WALNEY Island produced an impressive display to hit Thornton Cleveleys reserves for six in their West Lancs League Division Two clash.

Tummerhil was in great condition given the recent bad weather, and although manager Steve McCullough had to shuffle his pack as work commitments, injuries and holidays stretched the home side’s squad, Walney showed no signs of rustiness and should have been out of sight by half-time.

Some wasteful finishing and good goalkeeping kept the contest close until the closing stages.

With only minutes on the clock Kieran Sollaway saw his shot hit the crossbar.

Matt Lockley was running riot up front and he saw two chances go begging as one shot was well saved and the other was blazed over the bar.

Lockley turned provider moments later as his cross was met by the head of James Bailey but his effort flew wide of the post.

Finally, on the half hour mark, a defensive mistake saw Sollaway break clear and his early shot found the corner of the net.

Walney kept pressing and on the stroke of half-time Bailey rounded the keeper but an incredible covering tackle saw the danger averted.

Thornton did possess a dangerous forward line but the Walney back four of Fraser Miles, Steve Brennan, Nick Beach and Matty McKee kept the attacks at bay, all the time well marshalled by keeper Jordan Belcher.

The second half was played in more or less the same vein as the first, but this time Walney scored with their first attack.

Sollaway laid the ball through to Bailey who took his shot early to fire past the onrushing keeper. This kick-started an eventful 20 minutes which kept the spectators on their toes.

Firstly Thornton were awarded a free-kick and their midfielder struck a beauty of a left-foot shot to beat Belcher. Minutes later a Walney corner was nodded back across goal by Lockley and Brennan was on hand to score a collector’s item with a close-range right foot shot.

Another Walney corner was met by Beach who rose highest to thump his header home for 4-1, and then Bailey was played through and he struck another great shot for 5-1.

The scoring was completed when Fraser Miles was fouled in the box and Brennan scored from the penalty spot to make it 6-1. A good team performance was personified by the non-stop running from Walney’s midfield trio of Tommy Wilson, Josh Gay and Josh Huitson, their hard work in the last half hour was the visible difference on the day.

The highlight of the game came in the last minute when Walney keeper Belcher made a miraculous one-handed save when a goal looked certain.

Elsewhere in the division Millom kept in touch with the runaway leaders with a 4-1 home win over Lostock St Gerards Reserves.

Phil Edmondson (2) Theo Wilson and Carl Waters were all on target for Millom. Dalton lost 3-1 at home to leaders Ladybridge. Gareth Jones had put Dalton 1-0 up but they couldn’t hold on to their lead. Furness Cavaliers drew 0-0 with Croston Sports and Furness Rovers lost 4-1 at home to Charnock Richard Reserves.

Will Heywood scored Rovers’ goal.

In the Premier Division Vickerstown had another good away day as they beat Coppull 3-0. Steve Kewley, Rob Bruce and Danny Cummings secured the points for Dave Round’s side.

Division One action saw Askam United beat Kendal County 5-2, Callum Rayner (2), Dec Kell, Scott Steele (penalty) and an own goal made up the Askam tally.

GSK Ulverston Rangers lost 2-1 to a late goal away at CMB, Matty Lawlor scored for GSK.

Crooklands also lost on the road as they went down 3-1 to Lostock St Gerards, Dave Mansergh finding the net for Cassies.

In the Furness Premier League, leaders Hawcoat Park Reserves lost 3-2 away to Holker Old Boys Reserves.

Jordan Brough and Steve Forbes put Holker 2-0 up before Carl Pearson and Pat Allington pulled the scores level. However, James Bonner netted for Holker to take all three points.

Second-placed Haverigg made sure they capitalised on Hawcoat’s slip-up with a 2-1 win over Swarthmoor. John Chmiel helped himself to another two goals.

Haverigg sit nine points behind Hawcoat but do have two games in hand. Britannia beat Walney Island 2-1. Kane Moffatt put the visitors ahead before Ross Walker and Danny Keenan both scored for a resurgent Brit.

Millom A moved to the top of Division One after winning a nine-goal thriller 5-4 against Swarthmoor Reserves. Steve Grieve (2) Mark O’Brien, Stewart Smith and an own goal fired Millom to top spot. Barrow Wanderers lost 2-1 to Vickerstown A. Ryan Jackson and Robbie McMurdo scored for Phil Athersmith’s side. Ryan Docherty was on target for Wanderers.

Bridge United beat Haverigg Reserves 4-1 thanks to goals from Josh Greenwood, Lee Harkin, Josh Harris and Justin Pearce. The evergreen Wink Birkett rolled back the years to find the net for Haverigg.

Crooklands Reserves beat Ormsgill North End 3-1 with goals from Scott Phizacklea (2) and Matthew Pearson. Tom Dodd found the net for Ormsgill. First played second in Division Two and it was second-placed Croftlands Reserves who took the points as they beat British Legion 1-0 thanks to a Charlie Segger goal.

Bootle Reserves lost 5-3 at home to Barrow Celtic A. Stu Thompson scored a hat-trick and Rob Johnson a brace in an entertaining game. Bootle’s efforts came from Alfie Bailey, Adam Mawson and Josh French. Walney Island A were on the wrong end of a 10-0 scoreline against Holker A. Nath Reid (4) Morgan Gwynne (3) Tom Jefferson, Jonny Fittes and Leon Knight all scored.