ST HELENS Town bowed out of two cup competitions this week.

Saturday's exit from the Macron League Cup at the first hurdle at the hands of Cheadle Town was followed by defeat at Prescot Cables in the Liverpool Senior Cup preliminary round on Tuesday.

High flying neighbours Prescot Cables, winners of the competition for the past two seasons, eventually ran out 3-1 winners but a well drilled defensive display and an ability to be competitive in attack ensured Town were in the game until deep into stoppage time.

Presho gave Town the lead on 32 minutes but Prescot had the advantage of the increasingly strong wind in the second period and were 2-1 in front by the 73rd minute thanks to goals from Dean and Chris Almond.

Town’s Danny Greene should have sent the game to penalty kicks as he broke into the Cables box after good work from Weaver. However, home stopper Haslam did well to deny Town the equaliser in stoppage time.

Cables’ Klein-Davies then put the game beyond Town’s reach as he latched onto a high ball and slotted past Williams.

Town fell 2-0 against Cheadle Town at the Arcoframe Stadium.

The visitors went ahead on 10 minutes when Town 'keeper Williams came for a free kick which he didn’t make and Webb rose to glance a header home.

Town were generally off key but did have a couple of determined runners in Diggle and Greene, with visiting 'keeper Whiting making a fine save from the latter.

The stand-out player of the opening half was Cheadle’s Clooney and he tested Williams a couple of times before Town at last got some momentum going close to half time but repeatedly their passing went astray.

They almost levelled on 43 minutes but Diggle was denied at close range by Cheadle’s Harrison with a great block.

Diggle did have the ball in the net with a thumping drive but a hotly disputed offside flag ruled out the strike and Town’s angst was compounded on half time when Clooney looked off side as he made it 2-0 with a cool finish.

Town needed to improve in the second half and indeed they did when Greene almost scored from a cross shot from the right which flashed across the goal face.

On the hour Williams saved well at Cooney’s feet from another high speed counter attack from the visitors.

At the other end Whiting dealt very well with a looping deflection which dropped beneath the crossbar.

Alas, the break Town needed never came as they failed to score for only the second time this season.

Town travel to Longdridge Town on Saturday in the Hallmark Security League First Division North, kick off 3pm before returning to Ruskin Sports Village on Thursday, November 1, kick off 7.45pm when Prestwich Heys are the visitors.

The club are holding a fundraising dinner on Sunday, November 25 – guest speaker is ex-Manchester United keeper Alex Stepney along with comedian Charlie Hale. The event takes place at the Cottage Tandoori, Rainford, and tickets are £25. Contact John McKiernan on 07713 339 682 or Ian Duke on 07557 954 306 for more details.