Great Harwood 0 St Helens 1

GREAT Harwood slipped to their third NWCL Division One loss in four games against promotion-chasing St Helens at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground.

But Denis Underwood's side, second from bottom of the division, made St Helens battle all the way and were unlucky not to scrape a draw.

A defensive mistake on the stroke of half-time gifted the visitors a goal after Sean Burnsell, Richard Fogarty and Damien McKay had all gone close for Great Harwood. Jed Hennigan scored for the vistors from 16 yards out after Harwood missed three opportunties to clear the ball.

St Helen's hit the post after the break but Harwood began to make more of an impact.

John Riley's header minutes after the interval was inches wide while Underwood was disappointed when a Warren Peake effort was ruled out for handball.

St Helens were reduced to ten men when Shaun Morgan lunged at McKay but, although it was backs to the wall for the visitors in the final 20 minutes, Harwood couldn't make an effort count.

"It is frustrating," admitted Underwood. "We have been playing well but you don't get anything for a good game and a 1-0 defeat.

"Our last six games are against teams around us and they are the ones that we will have to make count."

Harwood are in NWCL action at the Crown on Thursday against Skelmersdale.