St Helens Town 1 Abbey Hey 5 (From St Helens Star)

St Helens Town 1 Abbey Hey 5

12:22pm Monday 13th August 2012 in Sport

Town were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the second year in a row as Abbey Hey ran out comfortable winners at Edge Green Street.

Town looked dangerous early in the game with Ash Rimmer causing problems down the left for the visitors but some solid defending thwarted Town.

Just prior to the half hour mark the visitors Martin Pilkington latched onto a short headed back pass but the striker was thwarted by Dale Newbrook in the Town goal. The deadlock was broken on 36 minutes when a ball from the right was met by the head of Pilkington but his effort cannoned off the crossbar, the striker was not to be denied as he was on hand to turn the rebound home. Matters got worse before the interval as a Town goal kick was sent back towards the Town box from the left and when Newbrook misjudged the ball in the swirling breeze Pilkington was on hand to turn the ball into the unguarded net.

Town struck first in the second period when Brian Hatton converted a free kick from the edge of the area with the aid of a slight deflection and the effort found the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The momentum looked to have turned but it was a false dawn and less than two minutes later the visitors restored their two goal lead, a Town foray down the left wing was broken up and the visitors launched a counter attack which culminated in Pilkington lofting the ball over the exposed stopper Newbrook. The game was up on 68 minutes when Abbey Hey made it four as the visitors moved the ball from right to left and John Hardy lifted the ball over his marker before applying a fine finish.

The rout was completed 12 minutes from time when substitutes Joe Heap and Sam Jones linked well with the latter turning the ball home at the far post and giving Town gaffer Ian Granite plenty to think about before the difficult trip to Barnoldswick on Saturday.