St Helens Town 1 Holker Old Boys 3

SLOPPY St Helens Town paid the price for complacency on Saturday.

Holker arrived late for the North West Counties First Division game at Brocstedes Park and, starting with only one substitute on the bench, the Barrow side had something of a vulnerable look to their line-up, which perhaps led St Helens Town to the conclusion that they might stroll to an easy win.

They began well enough, Andy Gillespie missing the target by the narrowest of margins in the opening exchanges, but a goal against the run of play in just the fourth minute gave the Old Boys the perfect start and something to hold on to.

A ball from the right wing, played at high speed just above ground level, hit a Town defender, giving new keeper Matthew Hodge no chance.

St Helens were then fighting an uphill battle to get back into the game and, soon afterwards, Johann du Toit made a crucial tackle and hit a stinging shot, but it went straight at Oliver Bell in the visitors’ net.

Du Toit tested Bell again on 20 minutes and although the stopper spilled the ball, there was nobody on hand to deal with the rebound.

At the other end of the pitch, new keeper Hodge from Maghull was fortunate not to be penalised for an ankle tap on Jordan Brough, but there was no such luck for Ste Rigby moments later when he upended the same player and a penalty was awarded by referee Rudd.

Brough was a little too hasty with the spot kick and fired high and wide, so Town went in at the break just one goal in arrears with all to play for.

Seven minutes into the second half, St Helens drew level with a fluke goal from Josh Hoult, whose corner kick beat all the defenders on the goal-line and looped in at the far post, much to the debutant’s delight.

Town should have gone on to win from that point, with Holker at full stretch and their only substitute deployed soon after the interval.

But several chances were spurned, leaving the visitors to take full advantage on the break.

On 77 minutes, Holker regained the lead when John-Paul Stanway touched in a cross from the right-hand side and Hodge saved a certain third minutes later, smothering a shot from the same player.

Jack Golding, Matty Davidson and Warren Twist were sent on from the bench to try to salvage the game in the closing stages, with Town’s regular saviour Marcus Perry unavailable due to a family holiday.

But it was Holker who finished strongly, Bradley Hubbold following up to score after Hodge had initially saved his penalty kick in the last minute.

St Helens make the short journey to Westhoughton on Saturday, hoping to return to winning ways at the expense of lowly Daisy Hill at their New Sirs ground, where Town last played in 2012 when they came away with a 5-0 win in the FA Vase.

A confidence-boosting win of similar proportions is called for to instil some much-needed confidence if the season’s goal of promotion is to get back on track.