MECHANICS drew level with Burscough at the top of the Under 18 Northwest Counties Floodlit League with a comfortable 4-0 home win over near neighbours Wren Rovers.

The home side imposed themselves on the game from the outset and went ahead in the 15th minute when the hard-working Danny Price threaded the ball through to Matthew Dwire who outpaced the Wren's defence and smashed the ball past Marc Brook from 15 yards.

Dwire went close again five minutes later but this time Brook pulled off a wonderful save to keep the visitors in the game.

Adam Cairns then put in a curling 25-yarder that skimmed the top of the bar before the powerful Matthew Garner went on a run across the Wrens area and fired a low shot into the corner from 18 yards.

Both managers blooded younger players in this game and Steven Acton nearly gave Wrens a consolation, only to be denied by Mechanics youngster Andrew Swift who looked completely at home at this level despite giving away two years in age.

Brooks spoiled an otherwise immaculate performance five minutes from time when he brought down Rob Park in his area from which Gareth Edwards converted.

Blackpool Mechanics are next in action in the semi-final of the Lancashire Cup against Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground Accrington on Tuesday, February 23, kick-off 7.30pm.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.