Town let it slip away

BEHIND such an eccentric scoreline as this there has to be another ingredient involved other than the respective capabilities of both sides.

In this case it was the considerable goal-to-goal slope of the Alder House pitch which resulted in gluepot conditions at the lower end after heavy morning rain.

This proved impossible to defend in as both sides let in four goals against the hill. But Town lost this match due to terrible defending at the other end and allowed Atherton to get a foothold for the second half after being 3-0 and 4-2 down.

Metheson and Walker (twice) in the seventh, 14th and 17th minutes had converted lovely St Helens approach play into a three-goal lead. But yet again the self-destruct button was pressed at the back when in the 37th minute. Winstanley could only parry Clancy's low drive and Higgins rifled home from a tight angle.

What appeared mere nuisance value turned to deep concern on 42 minutes when Edwards crossed for the totally unmarked Higgins to pick his spot with a header and reduce Town's lead to one goal, although they immediately opened up daylight again as Walmesley slid in at the far post to convert Walker's cross.

This should have been the cushion to go in at the interval but another horrendous mix-up at the back involving all the principals enabled Cameron to poach a third Atherton goal which, had it not been so crucial, would have been comical. After the break Atherton bombed the 'deep end' and Winstanley saved well from Wallace but the town keeper was at fault as Atherton got on terms in the 48th minute when committing himself for an angled cross which he didn't make and Dodd lofted a header into the empty net to level at 4-4.

Winstanley was shortly down at Dodds feet before Reilly replied for St Helens with a firm 30-yarder which Schofield saw all the way. On 62 minutes Atherton's remarkable turnround in fortunes brought them the lead when Higgins provided the game's ninth goal when slipping through Town's defensive charge for a splendid solo goal.

Town hit back with Shawe heading inches wide whilst Lowe sent a skidding 25-yarder inches wide of the far post. But this remarkable afternoon was to produce two more goals for the home side who capitalised on non-existent defending.

Firstly, Cameron looped a header in off the crossbar then Dodd slipped a one-two past a bogged-down back line and drilled under the hapless Winstanley whose day it certainly was not.

This Saturday Town are at Bootle for a league game before entertaining the same opponents in midweek.

EVERYONE connected with St Helens Town was saddened to learn of the death former player and coach Jimmy Dewsnip. Sincere condolences are offered to his family from all at Hoghton Road.

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