A clinical well organised St Helens Town inflicted Mersey Valley’s first defeat of the season last night – a game all around fine margins and big moments.

The game started with a bang and Valley should have been in front after just 20 seconds. From the kick off Adams and Riley combined to put Adams clean through but he shot straight at the keeper.

St Helens first attack saw a good challenge knock the ball back to Rigby, the St Helens Town striker Williams so quick to close down and Rigby’s attempts to move the ball resulted in the ball hitting the striker and rolling into the net to give the visitors a freak lead.

The away side had a clear plan, long direct balls up to number 8 Liam Diggle and feed off the flick ons and second balls – it worked well with them dominating the oping 20 minutes.

George Howarth

The home side went close, George Howarth cutting inside to unleash a long range drive which went just past the post. However, it was the visitors that struck next, another long ball was misjudged by Roach and Willims again got inside the area and curled the ball past Rigby to make it 2-0.

The home side responded, Howarth and Adams should both have scored after finding space in the area but hit their shots too close to the keeper who made two smart saves.

The pressure was building and finally told, Roach played in Howarth who easily escaped the defenders with his pace, rounded the keeper and tapped home – it was a deserved goal and Valley were right back in the contest.

There was one more chance and a controversial end to the half. A St Helens corner was smashed home by midfielder Liam Beech but it appeared Diggle had elbowed Greenwood in a head – unseen by the referee – and the goal was given.

Despite creating more clear-cut chances the home side went in 3-1 down.

HT: Mersey Valley 1 St Helens Town 3

A slight reshuffle at half-time saw Alfie Howarth move into a more advanced midfield position and it nearly paid off straight away, a burst in to the box and his shot from a tight angle smashed against the post.

The home side had also stopped threat of Diggle who was no longer winning every header thanks to Adams and Greenwood.

Fraine was the next to hit the woodwork, he clever run inside and shot clipping the top of the bar.

It seemed that the home side pressure would pay off, keeper Jenkinson again denied George Howarth. At the other end Rigby made a brilliant reflex save to deny Beech another goal.

But it was another Mersey Valley error that sealed the win for the visitors. Adams caught on the ball inside the area and  Leech was on hand to accept the gift and slot past Rigby.

Young defender Nathan Wilson came on for his Mersey Valley debut but despite some good possession the visitors defended well to the end.

FT: Mersey Valley 1 St Helens Town 4

After the game we spoke to manager Jon Hudson.

“To gift them three goals if very disappointing. We knew how they’d play, we knew the’d be direct and at times we let them bully us. But this is a young team and games like this only make you better prepared and the Cheshire League is a tough learning curve. The confidence we have in this group has not changed after one defeat, we go again Saturday and we’re confident we improve and develop as a team.”