Town back on track

THE postponement of Saturday's trip to storm lashed Glossop meant Town couldn't follow up the previous Wednesday night's much- needed victory over Atherton Collieries who came to Hoghton Road as the league's form team having registered five straight wins.

The Pitmen are looking in their best shape ever and gave notice of their improvement when they visited Hoghton Road three months ago for a Floodlit Trophy cup tie which Town won 5-2 but not without a struggle.

It was clear then that if Atherton could shore things up at the back, they have the attacking talent to trouble anyone.

The weather and pitch were perfect for a stirring tussle and Town started superbly attacking the Moss End where visiting keeper Morris was called upon several times as Walker, Hill and O'Neill were denied. It was apparent that Town's mood was back on track after a dismal month and they played some lovely football before going ahead from a 13th-minute corner kick.

Hill took it and swung it in from the left for Gary Jones to outjump everyone to send home a header which clipped a defender and looped over 'keeper Morris. The pace was frantic and Town switched play around intelligently and would have gone further ahead had Morris not produced a brilliant tip over to deny O'Neill but the visitors hadn't won five on the trot for nothing and from the half-hour point they began to show why. For the neutral, the ball skills of Mark Jones were a joy to watch but it meant trouble for the St Helens rearguard who were indebted to keeper Hollywood for a fine save with an outstretched boot to deny Fitton and preserve Town's half- time lead.

Town resumed positively and several promising moves only lacked the final ball but so much had they put into it that by the hour they began to wane and Atherton took command and put St Helens under severe pressure. It was truly a test of character for the locals but the likes of Dooner, Kelsey and keeper Hollywood typified the spirit and Colls were constantly frustrated despite a succession of crosses and corner kicks raining in.

Town couldn't go on and resist so much pressure could they? and on 83 minutes it appeared not when the impish Jones surged diagonally into the box before being tripped by Kelsey and Town conceded a penalty kick for the third successive match.

Atherton's Luke Hardman strode up but Terry Hollywood crowned a fine night's work when beating out the spot drive to his left and his side drew a great boost from this to finish strongly again with skipper Chris Quirk going very close to adding a second. So Town's dismal sequence was ended by a show of ability and true grit while Atherton did enough to win on any other day and against less determined opponents.

Hopefully Towns bad patch is now over and despite recent shortcomings still lie a healthy fifth in the table which can be improved upon with a victory over Glossop North End at Hoghton Road on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Towns long awaited Floodlit Trophy second round tie against re-surgent Rossendale United takes place at Hoghton Road on Wednesday, February 9, kick off 7.30pm.

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