Euxton Villa 2-1 FC St Helens: Champions fall short

Match report by Liam McDermott | Images by Mark Gambles

FC St Helens left Euxton Villa’s temporary ground at Darwen empty-handed, following a tense affair.

In what was an open first-half, one of Euxton Villa’s prolific frontmen Rajwinder Uppal was a focal point that proved to be a real handful for the champions’ defence.

However, where Uppal’s opportunities went begging having shot wide and hit the bar with a header, it was Josh Briggs who opened the scoring.

Following an uncharacteristically miscued clearance by FC St Helens’ defence, Briggs maintained his composure to fire a strike that had precision and power into the bottom corner.

With that, the hosts were incentivised to double their lead and will wonder how they didn’t.

Uppal looked to have scored a certain tap-in, but Joe Mason between The Stripes’ sticks tipped onto the frame of the goal – before long-serving defender Ste Ashton cleared the follow-up off the line.

With that, the promoted side looked to capitalise and very nearly did with immediate effect, but Joe Barker headed Jack Ball’s sweet delivery marginally wide – more on that, later.

Where Barker missed an opportunity that he’s taken so often this season, there was little more that he could have done when he powered another header on target – but to be denied by Josh Brooks’ super save.

However, you can’t keep a great goalscorer down and that’s exactly what Barker is.

He connected with another sublime set-piece from Ball and didn’t make any mistakes on this occasion, rising highest to glance beyond the helpless Brooks.

With that, the outcome of the contest was definitively up for grabs – but it was the hosts, chasing a play-off place, that claimed it.

Jack Wyers-Roebuck had the freedom of The Stripes’ penalty area, to head into the back of the net for what could be a vital three points in a match that Nathan Dutton-Kay was later dismissed in.

Mike Smith’s champions will feel aggrieved to have left without a positive result, but it won’t take the shine off a remarkable campaign to remember.