SATURDAY'S game at New Sirs proved to be a tale of two goalkeepers, as St Helens rode their luck to take three points from Daisy Hill.

A blunder by home keeper Chris Taylor, handed Town the winning second goal, whilst a string of impressive saves from Matthew Hodge at the other end denied a Daisy Hill side whose strong performance belied their lowly league position.

Town came into the game on the back of a solid performance in the Liverpool Senior Cup at Bootle the previous Tuesday.

Although they eventually went down 4-2, they were level at the break through a Josh Hoult goal in the 36th minute and took the lead two minutes into the second-half thanks to another goal from prolific striker Andy Gillespie.

Three goals from Bootle’s Jackson Ellis and a late Joseph Peacock strike gave the final scoreline a misleading impression, belying the exertions of the young Town side.

They began well enough on Saturday, Johann du Toit going close just two minutes in, but centre half Craig Naylor, who was imperious throughout, put the Westhoughton side ahead after 27 minutes, a set-piece ball being headed on in Town’s packed penalty box, finding Naylor unmarked at the far post and with time to pick his spot, beating Hodge inside his far post.

St Helens re-gathered themselves soon afterwards, but had Hodge to thank for pulling off a fine diving save at full stretch from the same player after 34 minutes.

The visitors began to get a foothold in midfield as the interval approached and launched an attack down the left, Andy Gillespie making good ground, before finding Ste Rigby, who could only slice his shot, but du Toit managed to reach out with his foot and place the ball inside the left post to level the scores on 44 minutes.

Daisy Hill had the better of the early play in the second-half, but thanks in the main to Hodge, could not regain their lead.

However, the match turned on its head in the 65th minute when du Toit headed innocuously towards the home cross bar, only for keeper Taylor, who initially appeared to catch the ball, to drop it over the line and into his net, thereby putting Town 2-1 ahead. Recovering from the shock, Daisy Hill pressed at the other end, but Hodge was again on hand to foil the attack.

Home supporters claimed the Town keeper had handled outside his box, but no card was forthcoming and they had to make do with a free-kick, which Hodge again saved.

The drama continued in the other penalty area when Andy Gillespie was manhandled part-way to the ground by Taylor, but tried to soldier on to take a half-chance at goal, when a penalty kick might easily have been given.

That proved to be Town’s last chance to make the game safe and Naylor very nearly levelled the scores in the closing stages, but was thwarted by Hodge who surpassed his earlier efforts and pulled off the save of the match to deny Daisy Hill.

St Helens take a break from league action this Saturday when they make their debut in the Reusch First Division Trophy.

Visiting Brocstedes Park will be Chadderton, who beat Bacup Borough in the First Round, whilst Town had a bye.

Town have already completed a league double over the Oldham outfit this season, winning both games 3-1, but they will need to be on their best form to win through to the last eight in this, the only cup competition still open to them this season.