Burke converted the resultant penalty to send the visitors in 3-0 up at the break when they had had only three efforts at goal.
Town came out for the second half with a change as manager Fletcher took over from Ledsham in goal with Adam Gilchrist making way and Ledsham going back into his central position. They could have pulled one back just after the restart when Tom Sumner advanced down the right wing before sending a fine cross towards Craig Davies the ball however got stuck between his feet and the chance was lost.
Again
Burke completed is hat-trick and indeed the scoring in this match on 68 minutes when his lobbed effort caught Fletcher out and drifted into the net.
As the game progressed towards its final stages Town playing a man down started to feel the pace and
January 2008
Abbey Hey 4-2 St Helens Town
1-0; Astley Mulholland 29 Minutes; 1-1; Craig Davies 51 Minutes; 2-1; Daniel Heffernan 59 Minutes; 3-1; Astley Mulholland 76 Minutes; 3-2; Neil Jones (Penalty) 85 Minutes; 4-2; Astley Mulholland 89 MinutesTown’s poor start to 2008 continued as they sank to their third consecutive defeat in Gorton this afternoon.
The visitors had a promising start to the game and dominated the early exchanges. They created early chances through Neil Jones who shot over the bar and debutant Craig Davies whose shot was just off target after a great first touch. More Town pressure culminated in Davies breaking into the Abbey Hey box and his attempt to beat Jamie Lester saw the ball deflect off the defenders arm and the referee pointed to the spot. Paul Heavey stepped up and shot the spot kick just wide of the left hand upright.
Davies was again in the action after a quarter of an hour when he latched onto a through ball and the advancing Steve Downs will have been counting his lucky stars after a deflection saved him from being beat by the striker.
Abbey Hey took the lead against the run of play just before the half hour mark. Astley Mulholland looked to be offside as he collected a long ball but the flag was not raised and there was no doubting the quality of his finish as he slotted it into the inside right of the net from the left hand side of the area.
The scores stayed the same at the interval but what happened en route to the dressing rooms was to remove any chance of Town realistically getting any return from this match. Graeme McCall who had been cautioned for protesting the lack of a flag at Abbey Hey’s goal continued to question the validity of the goal and after an exchange with the referee in which both were heard to use “industrial” language the keeper was given his marching orders.
The visitors levelled early in the second half when a surging run by Adam Gilchrist saw him get into the box and square to Davies who slotted home. Karl Ledsham was starting to cause the home defence problems and his run into the box saw him unceremoniously hack down but Mr Etchells clearly watching a different passage of play deemed there was no foul.
The hosts started to make their numerical advantage pay, stretching the visitors using the width of the field. Just before the hour mark Abbey Hey regained the lead when on such a move the ball was moved quickly from right to left and Daniel Heffernan slotted home unmarked on the back post.
The lead was extended when a misunderstanding between Adie Reilly and stand in keeper Heavey saw a headed back pass fall short of it’s intended target and Mulholland nipped in to turn the ball home.
The hosts were struggling to keep Ledsham quiet and he was again felled in the area by a rash challenge only to see Mr Etchells again fail to give the deserved penalty. It was third time lucky for Ledsham as James Monaghan clipped him in the process of shooting and this time the spot kick was awarded. Neil Jones stepped up and blasted the ball home to reduce the deficit.
There was to be no share of the spoils however as the hosts took advantage of Town’s attempts to level matters as they netted a fourth in a goalmouth scramble that saw Mulholland complete his hat trick.
So the rash actions of McCall cost the visitors dearly and they will be hoping that February will see an upturn in fortunes, starting with the trip to Flixton on Saturday.
Abbey Hey; Downs, Wedge, Brown, Marsden(Hankinson 72), Lester(C), Pearson(Monaghan 66), Brown(Yarwood 66), Edwards, Mulholland, McFadden, Heffernan. Subs Not Used; Taker, Risk.
St Helens Town; McCall, Phillips(Mahama 77), Webster, Cushion, Reilly(C), Jones, Gilchrist, Ledsham, Dempsey, Heavey, Davies.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Saturday 12th January 2008; Vodkat League, Division OneSt Helens Town 0-5 Glossop North End
0-1; Adie Reilly (Own Goal) 17 Minutes; 0-2; Darren Hamilton 38 Minutes; 0-3; Steve Lunt 60 Minutes; 0-4; Darren Hamilton 68 Minutes; 0-5; Kelvin Lugsden 70 MinutesTown’s first home game of the year saw a repeat of last Saturday’s scoreline but had Town converted their early domination into a goal things could have been very different.
An early corner for the hosts almost saw Town take the lead as ball was swung in towards skipper Iain Dyson at the front post and he would have headed home but for the intervention of visiting keeper, Steffan Fielding who punched it clear.
