St Helens Town 3-2 Widnes

Widnes FC threw away a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes to go at Brocstedes Park on Tuesday night as St Helens Town came out on top in a local derby, picking up all 3 points with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Town’s Jack Golding opened the scoring 10 minutes in before Alex Davies swiftly equalised for Widnes with his 8th goal of the season. Luke Edwards gave the visitors the lead with a free-kick shortly after the break before goals from Johan Du Toit and a last-minute strike from Andy Gillespie completed a turnaround for St Helens.

Widnes manager Steve Hill made two changes to the side that beat Stockport Town 6-1 on Saturday afternoon. George McGrogan came in for Calum Finch who dropped to the bench and Braian Strutz-Rivelli replaced the unavailable Ronnie McCarthy. Defender Ben Cartwright was named amongst the substitutes for Widnes, potentially being in line for a second debut for the club.

St Helens were the first side to threaten. Town striker Andy Gillespie, who has netted 9 goals in 11 appearances this season, pulled the ball back into the path of Declan Gregson who sliced his effort high and wide.

Widnes then went close themselves as Alex Davies excellently engineered space for a cross on the right that was met by the head of Luke Edwards, who couldn’t get his header on target as it trickled across the face of goal and wide.

St Helens took the lead on the 10-minute mark. Declan Gregson managed to turn away from George McGrogan and cut the ball back to Jack Golding whose shot was too hot for Ben Morrow to handle, as it stung the gloves of the Widnes keeper and found its way into the back of the net.

Widnes showed great character following the goal and quickly replied. Alex Davies robbed left-back Jack Marshall of possession inside the Town 18-yard area before rifling a shot into the bottom corner, beyond the outstretched Ellis Hawksworth.

The game was full of energy early on, as the game was very much end-to-end. Town broke forward on the counter-attack with Charlie Duke forcing a solid save out of Ben Morrow.

Midway through the first-half, Widnes went close as Luke Edwards went on a brilliant, individual run as he easily went past 3 St Helens defenders before forcing a good save out Hawksworth.

The visitors should have taken the lead shortly before the half-hour mark. Jamil Campbell-Joseph worked his way into space for a shot on goal that was saved by Hawksworth before Edwards saw a rebound cleared off the line before Town managed to avert any further danger.

The game settled down as halftime approached, with both sides slowing down the pace of their offensive attacks. Widnes hit the post on the stroke of halftime through Campbell-Joseph, whose long-range shot struck the foot of the woodwork before the ball bounced wide.

Halftime: St Helens Town 1-1 Widnes

Widnes made a change at the break, as Jamie Casson replaced the injured Jordan Stanley, who had picked up a hamstring injury. It was the second injury Widnes had picked up in defence during the first-half, as George McGrogan had already been replaced by Ben Cartwright due to a knee injury 10 minutes before halftime.

Despite their injury issues, Widnes took the lead early in the second period. Luke Edwards delivered a free-kick in from the right that evaded everyone before finding its way beyond the scrambling Hawksworth, who couldn’t keep the effort out. Edwards’ strike was his 4th goal in as many games, and his 7th of the season.

The second half maintained the slower pace that the first half ended in. Widnes came close to extending their lead midway through the half as the two goalscorers linked up as Edwards found Davies who pulled the trigger from distance with an effort that wasn’t too far away.

Following this, Widnes’ play drastically declined and it became sloppy. As the visitors lost their shape, St Helens settled down and started to establish a bit of belief.

Town equalised with 15 minutes to go. Widnes cheaply conceded a corner that was floated into the area with Johan Du Toit rising highest to net his side’s equaliser with a bullet of a header that found the back of the net.

St Helens now had their tails up and were favourites to go and pickup all 3 points. Danny Burthem replaced Jamil Campbell-Joseph for Widnes, who attempted to freshen things up going forward and add an extra body to the midfield.

Hill’s tactical change proved to no avail as Town took the lead in the 89th minute. Widnes again struggled to defend a corner which allowed St Helens’ leading goalscorer Andy Gillespie to poke the ball home after a goalmouth scramble inside the 6-yard area.

Fulltime: St Helens Town 3-2 Widnes

Widnes will be extremely disappointed to have lost this game, as they were in a comfortable position as they lead 2-1. The visitors will be disappointed with the manner in which they conceded goals, with their inability to defend set-pieces being exposed.

Widnes will hope to bounce back to winning ways as they return to action on Saturday as they welcome Northwich Manchester Villa to the Select Security Stadium.

St Helens Town: Hawksworth (GK), Lawrence, Marshall, Whelan, Gibson, Davies, Duke (Perry 57), Gregson (Rigby 86), Gillespie (C), Golding (Twist 70), Du Toit.

Subs not used: Lennon, Hoult.

Widnes: Morrow (GK), McGrogan (Cartwright 35), Stanley (Casson 46), Mitchell (C), Strutz-Rivelli, Lomax, Davies, Carney, Wynne, Campbell-Joseph (Burthem 82), Edwards.

Subs not used: Zarrelli, Finch.