Rossendale United 1St Helens Town 3 WITH the game deep into added time and the issue well and truly resolved Town keeper Mike Allison produced a wonder save to deny United's Paul Thomson his second goal of the match.

Heroics weren't necessary. A goal would have meant only a nuisance statistic but the Town keeper's determination emphasised the team's whole mood on the day when, to a man, they were superb.

Mick Gilmore in particular was outstanding in midfield before signing off for a three week ban but it was as a unit that Town's efforts had to be admired with all three substitutes being used and playing their part in what was a vital win in getting the St Helens challenge back on the rails.

Early exchanges saw Rossendale firmly on the back foot as Town swarmed with purpose and inventiveness and several final balls in were cleared critically by United's Rodgers, Taylor and Peake.

Other close efforts by Pennington and Walmesley kept up the pressure and it was no surprise when Town opened the scoring on 25 minutes when O'Neil flicked on Phoenix's delivery and when Pennington blasted across the face from beyond the far post, the inrushing Paul Gwyther diverted the ball home off his shins. Home keeper Sloane then used all his inches to tip over Walmesley's dipper from the right then the keeper was lucky to escape a booking after deliberately impeding Pennington outside the left of his area as the two scrambled from the floor.

Despite all this, Town could have surrendered their lead on 35 minutes when Lowe slipped in receiving keeper Allison's tap out and in the ensuing break the Town keeper did very well to block Thomson whose follow-up bounced off the bar for Phoenix to hack clear.

It was a let-off but Rossendale hadn't really created the chance and Town put it behind them to dominate to the break in fine style. On 40 minutes Gilmore was again inspirational in finding Phoenix whose left-wing run and cross found O'Neil whose clever dipper hit the bat with keeper Sloane well beaten.

St Helens however were not going to be denied and two minutes before the break Steve Pennington turned in Walmesleys driven cross after the Town right back had superbly linked up the right.

Irrepressible Town continued in the same vein after the break with Pennington and Gwyther putting in notable long-range efforts while Walmesley tricked his way to the foot of the upright only to be denied by the keeper's boot. Despite being under 'the cosh' Rossendale did have a useful performer in Paul Thomson who was lively up front and on 70 minutes he reduced the arrears with a beauty from 25 years which found the top corner with Allison vainly flying across his goal. It could have all come undone had Town not been so focused and within minutes they restored their two goal advantage when Perry headed Phoenix's whipped in corner kick off the line and from the second flag delivery, Peake handled in a six yard skirmish and veteran Paul Wilson drove home the penalty kick despite a fine effort by keeper Sloane.

It was basically all over bar the shouting from this point but O'Neil and Gilmore came close to increasing Towns lead until the final seconds when Rossendale's Moloney found Thomson on the overlap and a goal looked certain but for Allison in the St Helens goal who flung himself to his left to produce a save which seemed barely possible.

He and his team were 'well up' for this one and it showed throughout against a Rossendale side who have enjoyed revived fortunes lately.

This Saturday Town entertain Chadderton at Hoghton Road 3pm before bidding for a floodlit trophy semi-final place when they are at home to Bootle on Wednesday January 28 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, there are celebration in Sutton. For W. Rigby won the £1,200 jackpot in Town's weekly lottery with numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. This week's prize is £400 on numbers 1-20.

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