Town continued to dominate territorially and enjoyed the vast majority of the possession efforts from Ledsham and Dyson were well held by Fielding and another dangerous corner was cleared to safety by the visiting defenders.
When all seemed to be going to plan for the hosts disaster struck as Glossop took the lead largely against the run of play. A quick counter attack saw Darren Hamilton latch onto a through ball and advance towards goal, his effort from the right hand edge of the box beat keeper Graeme McCall but was going wide of the left hand post until covering defender Adie Reilly’s attempted clearance under pressure turned the ball into the net.
This goal deflated the hosts and Glossop could have doubled their advantage when Dave Hodges sent a left wing cross into the box which Dave Morris rose highest on the far post and headed goalwards his effort was turned over the bar by McCall much to the relief of the home fans.
The visitors did manage to double their lead before the break as Hamilton netted in the 38th minute. Dave Young picked the marksman out with a diagonal ball from the right wing to the left and Hamilton advanced towards the area where he lofted a shot over the advancing McCall. McCall was called into action again before the interval as he had to be alert to turn a shot from Hamilton away from goal.
Town started the second half well and sent some dangerous balls into the box. Muktar Mahama sent a right wing cross into the box which Danny Yates he to turn away, the ball broke to Karl Ledsham on the left wing and he sent the ball back into the danger area which was eventually cleared by the visitors.
Glossop started to gain a foothold in the half and almost made it 3-0 on 53 minutes. Hamilton latched onto a long ball and McCall had to get down low, quickly to keep out his shot from 20 yards.
Ledsham had a powerful drive from the edge of the box well saved by Fielding and the visitors netting a third followed this. Steve Lunt chased onto a clearance and beat the advancing keeper McCall to it and lobbed a shot over his head that agonisingly bounced into the net in what looked like slow motion.
Two goals in three minutes saw the visitors make it 5-0. First another venture down the right wing culminated in a cross which Hamilton met and side footed home with aplomb. This was followed by a well executed corner, which saw Kelvin Lugsden’s run untracked and his glancing header sent the ball past McCall to round off Town’s bad afternoon.
St Helens know that they will have to be on their game when they visit Bacup on Saturday in a vital bottom of the table clash.
St Helens Town; McCall, Cliff(Phillips 80), Webster, Dyson(C)(Gilchrist 25), Reilly, Cushion, Jones(Johnson 80), Sumner Ledsham, Williams, Mahama.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Glossop North End; Fielding, Young, Radford(Westmerland 46), Lugsden, Yates(C), Gorton, Bailey(Trucca 67), Morris, Evans(Lunt 45), Hamilton, Hodges.
Subs Not Used; Williamson, Ince.
Silsden 5-0 St Helens Town
1-0; Graham Holmes 12 Minutes; 2-0; Martin Bland 33 Minutes; 3-0; Lee Reilly 45+1 Minutes; 4-0; Mark Bentham 71 Minutes; 5-0; Andy King 76 Minutes
The New Year started off with a bad day at the office for
Town carved out the first opening of the game when Rob Whyte played a great ball to Anthony Warriner who cut inside of his defender and shot just wide of the right hand post.
The visitors were to rue this moments later as the hosts took advantage of generous defending to take the lead. A left wing corner was sent into the box by Martin Packer, Martin Bland flicked the ball on and it was prodded home by the untracked Graham Holmes.
Town then had a period of dominance and had various chances to level matters. Warriner and Karl Ledsham linked centrally with the latter advancing into the box where he found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper who spread himself well to save his effort. This was followed by Whyte’s turn and shot on the edge of the box which went just wide of the upright.
Silsden were having problems when Town ran at their backline and on a bursting run into the box Shaun Airey tried to take a piggy back ride on Ledsham’s back and the referee awarded the penalty, the fouled man stepped up to take the kick and sent it just over the bar after sending Foulger the wrong way.
Again Town rued this miss as Silsden doubled their advantage on 33 minutes. Bland was unmarked from a free kick and sent his shot past an exposed McCall. Matters were to get worse as more schoolboy defending was to culminate in the hosts netting a third in first had added time. Lee Reilly was unmarked at the far post and comfortably headed home a right wing cross to send the hosts into the interval with a comfortable advantage.
The majority of the second half was a drab affair with the hosts seeming to sit on their lead and the visitors struggling to get going. A counter attack on 71 minutes saw Silsden net a fourth as Mark Bentham netted from a ball turned back into the box and five minutes latter the embarrassment was completed when Andy King scored the best goal of the afternoon sending a blistering drive into the top left hand corner of the net from the left wing.
Rob Whyte almost netted a farewell goal in his final game for the club before joining Prescot Cables when he latched onto Muktar Mahama’s pass and his shot from just inside the box deflected off a defender and looped over the bar with the keeper beaten.
