Town march on in Vase

A GOAL by 'super sub' Robbie Cowley a minute from the end of normal time booked Town's place in the last 16 of the Carlsberg FA Vase, the furthest they have attained since winning the trophy at Wembley in 1987.

Before kick-off a minute's silence was impeccably observed in respect of Town's late president and former chairman Joe Jones and as the game got under way the visitors faced both the breeze and a bright setting sun.

Town boss Jimmy McBride had a left-back problem in the absence of Stuart Phoenix and Morgan, but overcame his dilemma by using on-loan Jordan Burke as an orthodox wide man, while Mark Ashton dropped back into defence.

Playing in their all-blue change strip, Town dominated the first half and could have been home and dry by the break, but alas, their finishing didn't match some cultured approach play.

Bell was the first to test home keeper Patten with a crisp third-minute free-kick but the keeper positioned well to make a comfortable save. It was all St Helens, but with no cutting edge and the Steelmen had not posed any threat as Town wasted two great chances. Firstly, on 29 minutes, Fearns latched on to a poor back pass from home skipper Sugden but Cooper over-elaborated in his execution and Patten made a despairing block. Next, Fearns failed to beat the keeper when clear on goal from a Cooper pass after Hennigan had done the initial spadework.

Up to this point, Hennigan had, by some way, been the game's top performer and on 35 minutes he was denied Town's opener when Hagan thrust out a boot on the line with the ball rebounding off his diving keeper only to pass inches wide of the post.

But Town had a swift reminder that Consett weren't at this stage in the Vase for nothing when Halliday charged down Woods' fly kick but the keeper recovered to save the striker's angled effort as he raced back at his near post.

Consett's second-half approach was far more positive and they almost cashed in on 49 minutes when a quick free-kick sent Gary Cowley clear down the inside-right channel but as Wood closed down the angle, a ground shot evaded the far post.

This proved a wake-up call for the St Helens side and, after having a penalty appeal turned down, they had the ball in the net through Cooper on 51 minutes only for Nestor to be adjudged off-side in the build-up. Still a goal wouldn't come as Quirk had a shot deflected over off Gray, then Cooper rose well but his far post header lacked direction.

Both Halliday and McLeod then brought Wood into hasty action off his line as Consett enjoyed their best spell and as time ebbed away the tension rose measurably. On 76 minutes Town's Cooper was incensed when Gray escaped another penalty claim for hands.

It had now become gamble time as Consett made two rapid substitutions to try and snatch the tie. Jimmy McBride's changes, though,were far more subtle in simply swapping wide men Nestor and Burke to opposite flanks, but his master stroke was to bring on Robbie Cowley. The game had extra time looming as Cowley, with virtually his first touch, achieved what had been so elusive all afternoon, when he controlled Nestor's pass, slipped his marker and drilled into the bottom corner to spark St Helens celebrations.

Normal time indicated that there was barely a minute left but Town had to sweat out some eight minutes of added time with keeper Phil Wood smartly off his line to snuff out any threat.

Town will now travel south to meet either Berkhampstead or Hornchurch on Saturday, February 10, bidding for a place in the quarter-finals.

This Saturday Town return to NWCL title action with a local derby at Skelmersdale United (kick-off 3pm). And on Tuesday, February 6 they travel to Curzon Ashton for a Worthington NWCL Cup tie, kick-off 7.45pm.