North West Counties League First Division North
Golcar United 2-1 St Helens Town
Super-sub Mike Fish literally leapt like a salmon with five minutes remaining to send Golcar United to the top of the table.
Fish had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes when he connected with Leon Henry, devastating rock-bottom St Helens Town, who are 13 points adrift, winless after 16 league games and only have three points to their name.
Much-changed St Helens put the frighteners on promotion-chasing Golcar after taking a shock early lead in Huddersfield.
Daniel Naidole equalised late in the first half and although Ash and Gav Connor’s men left it late, the pressure had been building for sometime.
St Helens were smashed 7-1 at Campion last month after madcap passing-based tactics gifted the Bradford-side their win so even though Golcar were without injured superstar forward Ash Flynn, many must have expected double-figures.
Anyone who saw that and missed the opening three minutes due to the referee kicking off extremely early at 14.57 must have assumed Golcar were on the front-foot with the sound of the crowd.
Instead it was St Helens throwing bodies forward in an effective manner.
One goal-bound shot had been cleared more-or-less off-the-line before Stephen Brown broke clear down the right and fired cooly past goalkeeper Harry Stead in the fifth minute.
That stunned the large home support and Golcar were living dangerously for a few minutes longer as Christy Devlin’s long range screamer then flashed just wide of the top corner.
Eventually Golcar built up a head of steam and began to pose real problems for St Helens.
There had been several dangerous moments prior to Naidole’s header finding the far bottom corner.
St Helens had a lot of the ball in the second half but rarely looked capable of penetrating Golcar’s strong defence.
Golcar began to exert real control in the latter stages and a succession of corners mounted the pressure on the visitors.
Fish came on and his impact was immediate.
What They Said
Golcar United joint manager Ash Connor
“Fortunate? I wouldn’t say fortunate.
“They are a much-changed side from what they have been this season.
“I think we played well against what I think is a good side.
“I have just been speaking in the changing room and they’re probably one of the best teams who have come here this season.
“We were under no illusions before the game. It was never going to be an east game.
“Even though you look at the league table where they are and their goal difference, we knew they had signed nine or ten lads on Thursday.
“I wouldn’t say fortunate, I thought we played really well.
“Sometimes you have to dig in to get a result and that’s what we have had to do.
“I don’t think our goalkeeper has had to make a save and I think in the second half we were good value for the win.”
The Teams
Golcar United: Stead, Stocker (captain), Henry, Barrett, Lawrence, Skarz, Willitts (Townend 86), Bradshaw, Cox (Fish 80), Naidole, Hallam. Subs unused: Stor, Burnett, Buchanan.
St Helen’s Town: Vernon, Brown, Robinson, Kamara, Thompson, Onuh (Cunningham 52), Apperley, Devlin, Caddick, McMahon (Smith 86), Hughes (Clegg 75). Subs unused: Odukowaya, Platt.
How Many Were
242
Man of the Match
Joe Skarz (Golcar United)