So Town will have to improve next Saturday when in form Glossop North End visit
Silsden; Foulger, Nettleton, McNulty, Bentham, Bland(C), Airey(Hird 78), Gill(Thompson 73), King, L.Reilly, Holmes, Packer(Dibb 81).
Subs Not Used; Appleby, Rishton.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher,
December 2007
St Helens Town
1-0; Iain Dyson 2 Minutes; 1-1; Craig Cushion (Own Goal) 28 Minutes; 2-1; Paul Cliff 29 Minutes; 3-1; Karl Ledsham 41 Minutes; 4-1; Rob Whyte 75 Minutes
Town end 2007 on a high note after this emphatic victory over Nelson at
The hosts had the best possible start when they took the lead with less than 100 seconds on the clock. Skipper Iain Dyson added to his list of spectacular goals this season as he latched onto Graeme McCall’s kick and lofted the ball into the top right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.
Town smelt blood and turned up the pressure trying to add a second with the awful weather conditions in their favour. Karl Ledsham shot wide from the edge of the box and Dyson latched onto an excellent through ball from Adam Gilchrist but Billy Carrington saved his close range effort.
For all the Town forward play it was Nelson who netted next, much against the run of play. The visitors goal owed much to a good slice of luck as their counter attack culminated in Carl Turner’s shot from the right hand edge of the box, which looked to be going wide being deflected past Graeme McCall by Craig Cushion.
Parity was not to last long and Paul Cliff marauded forward down the right wing and sent a high cross into the box the ball was caught by the wind and evaded Carrington’s desperate attempts to keep it out as it went into the top right hand corner of the net.
With the wind now in the face of Town the start of the second half saw the much expected pressure from Nelson begin the first 15 minutes of the half saw the visitors camped out in the Town half, the powerful wind was making playing the ball off the ground almost impossible. One example saw an Andy Webster clearance in the centre of the pitch loop over his head and blown towards the Town penalty area!
The Nelson pressure looked to have paid off after 65 minutes when Nathan Egan had a shot from the edge of the box which McCall could only parry, the ball broke to Lee Barrett who slotted the ball home only to have his celebrations cut short by the assistant flagging for offside.
McCall was again tested on 74 minutes when Dennis Hill was allowed plenty of time and space to attempt an effort from 20 yards but the home keeper showed good hands to hold to the ball which by now was a slick as a bar of soap.
Town fought against the conditions and managed to venture into the Nelson half when Rob Whyte brought a clearance towards the visitors goal he beat his man before centring towards Dyson but Chris Nuttall was well placed to head away from danger. Moments later from the resultant corner Whyte netted his 11th goal of the season. Tom Sumner picked up the scraps from a corner and feed Gilchrist who centred and Whyte took the ball down and finished with aplomb to seal the victory for Town and end the year on a high.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Nelson; B.Carrington(C), Cross, Banyard, Benson, Nuttall, Turner(Egan 55), Hill, Leighton(C.Carrington 68), Barrett, Smith, Mugan(Thompson 57).
Subs Not Used; Wright, Keating.
Squires Gate 2-1 St Helens Town
1-0; Dave Hankin 40 Minutes; 2-0; Dave Hankin 71 Minutes; 2-1; Rob Whyte 78 MinutesSt Helens Town returned from the seaside empty handed after some controversial decisions in the festive contest.
The early stages of this contest saw little goal mouth action of note until Rob Whyte latched onto a loose ball and rounded Yeoman’s in the home goal however the stopped recovered to get a touch and push the ball behind for a corner. At the other end Gate had a chance when Dave Booth released a shot from the edge of the box but Graeme McCall was alert enough to push it around the post.
A period of Town pressure saw them threaten the hosts’ goal on a couple of occasions. First saw good work from skipper Iain Dyson on the right wing and his delivery was heading towards Whyte on the back post but for a touch from the home keeper the ball broke to Steve Williams on the edge of the box and his subsequent shot was blocked away for a corner. This was followed by Dyson and Ledsham both beating the offside and finding themselves through on goal, Ledsham saw his efforts thwarted by a defender and the ball broke to Dyson whose turn and shot was well held.
Another good chance went begging for Town when the home keeper was caught far out from his goal and Whyte won the ball and his rapid snatch shot towards the open goal was wide of the mark.
The hosts took the lead just before the break in controversial circumstances, Andy Webster was shepherding the ball out of play on the Town goal line when he was bundled off the ball by an obvious push in the back identical to an earlier incident where a free kick was awarded to the hosts, for some reason know only to himself Mr King allowed the play to continue and Dave Hankin headed the resultant cross into the net.
