REPORT: St Helens Town 1-1 Widnes

Widnes FC were left frustrated on Thursday night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Helens Town at Volair Park, home of Prescot Cables.

Jason McShane headed Widnes into a 28-minute lead before Philip Williams equalised 10 minutes later. Despite seeing a lot of the football and creating chances, Widnes couldn’t find a winner and ultimately had to settle for a point.

Joint Managers Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard named an unchanged line-up from the side that beat Maltby Main 2-0 in the FA Vase. The only changes came on the bench, as Luke Edwards and Neil Harvey were named amongst the substitutes.

Widnes squandered an early chance to take the lead. James McShane lifted a free-kick towards the back-post that was headed down by skipper Kev Pollard into the path of Jason McShane, who could only turn his shot over the bar from close-range under heavy pressure from a St Helens defender.

Widnes started well and dominated possession in the early exchanges. Mike Burke released Kev Towey with a long-ball forward. Towey’s clever turn got the better of Adam Donohue but the Widnes striker could only drag his shot across the face of goal and wide.

An early injury to right-back Josh Kavanagh meant that Jack Graham slotted into right-back and with Darrhyl Mason ahead of him, Widnes’ right-hand side looked dangerous and threatening. The two linked up with Mason’s intricate footwork eventually forcing a corner that was headed wide by Pollard.

Widnes took the lead on the stroke of the half-hour mark. The McShane brothers combined for the opener, as James’ free-kick was met by the head of Jason, who diverted the ball into the back of the net for his third goal in his last four games.

Widnes then turned a potential defensive error into a good chance. Graham and Pollard just about avoided a defensive calamity before the former rolled the ball ahead of Mason, who played a delicious ball across the face of goal, but it unfortunately evaded all in a Widnes shirt.

Minutes later, St Helens were level against the run of play. With their first clear-cut chance of the game, Philip Williams capitalised on defensive hesitation from Pollard, steering the ball home after the Widnes skipper failed to clear a long-ball over the top.

Town should have increased their lead with the last piece of action of the first half. Andy Gillespie found himself one-on-one with Widnes ‘keeper Kris Leigh, who stood his ground to make a good save before Andrew Presho’s rebound took a slight deflection off of Jason McShane and crashed against the post.

Halftime: St Helens Town 1-1 Widnes

In the second half, neither side really threatened offensively in the opening minutes. Earlier goalscorer Williams picked up a loose ball in the area but was denied by a good save from Leigh, before Jack Graham sliced one high and wide for Widnes.

St Helens looked threatening on the counter-attack, spearheaded by talisman and captain Andy Gillespie. On the hour, a Widnes corner broke down and Town promptly surged forward through Gillespie. He cut inside of Pollard, before failing to hit the target as he fired over.

Widnes then hit the post themselves on the 66-minute mark. George Webster whipped a corner in towards the back-post, with defender Mike Burke winning the header with rattled the woodwork before being swept away from danger by the hosts.

Both sides began to roll the dice in search of a winner. Neil Harvey was brought on for Widnes whilst St Helens sent on Daniel Greene and Shaun Brady.

Despite Widnes’ control over possession, St Helens looked the more likely for a winner. Gillespie drove an effort wide five minutes from time, before substitute Harvey headed over from close-range as time ran away from the visitors.

With virtually the last kick of the game, St Helens spurned an opportunity to bag the winner. Brady raced forward for Town as Widnes were caught in a three-on-two situation. Brady pulled the ball back to Gillespie, whose shot was brilliantly charged down by James McShane who did well to get back and throw his body in the way of the shot.

Fulltime: St Helens Town 1-1 Widnes

St Helens would have been the happier of the two sides having grinded out a hard-earned point. However, Widnes will have been frustrated and disappointed that they failed to make their control of possession and chances count.

In their next outing, Widnes travel to Atherton LR on Saturday in a quick turnaround, before travelling to high-flying Litherland REMYCA on Wednesday night.

St Helens: Taylor, D. Brady (Rowe 86), Rigby, Pegler, Webster, Donohue, Sheen, Davies, Gillespie (C), Presho (Greene 69), Williams (S. Brady 76).

Subs not used: Mavers.

Widnes: Leigh, Kavanagh (Korie-Butler 18), Fielding, Pollard (C), James McShane, Burke, Towey, Jason McShane, Mason, Webster (Harvey 68), Graham.

Subs not used: Edwards, Laverty, Mitchell.