MOSTONIANS 1, WALSHAW 3: Walshaw went into their top of the table Lancashire Amateur League Division One clash at Moston knowing only a win would keep their title chances alive.

On a bumpy pitch and with a swirling gale pretty football was never going to be the order of the day and most of the early play was scrappy.

The breakthrough came from the visitors when a couple of quick passes released Russ Brierley 20 yards out, and the striker hit a low drive through a ruck of players that nestled in the bottom corner.

This seemed to dent the home side's early enthusiasm and Walshaw pressed for a second.

Every set piece was a danger with Danny Goodall's sweet left foot causing the home side numerous problems, while a towering header from Mark Stewart crashed against the upright.

Walshaw were beginning to think they would rue the missed opportunities and so it proved as a quickly taken corner resulted in Moston drawing level.

In days gone by, heads might have dropped but this Walshaw side is made of sterner stuff and just before half-time a cross was expertly headed home by Dave Willetts to restore the visitors advantage.

The second half began with Walshaw on the offensive and the game ended as a contest when a corner was punched off the line by a defender who was given his marching orders.

Up stepped Brierley to coolly double Walshaw's advantage and put the game out of reach.