Maine Road 0 St Helens Town 1 A SPECTACULAR last-minute half-volley by defender Gary Dooner secured the points for Town and left Maine Road to rue missing an absolute sitter six minutes earlier.

The conditions produced a scrappy affair and Town were the first to settle as Walker's fine cross just evaded Laird before home keeper Berry fumbled a Phoenix cross under pressure from Laird and Bickerstaffe, and it needed good work by Newbould to tidy up the danger.

The Brantingham Road outfit were relying on counter attacks with ex-Hoghton Roader Graham prominent enabling Crane to pose a threat but Allison, in the St Helens goal ,twice saved at the striker's feet.

Playing in their change strip of yellow and sky Town came out of a quiet period with a low thunderbolt from Phoenix but Berry responded with a fine save before a sweeping St Helens move saw Laird's cut-back just fail to reach Walker with Quirk, Jones and Senior very good initially.

The half ended with Maine Road's Crane evading three tackles in a fine run but his 25-yard shot flashed wide.

The Mancunians opened up the second half as they had finished the first, this time Jackson tried his luck from 25 yards but Allison saw it all the way and from the clearance, Town had justifiable penalty claim.

It came as a result of a huge bounce which home keeper Berry misjudged and appeared to drag Glenn Walker back but protests were in vain and a tense stalemate ensued. Gradually Town began to force the issue by winning several corners and from a 70th minute delivery, centre back Kirwan rose to head over before departing in a triple substitution involving Laird and Bickerstaffe also, with Hill, Pennington and Lowe deputising. With Maine Road also introducing new blood a tense finish ensued but the subs of both sides were to be very prominent as Town's Hill was denied an 80th minute opener by a brilliant save by Berry but three minutes later Town should have gone behind as sub Totterdell saw his shot rebound perfectly to Wadsworth but a header from six yards cleared the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Town, however, made the most of their reprieve as they took full control in the closing minutes winning another series of corner kicks and with the game in its 89th minute, Hill's flag kick was headed out by Maine Road's Ian Walker but only to Dooner poaching on the areas edge and a rasping half-volley gave Berry no chance as it entered the top corner amid the congestion.

Town can take even closer order to the leading group in the North Western Trains first division when facing two title aspirants on successive Saturdays at Hoghton Road. This Saturday Newcastle Town are the visitors with a provisional kick off time of 1pm due to the England v Poland international. Supporters should ring club information line on 817225 for confirmation.

On Easter Saturday, high spending Workington (Paul Stewart and all) are the visitors 3pm. In between on Tuesday March 30, it's derby night at Valerie Park were Town meet Prescot Cables (7.30pm).

Lucky six jackpot numbers 1,5,7,8,11,12. (No winners). This weeks prize is £1150 on numbers 1-14.

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