ST HELENS Town had to concede home advantage to Chadderton in their second round Reusch First Division Trophy game, following two postponements at Brocstedes Park, so they travelled to Andrew Street on Wednesday night knowing they would be up against a team Town had already beaten twice, 3-1 at home and away in league encounters earlier in the campaign, looking to avenge those two defeats.

The windy conditions certainly enabled the sides to blow away the cobwebs, as both had only played once since October 31, due to the prolonged wet weather.

As in the season’s opening game, the home side started the stronger and they took a deserved lead when Leon Iluobe, who was to prove a constant thorn in Town’s side, laid on a low cross to set up the opening goal for Daniel Murray after 20 minutes.

Town fought back and Adam Lawrence tested home keeper Matt Green from 20 yards before Iluobe missed a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead.

Town’s equaliser came in the 36th minute, a rather flat free-kick from skipper Andy Gillespie from out on the touchline being headed past Green by Declan Gregson.

St Helens had a couple more chances before the interval, but had to settle for parity after 45 minutes.

However, they began the second half like a train and went 2-1 up after a goalmouth scramble which ended with Ed Pegler netting at close range after 48 minutes.

The lead was soon stretched to 3-1 when Pegler broke through the home defence to set up Andy Gillespie for his 16th goal of the season.

From a position of strength, Town were torn apart by the athletic Iluobe, who scored twice in the remaining half-hour to send the game into extra-time at 3-3.

Immediately from the re-start, Chadderton seized the lead at 4-3 and Town simply had no answer as Iluobe netted his third goal soon after half-time in extra-time and although Gregson tested Green with a free-kick five minutes before the end, Chadderton made the game safe at 6-3 when substitute Andrew Booth was put clean through by the ubiquitous Iluobe with the last kick of the match, to set up a trip to Hanley Town in the quarter-final.

Town are now out of all the cup competitions but sit handily in mid-table, with 20 games left, to launch their assault on the promotion placings.

Many of the teams above them have been beating each other in recent weeks, so a run of good form could send St Helens into the leading group but, having had another postponement last Saturday’s at Irlam, they will be hoping for a dry week ahead of their scheduled home game against bottom side Eccleshall this Saturday.