MATCH REPORT | Irlam 0-3 FC St Helens: Stripes end season in style

FC St Helens’ final day visit to Irlam saw their campaign conclude in stunning style — thanks to Will Bell and Ryan Sinnott’s first goals for the club, either side of Chris Hill’s strike.

There was little in the way of significant goalscoring opportunities in the first half, with both sides’ endeavours to carve out openings being restricted by strong and resolute defensive interventions.

Hill was deputising as striker in the absence of frontmen, Josh Hall and Joe Barker — he looked to break the deadlock, only to see his glancing header skim the crossbar.

And, he was to be in the thick of the action again — but his audacious, first-time effort went marginally over.

He would have the ball in the back of the net, though — albeit, with his celebrations being cut short by the referee’s failure to play an advantage in The Stripes’ favour.

With that, you suspected that chances to score would continue to be at a premium after the interval.

However, that isn’t how it transpired.

The second half sprung into life, in Michael Smith’s side’s favour.

After Luc Ferry’s header was tidily saved, Elliot Wynne in the Irlam goal would be powerless — as Bell emphatically headed beyond him, to open his scoring account for The Stripes.

And, the visitors would swiftly double their tally for the afternoon — with Hill finally dispatching a deserved goal, after a defensive error was forced.

The Stripes have enjoyed a remarkable first crack at the NWCFL Premier Division, with them cementing their place in the top-half for the campaign’s entirety.

And, based on displays like this, it was evident to see why.

Sinnott has enjoyed some extraordinary individual success for FC St Helens’ Reserves and repaid Smith’s faith to reward him with his First Team debut, from the bench.

After CJ Spiers drove through the Irlam defence and evaded the challenges that came his way, he found the young frontman — who showed composure to slot home and crown a great way to conclude the season.

Should his side maintain those standards of performances, they might just fancy their chances of competing at the division’s peak — next term.