ST HELENS Town suffered another two 3-1 home defeats last week as the battle to avoid relegation from the NW Counties Premier Division stepped up, with bottom club Bacup picking up four points to close the gap on the three teams above.

With games running out, Town urgently need to find wins to lift themselves out of danger and the likelihood is that they will be relegated from the top flight for the first time in the league’s 33 year history.

Although new blood has been drafted in to stave off the threat of the drop, the players have only five games to turn the season around, but with no league wins since November and a return of only one point from the last 42, the odds are stepped very much against salvaging their ever-present status in the Premier Division.

Tuesday’s defeat to Glossop was perhaps predictable, but despite an improved performance from Town’s youthful side, the visitors strode into a three goal lead before Jack McKay salvaged some pride with a last minute consolation goal.

Saturday’s game against Congleton, in contrast, saw St Helens on top for most of the first half and they deservedly took the lead on the half-hour when a long ball found Ryan Taylor and captain Andy Gillespie, returning from injury, bearing down on a single defender and the Bears’ keeper, Dale Eve.

Taylor’s finish was exquisite, scoring decisively, to put Town one up.

However, the lead was short-lived, for Congleton gathered their composure and after a number of raids, centre forward Scott McGowan, who was outstanding throughout, beat Lewis Coyle’s tackle and placed the ball just out of Rory Crowther’s reach, inside the right hand post to level the scores six minutes before the break.

Crowther had a magnificent game for Town, pulling off any number of great saves, diving at the feet of attackers, launching full-length to smother low balls and tipping chances around the uprights and there were two marvellous stops to deny Congleton either side of the interval.

On the occasions he was beaten, defenders were on hand to clear off the line, most notably McKay, who saved a certain goal early in the second half.

Sadly, Eve at the opposite end, had very little to do, as Town struggled to test the Cheshire side’s defence to any extent and Congleton took the lead for the first time on 66 minutes when McGowan’s dipping shot from the edge of the penalty area agonisingly cleared Crowther’s leap.

Town tried all they could to salvage a point from the game, but Congleton’s defence gave away very few chances.

However, Gillespie surged forward and, crossing into the 18-yard box was tripped and appeared to have a solid case for a free-kick, if not a penalty, but the decision was not forthcoming and, in a cruel twist, the visitors cleared the ball upfield and the lively McGowan was on hand again to nip around Crowther to complete his hat-trick and end Town’s resistance.

St Helens’ brave performance deserved better than they got, but sentiment will not be enough to salvage their status. Only results will count and home victories are now essential, beginning this Saturday when Winsford come to Brocstedes Park for a game brought forward from Easter Saturday.

Nine days later, Town visit Glossop in another re-arranged game on Monday, March 30 and the last three games of the season comprise the Easter Monday “derby” away to Ashton Athletic and home games against Maine Road on April 18 and Silsden on Tuesday, April 21.

Unless games are won quickly, Town’s fate could well be sealed over the Easter weekend.