ST HELENS Town’s miserable run continues. Playing only their third game since the end of October, they eased into a 2-0 first-half lead, then lost to the league’s bottom side Eccleshall, conceding three scrappy goals in the last 16 minutes.

For once in recent weeks, the rains relented in the days leading up to the match, but the wet weather returned with a vengeance shortly before kick-off and continued unabated until the moment the players left the pitch.

In between times, the already sodden playing surface took a heavy toll on all the participants, but the driving rain from one end of the ground to the other played a massive part in the eventual outcome, all five goals being scored at the same end, with the prevailing conditions assisting the attacking players, whilst the defending side had to face the wretched elements.

Town began with a debutant at right back, Andrew Presho and three inexperienced youngsters, Matthew Smith, George Lomax and Danny Greene up front.

Eccleshall, with only three substitutes, lost captain Jack McKay in the early stages, due to a gashed leg, so both teams were rather stretched.

Town had much the better of the early exchanges and it came as no surprise when Andy Gillespie latched on to a Lomax free-kick, to score from the edge of the six-yard box. The Town captain was unfortunate to have another goal chalked off on 25 minutes, when he netted from a tight angle at keeper Spencer Martin’s right post, only to see his effort disallowed as Greene was adjudged to have interfered with the goalkeeper’s line of sight from an offside position.

That was to prove a significant decision in the final result.

Gillespie scored his second goal – his 18th of the season – on 28 minutes, seizing upon an error by Eccleshall substitute Jack Beech. Skipper Gillespie, at the age of 24, is the team’s stand-out player by some distance and has been a revelation in this season of difficulties.

Unfortunately, many players of ability have left the club, drawn away by offers to play elsewhere, leaving a relatively high nucleus of willing, but inexperienced players, who turn out week after week.

Although these players are obviously improving, the loss of other players, coupled with the frustrating, lengthy spell of postponed games over the last few months, has broken the rhythm of the team and this undoubtedly played a huge part in the outcome of this game.

Town were still leading 2-0 and apparently coasting to a much-needed victory for the first 29 minutes of the second half, but Eccleshall grabbed a lifeline with a goal on 74 minutes, forced over the line from close range by Oliver Jepson and buoyed by their sudden turn of fortune, they threw caution to the wind, albeit with the elements at their backs, as a result of which substitute Max Linaker scored twice in the closing nine minutes to snatch an unlikely 3-2 victory.

There was still time for Town to launch a further two attacks, but on a bog of a surface, it proved impossible to hit a ball with any sort of precision and the final whistle sounded just after Gillespie pulled a shot wide of the far post which might have salvaged a point.

Weather permitting, St Helens travel to their former adopted home of Edge Green Street to face Ashton Town in a Boxing Day derby (kick-off at 3pm), with further away games to follow on 2 January at Atherton L.R. and 9 January at Manchester Northwich Villa ahead of their next home engagement against Stockport Town on Saturday 16th.