THERE was to be no “great escape” for St. Helens Town, who could only watch as Silsden scrambled a last minute equaliser at Brocestedes Park on Tuesday.

The goal came out of nowhere as Town, needing nothing less than a win to preserve their NW Counties Premier Division status, appeared to be cruising to a 1-0 win thanks to a goal on 36 minutes from outstanding midfielder Aaron Morris.

And they should have been 2-0 up before the interval as the referee missed a handball by Joseph Mitchell in the Silsden box, then the same player pulled back Jack Golding by the shirt immediately afterwards, only for Wirral whistler Hitchell to book the Town winger for a dive, to add insult to injury.

Town looked home and dry as the second half progressed but Hamish Falconer could only hit the bar and the Cobbydalers, who had had no chances to speak of, then won two corners in quick succession.

Town failed to clear the ball and Kevin Ryan headed a scrappy goal in the 90th minute to send St. Helens down to Division 1.

Only a reprieve from higher up the pyramid can possibly save Town, whose luck has seemingly run out.

St Helens had won their first match in 18 attempts on Saturday, when they accounted for Maine Road by a 2-0 scoreline thanks to two goals in three minutes just before half-time.

First, from a cross by Jack Golding, James Rushton-Woods’ fierce shot through a forest of legs took a wicked deflection and spun into the net, just beyond the reach of visiting keeper Livesey then, two minutes later, Rushton-Woods provided a pass for Perry to bury the ball deep in the Manchester side’s net.

The victory secure, it was only a question of how results were unfolding elsewhere. As it was, AFC Blackpool and Bacup & Rossendale Borough held out for wins but, crucially, Barnoldswick Town lost 1-0 at Runcorn Town, the East Lancashire side completing their fixtures just two points clear of St. Helens.

Town would escape relegation if they managed to beat Silsden on Tuesday but, as has been the case all season long, a failure to close out games from winning positions was ultimately their undoing and, though disappointed, their relegation has not been any great surprise.