Cup win after 'keeper blow

WARRINGTON Town travelled to lower league St Helens Town, looking to end a bad run of results at Knowsley Road, in this Liverpool Senior Cup tie.
They were immediately dealt a blow, when they were left without a goalkeeper with regular shop stoppers Richie Mottram and Zak Jones both ruled out through injury and a last gasp effort to register another keeper being rejected by the F.A, forcing Jimmy McCarthy to go between the sticks.
Within two minutes, McCarthy was beaten by Warrington born striker Robbie Handley, who rocketed a shot into the roof of the net.
However, Town were soon in control of the game, and struck the post in the 8th minute.
Town almost equalised, in the 27th minute, when Maltese under 21 international Richard Chetcuti forced home keeper Kevin Woods into a good low save.
But Town were not be denied for long, and in the 30th minute, got a deserved equaliser, when Chris Gahgan beat his defender before blasting home past Woods.
Gahgan went close again soon after, shooting straight at Woods. Former Town striker Phil Mitchell went close for St Helens shortly before the break, but could not test McCarthy.
St Helens should have taken the lead shortly after half time, when striker Neil Jones blasted over.
Defender Tom Hardwick produced a surging run but shot narrowly wide of goal, but Town were in control again, and should have taken the lead, when Karl Connelly chipped Woods after a poor clearance, but saw his effort smuggled off the line.
St Helens finally got an effort on target through Phil Mitchell once again, but this was easily dealt with by McCarthy. Town could have gone ahead once again, but youngster Joe McLennon saw his shot go over the bar., and Grogan saw his glancing header go narrowly wide as Town pressed for a winner.
St Helens should have been reduced to 10 men, when keeper Woods brought down Gahgan outside the box, but the referee surprisingly produced only a yellow card. The last chance of the 90 mins, fell to Gahgan, who saw his effort go over the bar.
The game went into extra time, and the only incident of the first half saw St Helens hit the post in a goalmouth scramble, and the follow up shot go into the side netting. At the start of the second period, Town swapped McCarthy with Mike Grogan, with McCarthy reverting back to his normal striking role. This gave Town an impetus going forward, and Lee Smith went close to scoring, seeing his header go narrowly over. Town produced the winner from the spot, after McCarthy was bundled over when through on goal, and Gahgan stepped up to put Town through to the next round.
Town: McCarthy, Grogan, Kinsey (Dacey, 105), Hardwick, Tomlinson, Taylor (Brown, 105), Hadland, Connolly (Smith, 83), Chetcuti, McLennon, Gahgan