St Helens 0 Wigan Athletic 3 DEFEAT it may have been, but there were many pluses to be savoured as Town went down to Wigan Athletic at Knowsley Road last Thursday. The attendant Wigan boss Paul Jewell must have been well impressed with a couple of his trialists, who supplemented a strong Latics line up on an excellent Knowsley Road surface.

Town on the other hand put up a fine show, but the margin of their defeat was amplified by two individual errors courtesy of a needless penalty and an intercepted back pass.

Town, who a fortnight earlier had held Stockport County to a 1-1 draw, were given a stiffer test by Wigan.

Latics' Greek striker Alex Cascamona showed the qualities which had seen him play last season in the Belgian top flight and is now touting his credentials for a contract with an English club.

Whether Paul Jewell was impressed or not is a matter for him, but Cascamona certainly caught the eye with his pace, strength and awareness but credit must also go to Town's Karl Bell and Gary Jones for keeping him in check until the 44th minute.

That is when the tall striker slid in to score off the underside of the bar after superb work by McLoughlin down the left and sent Latics in 2-0 up at the interval.

Just 90 seconds earlier Town had gone behind when the otherwise excellent Terry Nestor recklessly handled a left wing cross which was evading his leap, enabling Lee Ashcroft to drill home the perfect spot kick.

After the break Town were doing well until a careless back pass by Farrell was intercepted by Ashcroft and a high lob found the far corner as keeper Wood raced out.

Despite the scoreline, Town sought to grab some consolation in positive style with Latics keeper Tynan making two good saves before producing a superb reaction save from Morgan's thunderbolt with Mitchell unable to keep the rebound down.

Alas it was not to be but if Town can play as fluently as this and eradicate individual errors they should be well in with a shout in their own domestic competition.

Town's final warm up game is a high profile international at Knowsley Road next Tuesday (August 14) when they take on the Tsukuba University side from Japan.

This has all been made possible via former St Helens Town local boy Bill Foulkes, who went on to become a Manchester United hero and in recent years has been out frequently to the Far East in a coaching capacity.

Talented

The visitors are a highly talented squad of under 21s who are in Britain during August and will also be taking on squads from several premiership clubs.

This is a major scoop for St Helens and it is hoped a good crowd will attend as Town become ambassadors for 'Sporting Club St Helens' and the region in general.

Kick off is 7.30pm. Admission is £3, £1.50 concessions with Saints season ticket holders admitted free.