St Helens Town 4

Maine Road 0

FIFTEEN goals in their last four games at Hoghton Road show St Helens Town are closing a chapter in sporting history in style as they prepare to depart form their Sutton base after 54 years.

The visit of champions-elect Vauxhall Motors is Town's only remaining fixture and takes place on Saturday, April 29, when it is anticipated that all who have had St Helens Town connections can be present on this historic day.

In all other aspects it will be business as usual and Town got down to business on Saturday with an early demolition of Maine Road who were disposed of by the half-hour mark as by then Town had hit four in carrying on from their nap hand at Glossop the previous week.

On the 11th anniversary of the 'Hillsborough' tragedy, a minute's silence was observed prior to kick off and as Towns youngest captain for years, Gary Jones, won the toss, he elected to defend the Hoghton Road end first.

Town made a bright start in which Cooney had Oram saving low down from a crisp 25 yarder before Laird was denied by Newbould's crucial block.

The short corner was used to good effect a minute later when Walker traded passes on the right before curling in a cross which Steve O'Neill diverted home to put Town ahead. Maine Road then had a purple patch with Hollywood holding a firm 30-yarder from Mitchell before making a superb save in tipping Crane's shot on the turn over the bar.

The visitors' revival was snuffed out by an error by youngster Oram in the visitors' goal who, on 23 minutes, allowed Glenn Walker's 30-yarder to spill over his shoulder and creep inside the post for goal number two. He made amends with a superb save from Coney's volley but Town were flying now and on 27 minutes it became 3-0 when Gilmore's midfield skill and pass enabled Steve O'Neill to double hisl tally.

The Mancunians were dispirited now and Laird thundered a volley down off the underside of the bar but this reprieve was only fleeting as in the 29th minute Town made it four as Gary Laird forced home the rebound after he and Walker had brought a good double save from Oram. The St Helens steamroller then visibly dropped a couple of gears enabling shell shocked Maine Road to enjoy some respite and Jones did well to clear Newbould's acute header off the line prior to Ives firing over in a scramble after Hollywood had blocked well at Cranes feet.

The second half was low key but both sides have a couple of decent chances. For Town, Kirwan had a ground shot pushed around the post by Oram while Totterdell's clearance off the line foiled Walker. Town's Lanes Trophies man of the match Gary Jones.

Town now enjoy a free Easter before the final game against Vauxhall.