FC ST HELENS 2 ILKLEY TOWN 2

THE weekend’s football entertainment is chosen very quickly; no prevarication needed this week. FC St. Helens of the North West Counties League have been on my radar all season so when I spot that they are at home in a Play-off semi-final on Saturday, it’s a no-brainer.

A scan through the fixture booklet also reveals a bonus game in the morning just half an hour away from St Helens – and that’s how The Fox and I find ourselves at a rainy Christopher Park in Wigan at about 10am, ready to watch the young Latics take on Cardiff City in the Development League. The Bluebirds are too strong for their hosts and deservedly end as 2-0 winners.

In the afternoon, the sun is out as we arrive at Windleshaw Sports Ground for this crucial play-off game against Ilkley Town. The away coach arrives at the same time as The Fox and I, complete with ‘The Bah-tatters’ displayed across the back window.

I pay £5 at the gate (£2 Concessions) and another couple of quid for the attractive programme. The Fox reports that the club is only selling pies without chips, so we decide to walk to the chip shop close by. It is a great decision. The extremely welcoming owner lays out a plate so we can try out all the sauces and gravies available to have with the chips. He even throws in some mushy peas because he thinks his are the best in the north-west.

Back at the ground, the place is filling up with excited spectators. The large clubhouse is doing fine business while the players are having a laugh while warming up on the pitch outside. The bar is situated in one corner of the stadium, with a small seated stand in another corner. There’s hard standing all the way round the ground.

St Helens are ahead after just one minute of the start, much to the delight of the vociferous home fans. Ilkley look rattled and seem happy to only be a goal down at the break.

I return to the clubhouse for a cool drink at halftime. There, I flick through today’s programme and find it an interesting read.

Ilkley must have taken a magic potion during the break because they rattle in two goals before the hour is up. The match becomes an end-to-end slugfest ending in a Desmond (2-2). The excitable lads of St Helens gather behind one goal for the penalty shoot out. Joe Mason saves three of the Bah-tatters’ penalties to send St Helens through to the final. I’m sure Mason was off his line for one or two but nobody cares. The young home fans are in a state of near hysteria, as their players pile in for a grand celebration.

After an enjoyable day, The Fox puts a slight dampener on proceedings when he reads out Heacham’s result. After our monstrous 0-0 in Norfolk last week, the cheeky buggers have only gone and won 9-1 this afternoon!! You can’t win ‘em all, as the saying goes...