St Helens Town 0 Workington 4 : St Helens Town 0 Skelmersdale Utd 6 DEPLETED, dejected and demoralised, that's how Town finished their Easter programme.

Two top attractions helped themselves to a field day against a sad dispirited St Helens.

It's therefore hard to imagine that despite the Easter horror show Town are still eighth in the North Western Trains Division One table, but sincere heart searching is needed if Town are not to go into freefall as the season winds up.

It would be easy to put the blame upon injuries when practically an entire defence was absent for these key matches with regulars Jones, Reilly, Phoenix missing against Workington and when Hill, Bickerstaffe, Lowe and Walmesley added to the tally for Skelmersdale's visit on Monday, it became a nightmare which came true as Skem helped themselves.

Both games began in similar fashion with Town looking sharp early on, but unable to convert half chances and against Workington (Paul Stewart and all) Town's patched up troops reached the interval intact with Paul Kirwan, though heavily strapped up, having a great duel with the ex Manchester City and Liverpool man.

Disaster struck within seconds of the restart when Wilson cracked home a fine short with Town exposed and just three minutes later it became 2-0 when Swailes broke into open space to fire the ball past Allison at the second attempt.

Heads dropped, spirits sunk as Wilson added a third on 63 mins and although Pennington and Laird where both unlucky not to register a consolation, sub Swift rubbed salt into the wounds with an 88th minute fourth goal for Workington. On Monday those wounds became open sores when Skelmersdale almost inflicted Town's worst ever home defeat as they fell one short of Nantwich's and Hyde United's seven, registered in 1979, and 1982 respectively.

Again Town started well and could have been ahead before Stuart Rudd drilled Skem ahead against the run of play in the 18th min.

The turning point came when Town debutant Dunn's free kick fell short of the area in the 41st minute and Skem broke with numerical advantage for Rudd to notch his second goal.

The longer it went on the worse it got as Town lost Griffiths and Scott forced home United's third on 51 minutes after initially hitting the post. Favager (57), Scott (64) and (78) completed Town's humiliation and the final whistle was merciful relief for the locals who have conceded 14 goals in their last three outings with just one solitary response.

It's a far cry from the side who only a month ago were only a penalty shoot out from the North Western Trains League Cup Final.

Tonight (Thursday, April 8) Town hope to have some casualties back for the trip to Glossop (coach 5.15pm, k.o. 7.30pm). On Saturday Town entertain Leek CSOB at 3pm.

Numbers drawn in Town's Lucky 6 Lottery were 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 19. There were no winners and a new draw for £575 on numbers 1-19 takes place this weekend.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.