St Helens T 3 Glossop N E 1: GIVEN their fine start to the season Town's first home outing produced a disappointing game in front of a sparse attendance.

A strong swirling wind meant the lack of accurate flowing football which McBride's boys have produced on their travels, but as the season unfolds, Town will be hoping for a better public response for a side topping the table with a hundred per cent record.

Glossop opened with the wind at their backs, but it was St Helens who made the first telling raid which needed an excellent catch from Glossop keeper Dodson as Salt send in a dangerous cross.

The visitors' combination of Hamilton and Sutcliffe spelled early danger for Town and the two combined well.

However, on five minutes he made a similar unchecked run to put Glossop ahead after a long throw in had been nodded on to the far post.

Town lost centre back Bell after only 12 minutes, replaced by Hughes. As things settled Town kept the ball down and created a good chance for Baker, but the 25 yarder flashed narrowly wide.

Both keepers were then involved in telling actions as Glossop's Dodson escaped a fumble from Wilde's back header then minutes later Town's Phil Wood kept a cool head when racing 45 yards from goal to foil Hamilton on the break.

It was not vintage stuff, but St Helens were clearly getting a grip and on 28 minutes Wilde's tight skills on the right earned a left wing corner kick which Nestor sent over and keeper Dodson punched into his own net.

Six minutes later Town were in front through a quality goal, as Langley swept into the inside left channel before a lovely disguised pass put Paul Heavey free to chip over the keeper's sprawl at his feet.

Injuries then played a further part in disrupting any real flow and both Town's Jones and Glossop's Ayling suffered knocks which prevented them continuing after the interval, which was reached with Town anticipating a goal glut with the wind now in their favour.

Town's late habit of resuming the second half slowly almost produced a Glossop equaliser on 50 minutes, but the veteran Mark Carter saw his lob just evade the post as Wood raced off his line.

Midfielders Nestor (Town) and Pearson (Glossop) began to impose themselves on affairs as the hour approached and both goals had sticky moments with the best chance falling to Town's Lee Cooper, but he could not keep his 20 yard lob down as the keeper came out.

On 65 minutes tenacious work by home skipper Quirk led to a 30 yard blast chipping the bar before another good chance went begging as Cooper failed in a one on one with the keeper following excellent work by Nestor.

The goal which was needed to ensure the points arrived on 75 minutes and again it came from a superbly threaded pass by Langley, which picked out Mark Wilde's diagonal run and a neat finish completed the move.

With the contest won, Town sought to add to their 'plus 12' goal difference and would have done so had Dodson not produced two fine saves from Cooper, but in the end they had to settle for what they had on a day when three points were all that really mattered.

This Saturday, Town travel to Flixton (kick off 3pm). Any re-arranged mid-week fixtures will be on the NWCL Leagueline, Tuesday/Wednesday, telephone 09066 555 944.