AFC Liverpool 1-1 FC St. Helens (4-3 on penalties) - Match Report

An early own goal for FC St. Helens and William McCarthy’s strike meant the FA Vase game at the Marine Travel Arena between AFC Liverpool and FC St. Helens finished 1-1 and went to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out, with AFC Liverpool triumphing 4-3.

From the first whistle, both sides played with full velocity, with eyes of a place in the Third Round of the FA Vase. Following on from an AFC Liverpool attack after Joe Mason finely stopped Ben Cartwright’s header, FC St. Helens broke. Brad Green drove at the AFC defence and a vicious deflection from his shot wrong-footed Jack McGovern in net for the hosts, nestling into the right corner and giving the North West Counties Division One North side the breakthrough.

Joe Barker stung McGovern’s palms with an effort to try and double their lead before AFC Liverpool weathered the storm and gained a foothold in the tie. Elliot Hughes left Joe Mason in his wake, rounding the FC keeper and it left him and the goal, aswell as plenty of defenders on the line, to aim at. Hughes’ strike cannoned off the post before they netted the equaliser just 10 minutes into the game. Billy McCarthy weaved his way through the static FC St. Helens defence and his deflected effort flew past Mason and in.

Both sides continued the half with chances to score, and the ‘Saints’, a league below, more than held their own. Jack McGovern was a busy shot-stopper, denying two efforts from Joe Barker and further efforts from Brad Green and a venomous free-kick by Jack Graham, with the set-piece being won following an AFC Liverpool red card for Jason Fulton, adjudged for last man.

For AFC Liverpool, Elliot Hughes almost had his brace and AFC’s second but couldn’t keep his shot down. Leon Arnasalam posed a huge threat to the FC backline, sailing an effort wide after cutting in, crashing an authorative effort off the crossbar and then warming Mason’s gloves right on the stroke of the interval, with Tom Douglas reacting to the save by Mason by having a second bite of the cherry by following up to the loose ball however, a block by an advancing FC St. Helens man averted the danger.

HT: AFC Liverpool 1-1 FC St. Helens

The pace of the first half was perfectly identical in the second period, with both sides going hammer and tong. Jack McGovern was warned early on in the second half but was splendidly down low to deny a low drive.

Elliot Hughes came close for the hosts, forcing Joe Mason to save before his side began a profound period of pressure, meaning McGovern was going to have to be alert. The ‘Reds’ shot-stopper had to deny efforts from Joe Barker and Jack Graham before a firm volley by Michael Houghton was blocked.

AFC Liverpool has efforts by a speculative Oliver Sanderson-Rigby and an Elliot Hughes strike denied by Joe Mason and Hughes, again, was gifted a great chance through his own endeavour however, he couldn’t divert his shot on target.

Joe Barker, Nathan Dutton-Kay and Neil Weaver all oversaw efforts drift over the crossbar for the visitors before, with the last kick of the game, Barker had a golden chance to win the tie. He was played through and raced onto the through ball, on his left side he placed marginally wide.

FT: AFC Liverpool 1-1 FC St. Helens

AFC Liverpool were all on target with their spot-kicks, with Sanderson-Rigby, Douglas, Korie-Butler and Finley Heath netted from their four and Jack Ball, Ryan Mason and Steve Ashton were all on target for FC St. Helens but misses from Joe Barker, saved by McGovern, and Liam Houghton after blazing over the bar secured AFC Liverpool’s place in the Third Round of the FA Vase.

PENALTIES: AFC Liverpool 4-3 FC St. Helens