End of a Vase dream

TOWN'S dream of a second Carlsberg FA Vase success ended in Herefordshire on Saturday when a penalty miss, three shots which hit the woodwork and a clearance off the line ensured it was to be Berkhamstead's day.

A hat-trick by the hosts' Ben Smith from relatively few chances was in stark contrast to his St Helens counterpart Lee Cooper who worked like a Trojan but saw three of efforts hit the post and also found home keeper Sean O'Connor in fine form.

Indeed, it was O'Connor who provided the game's turning point by saving a Fearns 54th minute spot kick when Town were back in top gear after sloppily surrendering an early lead.

Town made a surging start and were a goal up in five minutes when home skipper Lowe tripped Cooper down the inside right channel and Karl Bell struck a superb 20-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Berkhamstead were visibly rocked and a minute later Fearns almost made it two but his lob from Cooper's flick on, just dropped over the bar.

The impressive Smith was Town's only cause for concern at this point and he won a free-kick which Nightingale struck firmly but straight at Wood in the St Helens goal.

On 23 minutes O'Connor at the other end made a scrambling save at Cooper's feet after Ashton had done well up the left, but as the half passed the mid point, a hitherto untroubled St Helens conceded two goals in the space of seven minutes.

The equaliser came on 26 minutes when Wood made a fine save to block Smith but Phoenix's clearance was weak and as Nightingale drilled over from the right, Ben Smith instinctively directed it inside the near post.

This lifted a good-sized home crowd and their side responded by taking the midfield initiative, And on 33 minutes they went in front when a bad pass infield from Fearns deep in his own half was seized upon resulting in Smith helping himself to a simple goal at the far post as Richardson drew the cover. Stunned into action, Town finished the half on top again and only a clearance off the line by Mullins prevented a Fearns equaliser. Then from the resultant corner Aldridge twice made vital blocks in a near-post scramble. As the half closed Cooper had his brush with the upright when following his shot from a fine Quirk pass beat O''onnor but struck the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

Town began the second half as they had the first, winning a free-kick on the area's edge but this time Bell's effort struck the wall after Fearns had been cynically tripped. With St helens surging forward it was all hands to the pumps in the home area and on 56 minutes Brockett was paniced into dragging Hennigan back to concede a penalty.

Top scorer Fearns strode up but his firm strike was well read by O'Connor who beat it out and although Town's Ashton was first to the rebound, he couldn't keep his shot down.

Berkhamstead sensed it was their day from this point and began to counter with menace through, Smith, Adebole and Richardson and on 65 minutes the latter was only foiled by a desperate block by Phoenix. Four minutes later as Town swept back again Cooper cursed his luck as Aldridge diverted his close range effort onto the post before the striker got in two stretching headers which were comfortable for the keeper.

With just under 15 minutes to got it was gamble time for Town boss Jimmy McBride and he sent on dual strikers Cowley and Laird for Fearns and Reilly but before the change had settled, Berkhamstead broke out to land the killer blow. Richardson was the architect down the centre and after darting through a gap, released Ben Smith with a perfect pass to go clear and beat the exposed Wood.

The last seven minutes saw St Helens throw everything at the Herts side but O'Connor was coolness itself in goal although he was again indebted to his right hand post when Cooper's 84th minute effort beat him. The two were again involved three minutes from time but this time the keeper flung himself down to block the luckless striker and Town's fine run was over as the home party started.

Town have now to play 19 vital league games in pursuit of objective one, the NWCL title. This starts at Ramsbottom United on Saturday, kick-off 3pm followed by a visit to Leek CSOB on Tuesday, February 27, kick-off 7.45pm.