Tweddle Strikes Twice to Beat Town

It's now 8 without a win for St Helens who are defeated at Ruskin.

With their game against Prestwich on Saturday postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Town returned to action at Ruskin for the 1st time in 12 days after their 2-1 defeat to Eccleshall. Lee Jenkinson continued with the settled line-up that he has trusted in recent weeks. He made 2 changes from the Eccleshall line up, with Adam Fairchild returning in goal and Matty Smith replacing Hal McHugh in midfield. However, St Helens continued to have to cope with key absentees in defence, with Liam Dodd, Andy Webster and Andy Presho all out.

The opening exchanges of the match were fairly even, with both sides feeling their way into the game. Danny Lomax threatened from range, but his shot sailed over, ending a balanced opening 10 minutes.

Holker looked to breach the St Helens back line, and did just that after the quarter hour mark, Holker 9 was played through on goal and rounded Fairchild before slotting home, but the linesman ruled that he had timed his run a little too early and disallowed the goal.

That close call sprung Town into life, as moments later Alex Ashby produced a powerful shot that stung the palms of the Holker keeper. The resulting corner found Phil Heron at the front post, but he couldn’t connect cleanly with the cross.

Despite this, it was the away side that took the lead. A break down the right produced a cross that was flicked on from 9 at the front post. Joshua Tweddle was unmarked at the back post to meet the flick on and nod the ball into an empty net to give Holker a one goal advantage.

Town had plenty of chances to equalise as the half wore on, with Matty Smith hitting a shot straight at the goalkeeper, and Alex Ashby providing a series of dangerous crosses. All due to Paul Cliff dropping deeper and pulling the strings in midfield, freed up by the hard work of Smith and Lomax.

Town were unfortunately unable to find an end product for all their neat play as the 1st half drew to a close.

HT: St Helens Town 0 – 1 Holker Old Boys (Tweddle, 22)

7 minutes after the restart Town were handed the perfect opportunity to level the game as Alex Ashby was fouled by Holker 2 on the right-hand side. Captain Danny Lomax stepped up from the spot and scored to give town the goal they deserved.

Towns hard work was undone just after the hour mark, a hopeful long ball from Holker was misjudged by Phil Heron, his backwards header didn’t reach Fairchild which allowed Danny Keenan to nip in and give Holker the lead once more.

The visitors managed to extend their lead with just under 10 minutes to go as Tweddle managed to add his 2nd. A cross from the right deflected off Jake Young, which landed perfectly onto the head of the Holker 10 who surely confirmed the victory for the Old Boys.
Holker held onto consign Town to their 5th defeat in a row.

FT: St Helens Town (Lomax, 53p) 1 – 3 Holker Old Boys (Tweddle, 22, 81) (Keenan, 62)