Windermere 6 Urmston 2

MERE knocked North League Two West leaders Urmston from their perch with an impressive 6-2 victory.

The Lake District side were on top form as they claimed a resounding win on home turf.

Urmston had no answer to a classy display by the home side and goals from Richie Jackson (2), Will Dolman, Nat Smith, Rikki Barnes and Tom Dolman ensured maximum points for a vocal home crowd.

Will Dolman opened the scoring with a flick from a penalty corner on 17 minutes, with Jackson adding the second just two minutes later.

Urmston closed the gap to one goal four minutes before the break, but man-of-the-match Tom Dolman found the net before the break from another penalty corner move to make it 3-1 at half-time.

The visitors started the second half well and were soon only a goal in arrears once more, but Smith produced an instant reply and Windermere did not look back.

Barnes and Jackson both found the net before the hour-mark and the hosts cruised to the three points.

Mere are now eight points off the top as the season enters its final run-in, with a game in hand on some of the teams above them.

Windermere Ladies defeated third-placed Brookfields 2-0 to go top of the Lancashire Central Women’s League Division Two.

Brookfields tested Mere’s resolve in a goalless first half, but the Lakes ladies’ superior use of space and set-piece moves began to tell and Evie Turner finished some good approach play with a brace of well-taken goals.

Goalkeeper Millie Hine made some great saves in a busy afternoon, which was a good warm-up for Mere’s double top-of-the-table clash with Pendle Forest on February 20 (away) and 27 (at home).

Windermere men’s seconds travelled to Blackpool seconds with a bare 11 players and never recovered from shipping two early goals.

A Jamie Hill strike got them back in contention as they fought back after the break, but Blackpool then converted a short corner to win 3-1.

Man-of-the-match was Luke Blezzard.