St Helens Town 9 Glossop North End 2

A HEALTHY boost to their goal difference and three more league points capped a fine week's work for Jimmy McBride's back-on-song charges as poor Glossop were put to the sword at Knowsley Road on Saturday.

Victory over the lowly Derbyshire outfit was not unexpected even if the margin was, but a more significant result occurred three nights earlier when Town defeated Fleetwood in a top-of-the-table 'six-pointer'.

Robbie Cowley's fourth minute goal and Joe Morgan's strike on 44 minutes were enough to clinch the spoils in a 2-0 win and both players were again prominent again on Saturday.

With the title race wide open again, Town are now one of nine clubs in with a realistic chance of attaining that coveted Unibond League place and they can strengthen their claim by picking up three more points against bottom club Leek CSOB at Knowsley Road tomorrow (Friday, March 30), kick-off 7.45pm.

On Saturday razor-sharp attacking play tore the Glossop rearguard to shreds and top scorer Terry Fearns helped himself to another four goals to take his tally to 31, despite only appearing for the first half.

By the 11th minute he had already headed home from a Morgan right wing corner and left wing cross before Cowley joined the gold rush by opening his account on 14 minutes following a good run by Heyes.

Glossop's sole first half effort was a powerful 25-yard free kick by Birch, but keeper Wood saw it all the way. It proved only a fleeting respite as Town accelerated again and on 18 minutes Terry Fearns completed a rapid hat-trick by netting in off the post with Cowley the provider.

Town then withdrew Heyes as a precaution with Laird coming on to play his part in the romp and the home side hit their fifth when Cowley notched his second after being teed up by Fearns.

Fearns grabbed the sixth on 36 minutes with a lovely piece of skill and a chip over shell-shocked keeper Royle for whom the interval must have brought a welcome, if brief, respite.

Fearns was replaced by Cooper for the second half but there was more early torture for the visitors when Cowley made it 7-0 from the penalty spot after Cooper had been tripped by Bovis on 49 minutes.

Town's sole intention now was to get Lee Cooper back on the scoresheet after a frustrating barren spell and this was achieved in the 54th minute when he finished in off the post after Cowley had charged down keeper Royle's clearance.

At 8-0 Town stood off and Glossop were able to restore some pride courtesy of two goals by Steve Reynolds on 57 and 72 minutes.

But the last goal of the game went to Town, Cooper hitting his second to take his season's tally to 22 and the final score to 9-2.