Stefan Ratchford touched down twice and was inspirational throughout as struggling Salford recorded a famous victory over engage Super League leaders St Helens.

The rangy half-back, 21 later this month, claimed his two tries in the first 10 minutes and full-back John Wilshere converted both to put the Reds 12-0 up.

Remarkably, a third score arrived in the 16th minute when Ratchford orchestrated a fine flowing move which culminated in centre Darrell Goulding crossing in the left corner.

Salford deservedly led 16-0 at the break and, though Saints responded in the second half with a try through young replacement Andrew Dixon, there was no comeback.

The Reds lost stand-off Jeremy Smith to the sinbin in the 53rd minute but their workrate and desire harvested a fourth try five minutes later when wing Mark Henry touched down to send a raucous home crowd into raptures.

Francis Meli claimed a late consolation for the visitors in the 79th minute but the result ended Saints' record-breaking run of 16 straight away wins on a night when nothing worked for Mick Potter's side.

They badly missed injured trio Keiron Cunningham, Leon Pryce and Jon Wilkin and there was more bad news as Sean Long was replaced in the second half having succumbed to a facial injury.

Salford were missing rising star Richie Myler through injury but they drove at the heart of St Helens from the first whistle.

Insipid Saints were punished in the fourth minute when a high, bouncing kick from Smith was woefully misjudged by the normally rock-solid Paul Wellens.

Ratchford was on to it in a flash and grounded the ball just wide of the posts to give Wilshere a routine conversion and crank up the noise further among a vociferous home support.

It got better for the Reds four minutes later when Ratchford's teasing kick rebounded off a post and was scooped back into his path by Wilshere's delightful pass.

Ratchford arrived like a steam train to touch down for his second score and was then twice involved in a fine sweeping move which culminated in Goulding crossing in the left corner.

Wilshere, having converted the first two scores, could not land the third and Saints, predictably, woke up as the half progressed.

Long found Maurie Fa'asavalu and then Kyle Eastmond with fine passes but both men knocked on when the whitewash beckoned.

Saints increased the tempo further after the restart and were rewarded five minutes in when Long embarked on a fine burst through midfield.

He found Dixon in support to his right and the young replacement had the pace to reach the line and Eastmond added the extras.

A St Helens fightback looked on the cards when Smith's desire got the better of him in the 53rd minute and he was sent to to sinbin for lashing out at Wellens.

Saints should have made their numerical advantage pay moments later when Eastmond's awesome pace took him through a gap but young debutant Jamie Ellis knocked on horribly when a clean take would have him sent him clear.

In the 58th minute, the pendulum swung back in Salford's favour when another probing kick from Ratchford was not dealt with and Henry arrived to ground the ball in the left corner for a try which Wilshere failed to convert.

Meli squeezed over in the left corner in the closing stages but Eastmond could not convert and Saints had long since surrendered the points.