FC St Helens turned on the style to secure a massively important three points towards their title charge.

Goals from Josh Hall, Thomas Scarborough, Connor Spiers and Jack Ball helped Mike Smith’s side cruise to victory, writes Liam Grice.

The conditions were against The Stripes in the first half as the wind made it hard for both sides to create any real chances, it took until the 13th minute when Route One forward Awais Khan’s beat the offside trap and delivered a dangerous cross, but Nathan Carnell was on hand to snuff out the danger.

In the 17th minute, tenacious forward Scarborough found himself with the ball at his feet after some great pressing won the ball back, he had a look up and saw the Rovers goalkeeper Rhys Toft off his line and struck the ball beautifully to beat the ‘keeper from 40 yards and give him side the lead.

It didn’t take long for the second to arrive, usual suspect Josh Hall was the beneficiary of some great work by Scarborough to beat the keeper and the prolific goalscorer was on hand to score his first of the game from 2 yards out.

His second of the game came just moments later, Hall was able to receive the ball well and use his body to beat the man and then power towards the beckoning Rovers goal and get his sides third just before the interval.

The Stripes had the ball in the net again in the 69th minute as Hall’s partner in crime Joe Barker thought he had scored his sides fourth, but it wasn’t to be as he was adjudged to be offside.

The superb striking continued as the game came to a close, defender Jack Ball got in on the act as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, he struck it beautifully first time to thump it past the helpless Rovers ‘keeper.

There was time for a 5th as just before the final whistle blew, substitute Connor Spiers collected the ball on the edge of the area and blasted it into the top corner to round of a wonderful performance from The Stripes.