ST HELENS Town exited the Men United Cup at the First Round stage for the first time in the club’s history on Saturday, when they went down 4-1 to Hanley Town.

After 33 years in the NW Counties top flight, relegation at the end of last season meant that, as a First Division club, they had no automatic exemption to the Second Round and their initial encounter with the Potteries club produced another unwanted first, namely another defeat in what is fast proving to be a rather disappointing campaign at Step 6 level.

A number of players were unavailable for Town and the defence in particular had a youthful look about it.

There was very little between the teams for much of the first half and, having endured early pressure, St Helens had just begun to get on top when, against the run of play, Joel Stair scored the first of his two goals in the 34th minute, a long-range shot deflecting off a Town defender and leaving keeper Graham McLoughlin rooted to the spot as the ball trickled in at his left post.

A few minutes earlier, Andy Gillespie had been upended just outside the home penalty box, but the resultant free kick was sent over the bar then Declan Gregson wove his way through the Hanley defence before producing a good shot which the home keeper Joe Hemmings saved comfortably.

The second half began with three good saves from McLoughlin but, as the hour mark approached, Hanley took a firm grip on proceedings, seizing on a number of defensive errors in the visitors’ ranks. On 55 minutes, Joel Stair scored a second goal from an unmarked position at the corner of the box and it was soon 3-0 when, nine minutes later, Arron Johns netted from a similar position on the other side of goal.

The game was already over as a contest when substitutes Marcus Perry, Charlie Duke and Jack Golding entered the fray, although Golding combined well with Gillespie to pull a goal back with 20 minutes left, it was to prove too little, too late, as Hanley’s leading scorer Theo Stair rounded off their win with a fourth goal in the 84th minute with a well-taken goal, beating the offside trap before rounding McLoughlin and finishing with an easy tap-in.

If there is an upside to their early exit from the league cup, this defeat at least frees up a Saturday date to enable Town to catch up on league fixtures. Having won their first three First Division games, they have fallen off the pace and have two or three games in hand on clubs above them.

With two games against Holker Old Boys and a home fixture against Litherland to rearrange, the opportunity might be put to good use to target a climb up the table.

In the meantime, Town travel to Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday with something of a score to settle and, having already conceded an early-season league double to Rochdale Town, this FA Vase Second Round Qualifying clash is the most important game of the season so far, with significant prize money and a place in the First Round Proper up for grabs.

Although St. Helens have lost twice to Rochdale, there has been little between the teams and they will take heart from Saturday’s league result when Bacup went to Rochdale and came away with a 3-0 win.