Gateshead 5 St Helens Town 1

Eastwood Hanley 4 St Helens Town 1 THE continued absence of regular defenders Aidie Reilly and Neil Leyland is beginning to weigh heavy on Town's confidence.

Three times in their last five outings Town have led at the break only to be swamped afterwards as a brittle resolve enables opponents to come off the ropes.

Although Town's FA Cup replay defeat at Gateshead was not entirely unexpected, the margin did not reflect the earlier St Helens effort as a chilly reception greeted the Geordies at half time following Town's fine showing in going in at 1-1 with Tony Ungi levelling out Darren Foremans third minute lob for Gateshead.

Yet again Town were caught asleep on the resumption and individual errors contributed to their downfall as Gateshead tore holes through the St Helens ranks enabling Harkus (2) Rowe and Ord to complete the nap hand.

On Saturday Town were in the Potteries for a rare league game and all the half time boardroom opinions was that St Helens should have been three up, so well had they played.

As it was they held a single goal advantage thanks to a sweet 24th minute strike by debutante Chris Walmesley who should have added a second minutes later but with the keeper beaten the ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded into the grateful custodians arms.

Mark Shaw too had a great chance from barely eight yards but completely miscued a free volley after home centre back Colclough had been pressured into a wayward header by Ungi. But the second half was a different story and within four minutes Town keeper Mark Winstanley was saving superbly from Davies spot kick following a harsh decision against O'Neil. But instead of capitalising on Eastwoods disappointment, Town went into their shell and paid the price on 50 minutes as Davies slipped through the offside trap to level.

Town mounted a response with Bickerstaffe overlapping to fire into the side netting while Walker surged from deep to set up Walmesley whose shot was blocked for a fruitless corner.

The contest changed dramatically with two goals in five minutes both of which were superbly executed as first Reeves-Jones struck a superb 20 yarder as Walkers stretching clearance failed to find safety and with their tails up Eastwood bagged a third as Walklet outpaced everyone in a 60 yard burst down the right and an inviting cross fell perfectly for Hulme to volley home.

Town were crestfallen and had Winstanley not responded excellently to Redgate and Walklet it would have been worse but there was one final blow to be struck and it came with the games last kick when Eastwood sub Redgate played a 'one two' through a leaden footed St Helens defence to fire into the bottom corner.

This Saturday Town play only their second home league game of the season when Penrith come to Hoghton Road (3pm).

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