ST HELENS Town took full advantage of their early exit from the FA Vase competition by recording their first home win of the season in a re-arranged league game whilst many of their rivals were still involved in the FA competition and, as a result, moved up four places in the Hallmark Security First Division table into 14th position and within striking distance of the promotion play-off zone.

However, it was not all plain sailing against a lively Oswestry side in tricky, gusty conditions at Prescot.

Town began well against the wind, Sam Sheen shooting narrowly wide as early as the eighth minute, but the visitors had a number of chances at goal from all over the final third of the pitch but could not keep the ball down. However, St Helens took the lead in the 21st minute on the break when Eddie Pegler hit a well-weighted pass from the half-way line to split the defence and send Sheen clear against keeper Barton and the midfielder finished in calm fashion to give his side the lead, with what could already be a contender for the goal of the season.

Ste Rigby very nearly added a second goal from out on the touchline when his shot-cum-cross glanced the Oswestry crossbar with the keeper beaten.

In added time just before the half-time whistle, Adam Donohue was harshly booked for an innocuous foul.

Eight minutes into second half, Town got their second goal through Danny Greene and soon afterwards were fortunate to maintain their two goal lead as Oswestry hit a powerful drive which Ryan Taylor did well to keep out and Durrell fired the rebound just over the bar, but then the game descended into a series of niggly incidents which saw Durrell of Oswestry slide into the back of Sheen, bringing him down, but the referee apparently only saw Sheen sit on Durrell and booked Sheen.

Pegler was lucky to escape a caution for voicing his opinion as tension boiled over.

Oswestry captain Jack Morris was also carded but soon afterwards the same player pulled a goal back when his shot was mishandled by Taylor in the Town goal and the rebound went in off the post and Taylor’s head.

Town had to ride their luck in the closing stages as Oswestry very nearly equalised, Taylor pulling off a fine save and the visitors hitting the rebound just over the bar in the scrambled finish.

Town were dealt a third yellow card as Andy Presho was adjudged to have dived following a rough tackle and having survived a late Oswestry onslaught, the game ended with Pegler hitting the bar with a tremendous 30-yard drive which crashed against the crossbar.

This Saturday, St Helens Town are at home again, this time to Premier Division opposition in the shape of AFC Darwen in the Macron Cup, with a 3pm kick-off at Prescot Cables’ ground.

The next league game is away to currently unbeaten Alsager on Saturday, 8th October.

With construction of the new changing rooms and other buildings at the new ground at Ruskin Drive still some way off, Town are hopeful that the League may use their discretion and give them permission to use the new ground along with the existing changing rooms until the new facilities become available in December.

With the next meeting of the Hallmark Security League set for 5 October, it could mean that if permission is granted, the first home game at Ruskin Drive could be the return league clash with new boys Carlisle City on Saturday, 15 October.