Atherton LR 1 St Helens Town 0

JUST one goal in their last four outings amounts to a drought and it continued for Town on Saturday when they barely mustered a shot on target throughout the whole 90minutes.

A crumb of comfort however is that the defence has tightened up significantly in conceding only two goals in three matches, although even they were enough to spell two defeats and the side now finds itself close to the foot of the NWCL Division One table.

Town's young side went to Atherton on Saturday to face hosts who are on fire at the moment having gone 'nap' in midweek and home supporters expected another goal bonanza, but it didn't materialise.

Indeed, the first half was pretty tedious stuff but as underdogs Town weren't complaining as they worked hard up the Crilly Park slope to limit home chances as Atherton's Ben Obong posed a constant threat.

The former Prescot Cables man was behind most things the hosts did in a first half littered with free-kicks.

These were largely in Town's favour but they did little with them except for a 10th-minute Varns volley which flew tamely at home keeper Flood.

Atherton too were hardly over-active in front of goal but they did squander a couple of decent chances as Cavanagh twice shot wide at the far post following Obong's good work and Town were content to maintain the status quo up to the interval.

Now with the slope in their favour Town sought to use Anderson's pace but before they could settle they were pushed back by a far more positive-looking Atherton unit who served notice within two minutes when McNaire blazed wildly over.

The hosts however did not have to wait long for the opener and it arrived on the 51st minute when neat inter-passing up the right found Jason Kay free on the area's edge and a sweet low drive gave McMahon no chance.

On 55 minutes Town were sliced open again but keeper McMahon narrowed the angle sufficiently to force Obong to shoot wide.

Purple

From this there followed a purple patch for St Helens. On 62 minutes Pegram forced Kay to head over his own crossbar and from the corner the ball ran free but not in the vicinity of a Town player.

Next Town's Anderson got down the left but his low cut-back ran behind the in-rushing Pegram before a deliberate hand ball by the prone Curley prevented Anderson cutting into the area.

Alas, there was no end product and as Atherton pressed again Town had a couple of let-offs but they didn't concede again thanks to some sterling work by Alston and Milsom, although the latter spoiled a decent personal performance by getting himself sent off in the 85th minute.

Town have an attractive NWCL third round cup-tie at Knowsley Road on Saturday when Warrington Town bring a few prodigal sons back to St Helens for a 3pm kick-off.

Any resultant replay will be at Warrington's Cantilever Park on Tuesday, December 9, 7.45pm.