Town get back on track

TOWN got back on track after an inexplicably poor showing in midweek when they could only draw at Knowsley Road against lowly Nantwich despite getting off to a flying start with Terry Fearns bagging his 23rd goal of the season.

That as never capitalised upon, however, and those two points dropped amplified Town's need for a maximum return on Saturday.

This was their second appearance at White Moss Park this term as they returned to the scene of their Carlsberg FA Vase success in November when a Fearns extra-time double saw them through after coming from behind.

Saturday's league encounter was in much the same vein but this time it was Fearns' striking partner Lee Cooper who stole the show when his brace set up Town's eighth away league success.

The downside of the afternoon was the sending off of playmaker Ged Hennigan who, along with Skem skipper Billy Loughlin, was red-carded following a 17th-minute skirmish to which the St Helens man vehemently protested his innocence in what was never a violent or niggly game.

Despite the lion's share of first-half possession which Town enjoyed, Skelmersdale were the most menacing on the break with Leadbetter and Odger combining well. All this after Town had a great early chance when Fearns latched onto keeper Wood's huge kick only to be denied by Holcroft's alert reactions in the home goal.

Town continued to press without hitting the target resulting in Wood doing the more crucial work in getting down well to a Cavanagh effort when saving for Leadbetter who really ought to have done better after Town had made a hash of a free-kick.

Half-time was approaching when Skelmersdale took the lead through defender John Brownrigg who, still up for a corner which Town failed to clear cleanly, was on hand to convert Tyron's low cross from the left.

With their tails up, Skem broke for a second goal but Wood made a good block from Leadbetter and with Town losing skipper Jones with a pulled muscle seconds before the break, it seemed an uphill task for the Knowsley Roaders. Uphill was the operative word as they resumed up the slope and within four minutes they had equalised when Lee Cooper hit a beauty with the outside of his right boot and a pacey ground shot bent inside the near post giving Holcroft no chance.

And two minutes later the Town target man fired his side ahead with his 19th goal of the season, rifling home firmly from the left after Quirk had done well.

On 55 minutes Town's defence suffered more disruption when January 'Player of the Month' Paul Clarke pulled up and with Dunn and new boy Earley now on, it was a case of reorganising and digging in.

The Ashton brothers did superbly in their withdrawn roles but the man to catch the eye was wide man Terry Nestor who almost made it three on 80 minutes but Holcroft's near-post reflexes were first class.

Nonetheless, lively Skem were never out of it but Leadbetter spoiled great runs by his lack of composure around the box before Town missed a great chance to wrap things up on 82 minutes when Cooper failed to beat the keeper with an easier chance than he had twice previously despatched.

It looked costly indeed when Skem were gifted an equaliser on 84 minutes as Steve Ashton's suicidal back pass held in the heavy going enabling Leadbetter to swoop and beat the stranded Wood.

This entertaining affair was, however, to have one more 'twist' courtesy of another individual error by an otherwise sound performer when Skem keeper Holcroft, out wide of his area, sliced a clearance straight to Chris Quirk who killed it and lofted it back into the unguarded net from 25 yards.

Three precious points were now on their way back down the Rainford by-pass and Town are now in a great position just two points behind leading pair, Salford City and Newcastle Town, but with a huge six games in hand on the former and three in hand on the latter. Town still have 20 league games to play but at least their destiny is in their own hands.

A memorable season continues on Saturday when Town travel to the home counties bidding for a quarter-final place in the Carlsberg FA Vase. Providing of course that Rymans League pair Berkhamstead and Hornchurch have resolved their protracted fourth round tie this week to entertain McBride's away specialists.

On Wednesday, February 15, Town meet Leek CSOB in a Knowsley Road league game, kick-off 7.45pm.