Skelmersdale United 3 St Helens Town 3 (aet) Town won on penalties 4-2

THIS Liverpool Senior Cup tie saw Town eliminate high-flying Skelmersdale despite losing their keeper, their captain and their top scorer - all injured.

The spirit was terrific as stand-in rookie keeper Paul Kirwan, normally a centre back, made two stunning saves in the penalty shoot-out to send Town through.

It was a far cry from Saturday when only a last-minute Gary Laird header preserved Town's unbeaten league record against strugglers Atherton LR.

Chris Whitelaw's stooping header had given the visitors a 56th-minute lead which looked enough against lifeless Town until Hill's well-delivered corner provided Laird with the ammunition to spare the blushes.

On Tuesday though Town opened in spectacular fashion, Laird volleying them ahead within a minute.

United's Cowley and Rudd went close at the other end, while Town's Bickerstaffe and Kelsey almost increased the lead, the latter's header hitting the post. Just before the break though Skem levelled with a counter attack of blistering pace as Tony Scott rounded the keeper to score from a glorious pass by Rudd.

Town resumed up the hill in positive fashion but Dyson miscued after linking well with Griffiths, then Laird hit the crossbar on the break.

Back came Skelmersdale and Rudd's left-wing cross danced along the bar before Cowley was let down by a poor shot.

It looked bleak for Town however when a collision with Cowley saw them lose keeper Hollywood with a severe shoulder problem in the 75th minute meaning the appearance of Kirwan into goal. Minutes later skipper Kelsey departed with a groin strain but prior to Hollywood's departure Skem had gone ahead as Terry Burghall beat the struggling custodian with a crisp ground shot.

Williams then came on to bring yet another fine save from Holcroft but the new man was highly instrumental in Town's late equaliser when his superbly-delivered cross enabled Steve Pennington's header to send the tie into extra time.

Seconds into the extra period Pennington went round the keeper only to suffer a bad injury and had to limp off temporarily. But spirits were boosted in the 101st minute when Bickerstaffe's silky turn saw him tripped by Loughton and Bryan Griffiths rifled home the spot kick.

Pennington returned only to suffer a head wound immediately forcing him to depart leaving Town with only ten men. They worked tenaciously to protect Kirwan and held out until the 110th minute when Tony Scott swept home following to make it 3-3.

Town held out bravely for the rest of the extra period and just before the end boss Jimmy McBride shrewdly sent Pennington back on, limping and with a huge plaster on his head wound.

This paid immediate dividends when Pennington stepped up to fire home the first penalty and when Kirwan superbly saved Loughton's opener for Skem the hosts were always chasing the situation.

Jones, Phoenix and Clarke all netted to keep Town ahead, despite successes by Skem's Holcroft and Boland, and when Kirwan sprang to his left to beat out Robbie Cowley's shot he was submerged beneath the entire St Helens squad as the celebrations began.

Town now face a battle to get their injured fit for Saturday's vital Carlsberg FA Vase second round tie at Selby.

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