ST HELENS Town began life in the North West Counties First Division on Saturday with a testing trip to Chadderton, who finished last season in the play-off positions, so this was an early indication as to the task ahead to regain their Premier Division status.

The home side began in strong fashion, taking the game to Town, who began with only four of last season’s players in Andy Gillespie, Jack Marshall, Matt Davidson and Ant Whelan and after an even first half, the teams went in level at 1-1.

Chadderton took the lead after 25 minutes when a low cross from the right emerged through a sea of legs, giving unsighted keeper Graham McLoughlin little chance of smothering the ball and Macauley Harewood had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

The lively Johan du Toit, who had earlier hit the bar from 25 yards, narrowly failed to equalise shortly afterwards when he again found the woodwork with a header. However, the leveller arrived on the half-hour when Marshall rode two tackles in the home box before driving home from a narrow angle.

The Oldham side missed a glorious chance on the resumption when a defensive error led to a shot from 20 yards just cleared the bar, but that was the only opportunity Chadderton had in the entire second-half.

The injection of pacy substitutes Marcus Perry and Alex Russell, together with the craft of Charlie Duke in midfield, was more than the home team could cope with and after a string of near misses, Town took control and secured the points in the closing stages with two wonderfully worked goals, both of which were set up by Perry.

In the 88th minute, Russell broke through the defence and played a swift one-two with Perry, drew the Chadderton keeper and slotted home then, in injury time, Perry again was the provider for Jordan Lorde, who netted in similar fashion to allow St. Helens to lay down an early-season marker as to where they want to be, come the end of the season.

Town take a quick break from league action this weekend, with a trip to Maine Road in the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

St. Helens will be going into the tie with great confidence, not least as they beat the Manchester side home and away last season.

The prize for the winners is a Preliminary Round trip to Ossett Albion.

If Saturday’s match ends in a draw, the replay will be at Brocstedes Park on Wednesday next, kick-off 7.45pm, otherwise Town have no midweek game.