Glossop 0 St Helens Town 1 St Helens Town 4 Leek CSOB 0 TOWN bounced back from their lamentable Easter in style with two fine wins in the space of three days.

And they kept clean sheets on each occasion as confidence and determination returned.

Thursday evening's single goal success at Glossop was notable as Surrey Street is not the easiest of places to go and win and on the previous weekend leaders Mossley were held to a 1-1 draw by the Derbyshire outfit.

Deadline signing Brian Hatton was highly prominent on his return to the club and Glossop were a little fortunate to reach the interval with their goal intact.

However, it took only three minutes for Town to get the breakthrough after the interval when Bickerstaffe's surging run induced a reckless lunge from two defenders and Steve Pennington blasted home a rising spot kick to clinch the points and end the recent bad run.

On Saturday it was Leek CSOB's first visit to St Helens having been promoted this term but they won't have fond memories of their Hoghton Road debut as they were comfortably beaten by a Town side who coped superbly with a difficult strong downfield wind. Despite facing it first Town were two up at the interval with Lanes Trophies man of the match Bryan Griffiths in inspired form as precision crosses had Leek struggling.

Town's organisation and balance kept them firmly in control and with Hill returning to form an opening goal arrived in the 35 minute. Phoenix initially started the move before persistence by Bickerstaffe kept it alive and when the latter drilled hard across goal the ball cannoned off Leek's Lowe and into the net.

Lucky perhaps, but merited it certainly was and Town pressed to add a very well worked second goal on 42 minutes when Hill fed Griffiths on the by-line and a lovely cross simply invited being headed home by Steve O'Neill.

It wasn't long before the third goal arrived when Bryan Griffiths jinked along the area's edge before a rapier like shot had the net billowing before the keeper could move. A further St Helens goal came when Bould's back header allowed Steve O'Neill to intercept and walk the ball home.

Town now have six games to go starting with two away trips when firstly on Saturday they travel to Ramsbottom United (3pm). On Tuesday April 20 Atherton Colls (7.30pm) is the venue for a back to back date with the Pitmen who come to Hoghton Road the following Saturday 3pm.

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