Atherton Collieries 2 St Helens Town 3 FIFTH-placed Town, travelled to second-from-the-bottom Atherton on Saturday knowing the form book means nothing on the Alder House pitch following heavy rain.

The pronounced slope too is another ingredient as to why the 'Pitmen' despite their shortcomings on their travels always have a reasonable home record so Saturday's latest St Helens success was a triumph for Town's collective spirit and manger Jimmy McBride's tactics.

The game saw the return in goal of Terry Hollywood whose six-week absence with a shoulder injury has meant a succession of 'stand-ins' but the happiest sight for Town's followers was the appearance off the bench of Mick Gilmore whose 15-month battle for fitness after breaking a leg, was rewarded.

In winning the toss, Atherton elected to face the slope first and in doing so were able to defend the 'lower' end before it became too cut up but defending wasn't easy so illustrated in the third minute when Bowles mis kick put Steve Pennington clear on goal but his usual lethal finish was absent as keeper Morris blocked with his legs.

Next Walker shot wide on the turn from 10 yards after Jones had done well down the right but as the initial surge waned, the Pitmen fought back through their inspirational skipper Liam Boden and Town's Clarke commenced an excellent afternoon's work with a timely tackle before keeper Hollywood saved well at Arnold's feet.

Town took an 18th minute lead when Walker threaded a lovely pass to Steve Pennington whose close range stab spun into the net despite a brave effort by keeper Morris.

However, on 25 minutes Town were rocked by an equaliser when, following a throw-in from the right, Liam Boden cut inside to send a dipper under the bar with Hollywood apparently unsighted. The Town keeper was then called upon to make a flying catch from Boden's cross then angle well to force Shawcross to fire wide in the 40th minute. St Helens desperately needed an interval advantage with the 'slope' still to face and on 44 minutes they got it when Bryan Griffiths turned in Walker's low cross with Pennington's dummy creating the half chance.

For the second half Jimmy McBride sacrificed a front player (Glen Walker) to bolster midfield where Gary Bickerstaffe joined Dooner and Hill but before the hosts could get a head of steam up downhill, Town struck again. The goal came in the 49th minute with Griffiths and Hill involved but as the latter was felled, good advantage was applied and Steve O'Neill ran on to slot home.

Town now had their insurance policy and proceeded to kill the game off in a quiet but efficient way with Kirwan and Clarke looking very composed and with Laird replacing Pennington up front there was always opportunity on the break and a couple of headers from the new man weren't too far away. But out of the blue Colls pulled one back when Paul Cox reacted first after a bout of head tennis.

Town have no game this Saturday but travel to Maine Road on Tuesday, November 16, kick off 7.30pm.

Numbers drawn in Town's lottery were 7, 9, 13, 16 18 and 19. There were now inners and new draw fro £580 on number 1-18 takes place this weekend.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.