FC ST HELENS came out on top in a five-goal thriller, that wasn’t short on the tension and excitement of the NWCFL Premier Division — with both sides reduced to 10 men and The Stripes’ Chris Hill collecting an unlikely match ball, writes Liam McDermott

With The Stripes having been frustrated by Glossop in a 1-1 draw, last time out, they flew out of the blocks and were thoroughly rewarded with an uncharacteristically early opener.

Now, if someone of Kevin De Bruyne’s ilk scored this goal, many would have been eulogising for years to come.

Hill received possession of the ball from distance and executed a sublime turn, before finding the top corner.

That was most certainly a contender for the division’s Goal of the Season, never mind just The Stripes’.

However, FC St Helens have something of a tendency to take their foot off the gas — having gone in front — and that was showcased, again, this afternoon.

With the hosts’ debutant, Jack Coop, racing towards goal — he drew contact from onrushing goalkeeper, Joe Mason.

Mason, though, has a superb record from the spot and made amends with a stellar stretch to keep James Boyd at bay.

But, the home side weren’t to be kept quiet for much longer and Coop would be in the thick of the action for his maiden strike for the club — finding freedom in the penalty area and finding the net with a deft touch, beyond Mason.

That gave the home side a sense of momentum to ebb in front, but just as Hill had the desired effect at one end — he would, at the other end.

With Jake Forshaw looking certain to score, The Stripes’ midfield man bravely intervened — by throwing his body in the way of danger.

Squires Gate weren’t disheartened by that and, with them in the ascendancy, they perhaps should have taken the lead — but for Charlie Cox to have blazed over.

With that, the visiting side were in need of some encouragement and, whatever Michael Smith said at the break clearly had the desired effect.

Hill hadn’t yet opened his league account for the campaign, before today, and having been denied by a great save for his second of the afternoon — he wasn’t to be kept quiet, again.

With plenty of impressive attributes and qualities, at his disposal, it is safe to say that he isn’t renowned for his prolific strike-rate in front of goal — but he found freedom in the penalty area and had the desire to emphatically meet a corner with a header that restored his side’s lead.

That subsequently culminated in FC St Helens imposing themselves beyond impressively — but their hosts would strike, against the run of play.

Having seen his spot-kick saved, Boyd was desperate to right that wrong — lashing beyond Mason, after The Stripes’ failure to clear.

The contest was most certainly up for grabs and the hosts, who had now gone behind twice, aimed to lead for the first time in the afternoon’s encounter.

However, after Mason tipped Regan Crossley’s wind-assisted cross to safety and Joe Barker diverted Josh Few’s bullet header wide — they would be reduced to 10 men.

Chris Webster, formerly of FC St Helens’ neighbours Pilkington, had already been booked and left the referee without a choice, but to give him his marching orders for clattering Josh Hall.

That handed the visiting outfit another significant lifeline, and Hall would be involved again — doing everything right, but being denied by a world-class save from point-blank range.

With that, the outcome of the match seemed destined for a draw — unless someone grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

And, amazingly to everyone — including himself — it would be Hill.

The midfielder found himself free, once again, to make perfect contact and volley beyond Nathan Pennington — to just about conclude a topsy-turvy tussle.

Matty Eckersall wasn’t confirmed as an FC St Helens player, until this morning, and having already been sin-binned — he was given a second booking, to even the player count.

However, that most certainly didn’t put a dampener on a much-needed FC St Helens win.