Blackpool Rovers 1 St Helens Town 1 TOP of the agenda in a busy week for St Helens Town was qualification for the Floodlit Trophy final and in mid-week they did just that under the Hoghton Road lights as the second leg semi-final ended 0-0.

Already 4-1 from the first leg Town didn't need any heroics but simply did a thoroughly professional job in containing Vauxhall GM. This means Town now meet Burscough in the final at Skelmersdale United's White Moss Park on Monday March 23 (7.30pm).

In a sound team performance on the night defenders Paul Kirwan and Gary Dooner excelled but for the latter it came at a price as an ankle injury kept him out of Saturday's trip to Blackpool and with Bryan Griffiths suspended, a re-shuffle was needed.

Re-appearing for his first game of the season was former skipper John O'Neil who like others, found conditions underfoot far from suitable to constructive football and with a difficult wind blowing, the issue was compounded.

Even so, Town made a positive start with home keeper Bloxham going down bravely at Pennington's feet before two desperate defensive headers cleared the home bar as Williams whipped the ball over. The Wrens were happy to absorb and counter attack and on 15 minutes Bracewell's block released Thomson who raced on to fire just wide but two minutes later a total lack of concentration on Town's part gave Blackpool the lead. First, Quirk gave away a needless free-kick on the left and a quick delivery found Town asleep and Stuart Bracewell planted a free header past the helpless Allison.

Town came close to levelling on several occasions but twice Pennington was just the wrong side of the post while keeper Bloxham went full length to a Lowe effort. In between, Blackpool had threatened in isolated raids when Allison had to block Thomson before a rebound off Walsh had the Town keeper scrambling back to clutch on the line.

Town made a barnstorming opening to the second half with Walmesley prominent as O'Neil headed just wide but the ascendancy brought its reward on 53 minute when Walmesley was tripped by Morton and Steve Pennington obliged from the spot. Minutes later the St Helens hit man was denied his 33rd goal of the season when Bloxham went full length to parry a header with Walmesley again providing the cross.

As conditions deteriorated the latter stages became a slog but Town were always the more likely and the home keeper knew little about Gilmores point blank header as it struck him in the chest.

This Saturday Town entertain Haslingden at Hoghton Road (3pm) before facing a big night next Tuesday (March 10) when they face Southport at Haig Avenue in the quarter-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup (7-45).

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