Cheadle Town 0 St Helens Town 5 ANY fears that Town's enforced lay-off may have been detrimental were quickly dispelled at the Park Road Stadium on Saturday.

For Cheadle were given a mauling by a first-class St Helens sid. Enjoying himself at the moment is assistant manager Glen Walker who having been reluctantly pressed into service to cover for injuries and suspensions has hit six goals in his last three outings and is playing as well as ever after six years at Hoghton Road.

Town's recent performances are a great appetiser for Saturday's prestigious Axia FA Cup First qualifying round tie at Hoghton Road where Brandon United of the Northern League provide the opposition, kick off against the Durham outfit is 3pm.

At Cheadle on Saturday a whirlwind start saw St Helens two up within three minutes when firstly Franny Hill crashed a great volley into the top corner with barely a minute gone following a lovely chipped cross by Pennington. Walker then made something out of absolutely nothing to feed Pennington who in turn supplied the alert Paul Gwyther who turned home from close range and Cheadle, who had recently held reigning champions Kidsgrove to a draw, were shellshocked.

They did, however, mount something of a revival with Burnett firing just wide before Town's Mike Allison got in a vital punch off the head of the onrushing Coyne. It was vital Town didn't let Cheadle back into it as often happens with an early two-goal lead but once Wardle's power drive had cleared the bar, there were no more problems.

Prompted by the industry of Reilly and Quirk, Town posed Cheadle a hatful of problems with home centre back Killduff making vital interceptions but Town entered the 'comfort zone' on 33 minutes when Steve Pennington slotted home following fine work by Hill and Walker. Complacency was now Town's only fear but they never allowed this to creep in with a thoroughly professional show which saw them four up on the hour when Pennington rose to nod down Lowe's free-kick and Glenn Walker blasted an angled volley through the clutches of home keeper Actons. Now totally dominant against a dispirited home side St Helens continued to buzz and the legs of the keeper denied Pennington but in the 76th minute Town completed their 'nap hand' when Pennington superbly rose to flick on Allison's clearance and release Hill into acres on the right and with the sparse cover in retreat Hill pulled back for Walker to side foot home.

A sending off marred the closing minutes when Cheadle's Phil Wardle produced a verbal outburst after the disallowing of a last gasp consolation for off side but by then it was totally academic.

So Town left Manchester with a playing record to date of four wins, a draw and two defeats and keeps them nicely placed in the North Western Trains League Division One but its the FA Cup which takes centre stage on Saturday where admission at Hoghton Road (set by the FA) is £3 adults and £1.50 concessions.

Should neither Town or Bootle be involved in FA Cup replays, the two will meet at Hoghton Road on Wednesday September 23 in a league game.

Supporters are advised to ring the club info line on 817225 for confirmation of same from Sunday.

Numbers drawn in Town's lottery were 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 14. There were no winners and a new draw for £1,400 on numbers 1-14 takes place this weekend.

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