Skelmersdale United 0 St Helens Town 0

Abbey Hey 0 St Helens Town 4

TOWN have picked themselves up splendidly following their opening day disaster with two authoritative displays on their travels, which yielded four points from two clean sheets.

Despite being down to the bare bones of a squad for the mid-week 'derby' at Skelmersdale United due to injuries and suspensions, they showed a lot of quality and would have had all three points had Poland's effort not hit the post. This piece of bad luck allied to some superb defending by the United back four meant a point apiece from an entertaining goalless draw and on Saturday, St Helens took their new resolve to Manchester to face Abbey Hey.

Manager John Davison's selection problems were eased somewhat by the availability of skipper Nolan and midfielder Knowles, both of whom were prominent in a sound display, which produced Town's first goals of the season.

Flash flooding in the area led to a delayed kick off but once the surface water had drained away it left a lush surface, which invited good football and St Helens obliged with some crisp inter passing stretching both flanks. On nine minutes Chris Bermingham was only inches wide with a curling free kick after Mason had been chopped and Mason himself went close shortly afterwards with a header which hit the side netting.

Abbey Hey's goal lived precariously as Walker hacked clear in a scramble but Town were not to be denied and in the 20th minute Mike Mason opened the season's account when gleefully side footing home after Poland had done superbly up the left. The hosts responded with a Robinson long range but it was always rising over before Town's Evans saw his blast deflected off Horrocks for Higging to make an easy save.

One man St Helens had to watch was Walker, who showed an eye for goal on a couple of occasions but a header and a quickly taken free kick, both cleared the bar. Despite this, the fluency was coming from St Helens without finding the final pass although close to the interval Phil Mitchell fired inches wide through a packed area before his cross from the right, shaved the far post.

Town resumed the second half were they left off and Knowles stole in to glance a header wide before Mason made a great run but was rather selfish with Poland completely unmarked. However Lee Poland's frustration was soon cured when within a minute he drilled home Town's second goal after Mitchell and Bermingham had turned keeper Higging's poor clearance to their advantage.

Now in the comfort zone Town lapsed momentarily allowing Metz to almost sneak one in at the near post but they reacted quickly with a spectacular scissors kick from Mason being saved by Higging before Poland raced clear only to see his lob hit the bar. The 63rd minute produced goal number three when Bermingham's long pass switched play from left to right enabling Billy Knowles to work a 'one-two' with Poland before stabbing past the keeper as he came out.

By now, Abbey Hey heads were down although Hancock and Walker showed spirit in stretching the St Helens cover but their colleagues were suffering and on 70 minutes it became four nil. Debutant Steve Leahey was the scorer with an accurate low drive into the corner from 20 yards after the keeper had punched clear a Bermingham cross from the right.

Points now in the bag, a clean sheet was all that Town now sought but having eased off they needed an excellent low save from Phil Wood to preserve it as Morrison let fly in search of a late consolation.

Having got their league form back on track, Town take their blossoming confidence into the FA Cup in Yorkshire this Saturday when they face Parkgate of Rotherham (kick off 3pm), coach leaves Knowsley Road at 11.30am prompt. Any resultant replay will be at Knowsley Road on Tuesday, September 3 at 7.30pm. Please note that Saints season tickets are not valid for St Helens Town cup ties.

Should neither Town or Atherton Colls be involved in FA Cup replays, the two will meet at Colls Alder Street on Monday, September 2 (7.45pm).

All permutations can be checked out on Town's two websites www.sthelenstownfc.co.uk or www.sthelenstownafc.com or NWCL Newsline on 09066 555 944.