ST Helens Town put a run of three defeats behind them as they began 2017 with a return to winning ways at the expense of Holker Old Boys on Saturday, running out 4-2 victors in the first of six consecutive home matches at the turn of the New Year.

However, it was not all plain sailing and the final whistle could not come soon enough for Alan Gillespie’s boys, who had to endure a spirited fightback from their Cumbrian opponents in the second half.

Town were back to full strength for this fixture, welcoming back long-term absentee Paul Carney from injury, Ant Whelan from suspension and Dale Korie-Butler, all missing from midfield in recent weeks.

The positive effect on the whole team was immediately noticeable, although the visitors were the first to score on 12 minutes, John Paul Stanway firing home from 30 yards, giving Adam Fairchild no chance in the Town goal.

However, Town gradually asserted control and Luke Edwards, in another man-of-the-match performance hit the first of two goals just before the half-hour, a superb “daisy cutter” just inside the right-hand post and out of Holker keeper Harry Copeland’s reach to level the scores.

Soon afterwards, Andy Webster nearly added a second goal as the ball fizzed across the open Holker goal-line, but the central defender could not get a crucial touch on to the ball.

Town did not have to wait long to take the lead as from a corner in the 33rd minute, Edwards had an easy job to touch the ball home unopposed on the line.

At the other end, as Holker stormed back, Fairchild saved at close range from Jamie Pattinson and Andy Presho got in a crucial tackle on Sam Lightfoot in the six-yard box as the Holker player prepared to pull the trigger.

A goal from either effort could have levelled the scores but, with four minutes remaining to the interval, Town had two chances and, crucially, took both of them, to take the game away from their opponents and seal the win.

On 41 minutes, a move down the right saw Andy Gillespie and Edwards both have shots blocked before Carney rifle a rebound in from the corner of the penalty box and, right on half-time, a long ball found Gillespie on the break with only keeper Copeland and midfielder Kevin Watkin ahead of him.

Copeland took a chance and ran out to intercept the ball, but failed and Gillespie rounded Watkin on the deck and netted easily to send his team in 4-1 ahead at the break. There had not been that much between the teams in the first half, but the difference was that Town had taken their chances at the critical times.

Holker had evidently received a rocket from their manager during the interval and consequently looked a different side at the start of the second half.

Town looked a little complacent and, as the half wore on, appeared a little tired. Whether due to the heavy pitch, or the strenuous training session a few days earlier, or maybe the injured players returning to the side short of match fitness, three or four looked a bit jaded. Holker had nothing to lose and, ten minutes into the second period, Edwards was rashly brought down in the visitors’ box as he was moving away from goal.

Taking the penalty kick himself, Edwards fired straight at Copeland, who did well to parry the ball, but three Town players tried, but failed, to get to the rebound before the keeper was able to regather to deny St. Helens a fifth goal.

Soon afterwards, Stanway appeared to pull back a goal for the visitors, but a flag was raised to disallow the score and, as Holker increased the pressure, Ste Rigby headed a shot off the line which slipped through Fairchild’s hands.

There was little doubt St. Helens were wobbling at this point and there was still half an hour left.

They had to rouse themselves and find extra reserves of strength to get themselves back into the game and avoid a repeat of early season slips which had lost leads against Cheadle, Carlisle and Chadderton. Suddenly, on the attack, Edwards found an opening from distance and the goalkeeper stranded.

From 30 yards, the wingman hit a superb ball which, agonisingly, missed the far post – and the onrushing Andy Gillespie – by inches.

In what must have been a thrilling game for the neutral spectator, Holker came roaring back at the other end and Stanway smashed in another 30-yard shot past Fairchild on 74 minutes, to cut Town’s lead to two goals and the momentum was very much with the Cumbrians.

They stepped up the pressure again and in a packed St Helens penalty area, Alex Gillespie somehow managed to turn a certain goal-bound shot around the post and out for a corner with 10 minutes remaining.

Hero Edwards, clearly struggling to run, seized possession midway into Holker’s half and surged forward, beating several defenders and looked for all the world a scorer until going down in the six-yard box shoulder to shoulder and, once again, Holker took possession and went the full length of the pitch, only for Fairchild to pluck the ball off the feet of Ben Rebello as he appeared certain to score the Old Boys’ third goal.

In a game which gave full value all round, including seven minutes of added time, Fairchild tipped another spectacular shot on to his crossbar just before the final whistle.

Town’s next game is at home to Eccleshall next Saturday, 14 January but, due to the unavailability of Prescot Cables’ ground, the match will be staged at Ashton Town’s ground at Edge Green Street.

St Helens have already beaten the Staffordshire side twice away from home this season, including once in the Macron Challenge Cup.

Although both wins have been quite comfortable, Eccleshall shocked Town last season, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the last 12 minutes of the home game played at Brocstedes Park, so they must not be underestimated.

A sustained run of victories will be necessary in the second half of the season, not only to try to gain a place in the promotion play-offs, but also to secure a qualifying spot in next season’s FA Cup competition, where prize money can be quite lucrative with a reasonable cup run.