Town started the second period with Dyson sending a free kick from 20 yards out around the right hand post. Squires Gate should have doubled their advantage moments later as Steve Hibbert latched onto a through ball and found himself one on one with McCall in the Town goal however his shot was well off target. Karl Ledsham raided into the Gate box when he left Kevan Ford in his wake and his shot from just inside the box was unorthodoxly punched away by Yeomans and was sent by in by Williams and with Whyte loitering with intent it was headed behind for a corner.
Paul Ryan had a shot cleared off the line by Webster and the ball broke to Booth who shot over the bar when well placed. The hosts doubled their advantage on 71 minutes when Hankin picked up a long clearance and his shot from the right hand edge of the box flew into the roof of the net.
Town got a lifeline when Yeomans had a rush of blood to the head and kicked the ball at Rob Whyte on the edge of the box the ball rebounded and Whyte rounded the recovering defender and slotted the ball past an embarrassed Yeomans.
Town made two attacking substitutions but time and the time wasting of the home team was against them, so the visitors got no reward for their efforts and will need to up their game for Saturday’s visit of Nelson.
Squires Gate; Yeoman, Benfield, Horn, Booth(Bamba 67), Phillips(C), Ford, Hankin, Ryan, Farrer, Hibbert(Harvie 80), Muscroft.
Subs Not Used; Rogerson, Howarth, Moretti.
St Helens Town; McCall, Cliff, Phillips(Mahama 83), Dyson(C), Cushion, Webster, Gilchrist(Johnson 75), Sumner, Ledsham, Williams(Hatton 80), Whyte.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Saturday 22nd December 2007; Vodkat League, Division OneSt Helens Town 2-2 Flixton
0-1; Rick Stracken 3 Minutes; 1-1; Rob Whyte 33 Minutes; 2-1; Rob Whyte (Penalty) 43 Minutes; 2-2; Anthony Hargreaves 66 MinutesTown earned a valuable point against high flying Flixton with a hard fought 2-2 draw at Knowsley Road this afternoon but it could have been more had events ran their true course.
The hosts got off to the worse possible start as the reorganised backline was breached after only three minutes. Rick Stracken went on a mazy run towards the Town box and his pace blasted him away from the chasing defenders to leave him with only the advancing Graeme McCall to beat and he did that well with a lofted shot over the keeper.
Town responded well with Rob Whyte at the heart of the revival. Andy Webster released Whyte with a fine pass and as he advanced Neil Hall, appeared to catch him from behind with his challenge but no foul was awarded. Not to be deterred Whyte was again on the front foot soon after as he latched onto a clearance and his shot rebounded off the foot of the right hand post struck keeper Rouse on the back of the head and was cleared.
The lively Karl Ledsham called Rouse into action next as his free kick was turned around the post for a corner, from the resultant corner Warriner sent the ball towards the far post and Whyte rose highest to level the scores with a well placed header that glanced in off the underside of the crossbar.
Whyte should have put Town into the lead on 39 minutes as he shot wide of the target with goalkeeper Rouse stranded after a good move involving Ledsham and Gilchrist. Town’s top marksman was to make amends soon afterwards as he latched onto a long ball from McCall and left the Flixton backline for dead and advanced towards the Flixton goal, Hall trailing in his wake took him down cynically and Mr Waring pointed to the spot, everyone in the ground expected the ultimate punishment for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity but when a card was brandished it was yellow and not red much to the bemusement of everyone in attendance. Never the less Whyte stepped up and converted the penalty off the inside of the left hand post to take his tally to nine for the season and send Town into the break with a goal advantage.
Skipper Iain Dyson had the first opening of the second period as Phil Johnson released him, however his effort went into the side netting.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession during the next 25 minutes and some of the observers were to comment that this kind of superiority would not have been possible if they had rightfully been reduced to ten men at the end of the first period. The Flixton pressure was to pay off on 66 minutes as they levelled with an excellent strike from Anthony Hargreaves that swerved away from McCall at the last minute and gave the stopper no chance.
Town had McCall to thank on 75 minutes for retaining parity as he extended himself well to save at the feet of Maloney had broken though and looked certain to score. McCall also did well to hold a powerful shot by Hargreaves moments later with Flixton reinforcements in attendance should he have spilt it.
So Town held out for an excellent point, which the vast majority of Town fans would have taken with the number of missing players from the squad for this afternoons contest and the lofty position of the visitors.
St Helens Town; McCall, Phillips, Williams, Dyson(C), Cliff, Webster, Johnson(Mahama 80), Warriner, Ledsham, Gilchrist, Whyte.
Subs Not Used; Fletcher, Ferguson.
Flixton; Rouse, Armstrong(Downing 80), Bayliss(C), Tobin, Hall, Barnes, Smith, Monaghan, Hargreaves, Stracken, Maloney.
Subs Not Used; Monteth, Howley, Ayres.
Saturday 15th December 2007;