Cheadle 3 St Helens Town 3

Cruising 3-0 up with only injury time remaining, St. Helens Town were left scratching their heads as Cheadle Town, who last season denied them a promotion play-off spot, rallied to score three goals in added time, to secure an unlikely draw.

Following last weekend’s opening defeat at Carlisle City, Town clearly have issues to sort out if they are to put together a genuine promotion push this time around. However, with plenty of attacking power up front and 40 games remaining, there is more than enough time to make the necessary adjustments and learn the necessary lessons.

St Helens, playing in their new first choice blue kit for the first time in 16 years, stormed into an impressive 3-0 lead within the opening 32 minutes and should have been five up by the break. The first goal came from long range, a well-hit shot from Danny Greene in the 9th minute. Shortly afterwards, Andy Gillespie tested home keeper Ben Jupp, who pulled off a very good save, but the stopper had no chance on 21 minutes as Chris Lomax burst through to the goal-line, placed the ball expertly through Jupp’s legs and Gillespie had the simplest of tasks to tap the leather into the empty net. Two-nil soon became three-nil as the Lomax brothers combined, Chris’s shot rebounded from Jupp’s block, setting up George who fired home. The attack was on fire, reminiscent of the 1950/51 season, when St. Helens captured the Second Division title in the Lancashire Combination and three strikers (Albert Leadbetter, Harry McCann and Terry Garner) each netted over 30 goals. Clearly Andy Gillespie, who scored 34 goals last season, will have a fight on his hands for this season’s golden boot trophy.

Just before the break, George Lomax hit the post with Jupp well beaten and the teams went in with St. Helens 3-0 up.

Hardly had play resumed, when Gillespie hit the post, but George Lomax could not hit home the rebound.

After that, the game rather stagnated, both teams appearing to accept their lot and, for the next 40 minutes, there was only one chance at each end, Lee Novak saving well from Sam Noar and Gillespie going close again, hitting the back of the head of Cheadle defender Luke Hincks, who had collided with the post, trying to keep out an earlier chance.

With 90 minutes on the clock, the drama was only beginning. Three minutes of added time was signalled and, almost immediately, Noar pulled back what appeared to be just a consolation goal. Then, Liam Tongue nodded in unchallenged at the far post to make it 3-2, with the three added minutes already played. Play switched to the other end and the ball went back to Jupp, who launched it upfield and into the St. Helens penalty area. There was a huge scramble and deep in the melee, Joe Shaw forced it over the line. In the breathtaking finish, some St. Helens officials claimed that there was a clear foul on Novak on his line and others that three minutes added time had stretched to six, but the result stands and Town had only themselves to blame. Frankly, they should have been over the hills and far away.

Town’s first home game takes place tonight, Thursday, at Prescot Cables’ ground, when newcomers Sandbach United are the visitors (7.45), then there is an away game at Litherland REMYCA on Saturday, with the usual 3pm kick-off.