CHESHIRE League football returned with a bang as FC St Helens edged a five-goal derby thriller at Billinge in front of a decent-sized crowd on Saturday.

Top-of-the-table FC were rocked as The Storks opened the scoring in the second minute.

Nial Dawson dispossessed Joe McKeegan, slipped the ball to Rob Lamont who finished well.

It was all Billinge as debutant Liam Bott rattled the crossbar with a free-kick and then on 18 minutes Marios Avraam doubled The Storks advantage, with a fine finish under pressure.

Although Billinge were on top, an error at the back gave Andy Gillespie a run on goal and the striker made no mistake as he halved the deficit.

This gave FC the fillip they needed and they began to get a foothold in the game.

However it took another mistake that allowed the visitors to draw level.

Aaron Rice had two chances to clear the ball; the second attempt rebounded back to him and somehow he sliced his clearance - from 25 yards out - into the top corner of the net, giving his keeper Kai McAlister no chance.

McAlister had to be on top form to keep FC at bay but on 50 minutes his best was not good enough.

Ste Ashton played a neat pass to Gillespie whose first-time effort was brilliantly saved by McAlister but Kie Curtis was the first to react, and squeezed the ball home at the near post.

FC then controlled the next twenty minutes without threatening too much before Billinge rallied in the last twenty.

Lamont turned onto his right foot when maybe he should have swung his left at it.

Ben Jacobson had a header just over from a corner and then in the final minute there was a huge claim for a penalty.

Richie Allen nicked the ball past the FC keeper Paddy McCloughlin who dived across him, bringing him down.

Unfortunately, for The Storks referee Elliot Bell - who otherwise had an excellent game - penalised Allen for a foul on the keeper.

If only VAR was available in the Cheshire league Premier Division then Billinge may have snatched a point at the death.

After the game a disappointed Billinge manager Wayne Wardle said: "It was boss to be back at the football today but I'm gutted to lose after going 2-0 up.

"I can’t fault our lads for their application and effort but ultimately mistakes and lapses in concentration cost us.

"However, we'll pick ourselves up and go onto next week when we host second-placed Greenalls.

"It doesn't get any easier but we are very close to getting it right and then there will be no stopping us."

Meanwhile FC St Helens' joint-manager Ryan Johnson said: "2-0 down, the character from the lads to come back and win 3-2 tells us all we need to know, and that’s what Saturday away days are about.

"Fair play to Billinge who were great hosts and gave us one hell of a game.”