St Helens Town 2 Maghull 2 THIS midweek match had more twists than a Hitchcock thriller.

The hardy faithful who turned up despite the rival TV European extravaganza were treated to an incident a minute roller-coaster game in which Town missed out on a passage into round three courtesy of twice hitting the crossbar and amazingly missing two penalties.

Allied to this, Maghull 'keepr Lee Lawson had a great night, making saves of high quality. But he was assisted by Town's ;lack of a clinical finish.

And this was underlines on 24 minutes when Maghull took the lead with a thunderous free-kick by Gary Sheppard after N. Shaw had lost patience with his colleagues and recklessly felled Doyle.

Town almost replied in similar fashion, but Walmesley's free-kick rattled the crossbar, with Lawson making a god save from Bickerstaffe's follow-up.

Then a clearance off the line denied Town in a frantic 35th minute from a corner.

On 38 minutes Lawson reacted superbly to claw out a near own-goal after McInnes' sliced clearance. And when Bickerstaffe was denied in the follow-up, the seeds of doubt began to germinate.

This was underlined on the stroke of half-time when Town 'keeper Winstanley made a hash of a clearance out wide and Paul Doyle gleefully accepted the gift to roll the ball into the vacant net, and despite Walmesley's last-minute effort, which Lawson held well in the top corner, it was a highly embarrassed St Helens side who retreated to the dressing room two goals adrift.

It was essential the St Helens reply was swift. And within a minute they reduced the deficit when Walmesely did well up the right before cutting the ball back to Nobby Shaw, whose measured volley dipped over the 'keeper.

Maghull were now causing problems with well-timed runs from deep against a flat Town back line and Doyle and Bedson threatened with Winstanley repeatedly racing off his line.

But Town's overall possession began to swing the tide. And on the hour Maghull's McInnes handled Lowe's corner kick, but Lawson guessed Walmesley's intention and saved the spot kick.

Town mounted wave upon wave of attacks and they were finally rewarded in the 80th minute when Walmesley was again the provider with a pinpoint cross which enabled Gary Bickerstaffe to power a stooping header home.

Ungi who had come on as a substitute, almost won it for Town, with a cross-shot which shaved the far post.

Then a superb flying tip-over by Lawson denied the same man.

But there was a major home scare a minute from time when Doyle ran clear for Maghull. But Winstanley made a crucial block.

Extra time was played at a furious pace, But Town again wasted a great chance to win the tie when Walmesley went clear on goal only to be tripped as he rounded the 'keeper and this time Bickerstaffe tried his luck from the spot, but crashed the ball against the bar.

Town were almost left to rue the squandered chances in the dying seconds, when again they were caught on the break. But Doyle was slow to react, enabling Reilly to get in a crucial tackle eight yards out.

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