St Helens Town 3 Nantwich Town 1 WITH only six weeks of the season left Town have still to play 15 matches.

And this 'whistle stop' finale began with three handy points at sunlit Hoghton Road on Saturday.

Two memorable goals lit up some ordinary fare with Steve Pennington and Gary Laird providing the talking points from a match which lifted Town into eighth place with games in hand to go much higher.

A minutes silence was observed before kick off in respect of Mr Eric Hinchcliffe the North Western Trains League President and long time chairman who died on Sunday March 7.

Town attacked the Hoghton Road end first and a low key opening almost produced a bizarre 10th-minute own goal by Nantwich's Murphy who lobbed back from the centre circle over keeper Pay who had to hastily re-adjust.

Nantwich's Scarlett then raced onto his keeper's long clearance but shot tamely at Allison before Town's Gary Lowe retired with a recurrence of an old injury with Phoenix deputising in the 24th minute.

The new man was involved in Town's 35th minute opener when his low cross was mis-controlled by Nantwich defender Smith and Steve Pennington lashed home a superb instinctive finish from the edge of the area.

But with the last kick of the half Nantwich equalised when Matt Patrick followed up to score after Allison had done well to block Griggs in a one-on-one.

The Dabbers had the second half's first chance but Green miscued at the far post from Patricks driven cross.

On 62 minutes Town claimed a penalty as Laird and Smith tumbled but pleas were waved aside and as Town slowly got fully on top, Ashton saved Nantwich with a crucial interception to foil Walmesley. There was still some defending to do however and none did better than Lanes Trophies man of the match Aidie Reilly.

The forceful Walmesley began to win corners for Town on the right and on 70 minutes Pennington went very close at the near post but five minutes later another flag kick saw St Helens go ahead. Walmesley delivered it hard and low and the unfortunate Lee Murphy sliced it into his own net at the near post and now all Town had to guard against was complacency.

Pay saved well from Bickerstaffe before a gem of a goal closed proceedings when Gary Laird powered a diving header into the bottom corner from a perfectly whipped in left wing cross by Phoenix.

This Saturday Town travel to Maine Road kick off 3pm before entertaining Salford City on Wednesday March 24 kick off 7.30pm.

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