Maine Road 1

St Helens Town 2

ST HELENS Town settled a score at Maine Road with a victory on Saturday, despite their last fixture being a 6-0 drubbing to the same opposition in April.

It took until midway through the first half of the opening North West Counties League game of the season for Town to break the deadlock when the centre-half partnership of Hamish Falconer and Aaron Morris combined for the latter to head past the 'keeper.

Town’s dominance continued and Chad Whyte doubled the lead with a fine individual goal which saw him turn the home defence inside out before coolly finishing to give the away side a 2-0 lead at half time.

The second half saw the home side battle for a way back into the game and Town had to be resolute in defence while hitting Maine Road on the break.

Morris should have had his second goal of the game on the hour mark when a free-kick caused chaos in the Road penalty area and the defender scuffed his shot narrowly wide with the goal gaping.

Maine Road reduced the deficit with 12 minutes remaining when Sam McLennan headed home, but despite a late rally, Town hung on as worthy winners.