Kidsgrove Athletic 0 St Helens Town 2 WITH St Helens Town no longer involved in the Carlsberg FA Vase, it meant a free weekend for Jimmy McBride's charges.

Their defeat at Selby in Yorkshire came at a time of goalkeeper injury crisis. But things have settled superbly since that untimely upheaval and Town are looking the part as illustrated in a great mid-week win in the Potteries where hosts Kidsgrove had the skids put under them after some encouraging results lately.

Fixtures have fallen that Town will spend the whole month of November away from Hoghton Road but they are doing very nicely on their travels thank you!

They were full value for the points at Kidsgrove where a first class first half display was marred only by a scant single goal margin they took into the interval. Steve Pennington was the scorer after coolly curling home as defenders retreated after being isolated by a wayward back pass but 'Pellet' showed his class to notch a 42nd minute opener. Earlier he had seen a point-blank volley sink into 'keeper Grange's midriff before missing a great opportunity after his fine control had bought him time and space. Kidsgrove's only real threat had been a firm tow poke from Batho but Hollywood sprang superbly to his left to turn the effort round the post.

If Pennington had been the man who had to wait for his just desserts in the first half, Glenn Walker was to suffer a similar fate in the second period and like Pennington, it was not until the closing minutes that he found the net after missing out on several occasions.

A free header from a Hill corner kick passed the wrong side of the far post then a rising drive smashed against the bar but his reward came in the 87th minute when O'Neill superbly did the spadework on the right enabling Walker to slot home with relief written all over his face.

This killer second goal ended Kidsgrove's late assault to snatch a point but they found Clarke, Kirwan, Jones and Phoenix rock solid at the back as Town lifted themselves into fourth place in the table.

This Saturday Town travel to the 'Old Showground' to face Great Harwood. Kick off 3pm (coach 12.30pm).

Lottery numbers 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18. No winners (This week £610, numbers 1-17.)

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