St Helens Town 3 Prescot Cables 1

TOWN returned to the top of the North West Counties League Division One with this derby triumph at Knowsley Road on Monday evening.

And although rivals Rossendale could well leapfrog them again before the week is out (they were scheduled to play struggling Leek CSOB on Tuesday) this was nonetheless another significant step towards the title for Jimmy McBride's men.

Gary Laird was the hero for Town with a well-taken hat-trick. And although his first two strikes, in the 18th and 46th minutes respectively, were aided and abetted by miscued clearances by Prescot keeper Dahl, it was no more than Town deserved.

Cables' hopes were raised briefly when Town centre back Clarke put through his own goal on 65 minutes.

But Laird combined with Lee Cooper to grab his third seven minutes later to seal victory for the homesters.

Town seem to have regained their momentum at just the right time on the run-in to the season and although mathematically eight teams are still in with a shout of the championship, realistically the eventualy winners now seem likely to come from the top five of Town, Rossendale, Clitheroe, Ramsbottom and Kidsgrove.

And with Town having to play two of those rivals -- Kidsgrove and Clitheroe -- plus outsiders Fleetwood, their destiny is very much in their own hands.

St Helens Town 3 Rossendale United 1

Town rounded off a successful Easter programme by completing a rapid-fire double over their title rivals.

A healthy crowd turned up to see the sides' second clash in five days and although the margin of victory was greater, Town were given much more to think about than in their 2-1 win at Rossendale.

The home side got off to a flyer, going ahead in the 10th minute when a massive clearance by keeper Phil Wood sailed over the square defence and Terry Fearns found the visitors' net with a delicate lob from 25 yards.

Town continued to have the better of the first half but neither Cooper nor Nestor could capitalise on free-kicks, while Hennigan failed to take full advantage of a spilled ball by Rossendale keeper Andrews which landed at his feet.

As the interval approached though the visitors stepped up a gear, winning a series of corners before Fitzgerald went close with a 30-yard shot.

Town went two up on 67 minutes when Fearns read a lovely disguised pass from Hennigan and cut through to slot the ball inside the far post.

And they made sure of the points when Fearns turned creator, sending over a cross for Lee Cooper to outjump the defence and despatch a gem of a header into the bottom corner from 15 yards out.

With the season now drawing to its climax all the remaining games are vital, none more so than tonight (Thursday, April 26) when Kidsgrove Athletic visit Knowsley Road (kick-off 7.45pm).

And on Saturday Town travel to basement club Leek CSOB, kick-off 3pm, coach leaves 11.45am.