Kidsgrove Athletic 0 St Helens Town 0 TOWN continued on their travels and continue to pick up points and at the final whistle at Kidsgrove on Saturday had moved into the top five and remain unbeaten in the league with eight points out of a maximum 12.

Given that only one game as been at home, this represents a promising start and at Kidsgrove on Saturday that promise clearly began to blossom and although they didn't win, they did everything else short of that.

This was their best all-round display to date and only a text book performance by the Kidsgrove rearguard denied them their just desserts and in the final analysis, this may well be seen as a good point earned rather then two dropped.

The hosts, whose ground has had a summer 'make over' in anticipation of Northern Premier League entry are certainly no mugs and could well be in the hunt and it augurs well for St Helens that they were so impressive against 'benchmark' opposition.

Town totally dominated the first half an on another day could have been two or three up by the break and the reason they weren't was down to superb defensive play by the Kidsgrove back line, marshalled impeccably by skipper McVey. They were good, very good and they had to be as Town's Fearns and Laird rampaged to good effect creating a whole host of half chances and with Ashton and Jones whipping in dangerous crosses it seemed a goal had to come.

Incredibly, it didn't and ironically the nearest thing came at the other end when Evans capitalised upon Phoenix slipping and had time and space to bend a beauty towards the top corner but Town's Phil Wood kept it out with a majestic save. At the other end his counterpart Simon Pay had to be ever alert but was spared heroics by the excellent covering of McVey, Colclough, Smith and Mountford. The chances which came Town's way had to be hastily taken and Fearns twice volleyed off target as did Mike Jones before their best chance fell in the 39th minutes when Laird flicked on to send Ashton clear down the centre but Pay spread himself well to block.

Hinnigan then forced Pay to parry a 20-yarder over the angle which forced a succession of corners, ended eventually as Ashton's effort cleared the bar.

The second half was more even and less frenetic but there was much to admire from both sides as Kidsgrove asked the early questions with Wood comfortably holding Bermingham's free kick before Town's Morgan making an essential near post block after Davies had got around the back.

Town got going again through Fearns who was sent into space by Gary Jones and the cross was just tantalisingly too high for Laird who frustrated, handled the ball into the net. On the hour Town's Mike Jones 'shinned' an attempted volley from a great cross by Johnson and two minutes later Fearns saw his falling toe poke rise over the bar as Smith and McVey converged.

Kidsgrove too had their moments and Evans should have done better after playing a neat 'one-two' and with 15 minutes left centre back Colclough up for a corner, got in a glancing header which Phoenix converted around the post.

Both sides then had a chance to take the three points as firstly on 84 minutes Hinnigan's goal bound blast was blocked by Colclough's desperate lunge before Kidsgrove's Scarlett side footed the wrong side of the upright after Dawson had done the spadework.

This Saturday Town are at Salford City, kick off 3pm, before coming home at last when Leek CSOB visit Knowsley Road on Wednesday September 13, kick off 7.45pm.