SATURDAY saw Town go down to second-placed Litherland for the third time this season and, once again the final score of 4-1 did not reflect the effort Town put into this game.

In complete contrast to the 5-2 defeat at Silsden, St Helens began the match in great style and opened the scoring in the fifth minute in expansive style, a wide ball from the left finding Grimshaw, who lashed the ball home under the despairing dive of Remy keeper Ben Morrow.

It only took Litherland four minutes to level the scores, Williams did well to block a fierce shot from former Town midfielder Colin Quirk, but he was unable to prevent Colin McDonald from turning in the rebound.

Remy had the ball in the net again minutes later, but referee Sheppard ruled that Williams had been impeded by McDonald in the build-up. At the other end, Danny Greene hit a great shot, only to find Morrow right behind the ball but, minutes later, Town might have regained the lead in a move similar to their goal, this time a quick Greene cross found Diggle, who headed past Morrow, but was controversially ruled offside.

Seven minutes before half-time, McDonald put Litherland into the lead with the easiest of finishes after the diminutive Josh Hamilton, head and shoulders above everybody else on the field in terms of pace, class and ability, took on two defenders and the goalie to serve the ball up on a plate for the centre-forward.

Town barely had a look-in in the second-half, as the visitors upped their game, showing why they are virtual certainties for promotion.

Diggle had the only real chance for Town, Morrow pulling off a good save, whereas Remy added further goals through Hamilton after 57 minutes and a last-minute penalty from Quirk, which took the final victory margin to three goals, adding insult to injury, as this did not reflect Town’s overall contribution to a good match.

Town make their first-ever visit to league new boys Abbey Hulton United on Saturday.

They were the first visitors to the new Ruskin Drive ground last August when, it will be remembered, the floodlights went out on the timer switch.