A WATERLOGGED pitch at Prestwich Heys last Saturday gave St Helens Town an unexpected weekend off, but FC Oswestry’s 2-0 win over Bacup Borough saw Town drop to third bottom in the Hallmark Security First Division Table.

With both these clubs due to visit Ruskin Drive on the next two Saturdays, a return to winning ways for Lee Jenkinson’s men is vital if they are to keep in touch with the clubs above them, to pull clear of the division’s bottom two clubs Daisy Hill and Nelson, who Town encounter in December.

First on the agenda is Thursday's game at home to Holker Old Boys (kick-off 7.45pm).

When the clubs met at Rakesmoor Lane in the First Division Cup last month, a pulsating encounter was settled in the very last minute by Liam Dodd’s strike to see Town home 2-1 and a repeat would be very welcome.

Holker are six points clear of St. Helens at the moment and lost 2-1 at home to Sandbach on Saturday.

Bacup Borough are visitors to Ruskin Drive on Saturday.

They were relegated from the Premier Division along with Town in 2015 and the meetings between the sides are usually full-blooded affairs, with St Helens having the upper hand in recent seasons.

They will need to dig deep at the weekend against Brent Peters’ team who were also due to be in action on Thursday night.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 3pm. FC Oswestry will be Town’s next opponents, again at home, on Saturday, 25th November, before a trip to basement club Nelson on 2 December.