MATTY Taylor’s first half hat-trick seemed to suggest that this was to be an easy day for Pilkington, but Lostock’s tenacity got them back into the game and with four goals and two penalties in the second half the game turned into a seven goal thriller.

The game started as a tight affair but came alive on 18 mins when a cleared corner fell to Taylor whose cross was met by Graham Boylan’s header that went close.

Two minutes later and Lostock’s midfielder fired a rocket from 25 yards that went narrowly wide.

This was now an end-to-end match and after a strong tackle by Miguel Gillum, Brad Smailes received the ball in the Lostock box but his effort could only hit the side netting.

At the other end, the Pilks midfield got caught in possession at the edge of their own box and with a neat one-two the Lostock midfielder found himself clear on the six yard box for what looked like the opener. Fortunately, Connah Kilgallon recovered well and prevented a sure goal with a strong tackle.

In the 22nd minute the deadlock was broken.

Ian Frazer won the header in midfield before Luke Sephton lofted pass eluded the Lostock defender to leave Taylor clear who rounded the keeper to slot home.

Two minutes later and a fine save from Rob Cork prevented a Lostock equaliser from a free kick.

It did seem as though it was too easy for Pilks to get in behind the Lostock defence and on 31 mins a Boylan through ball got Taylor in again who cut inside and forced a good save from the keeper.

Five minutes later though and there was nothing the keeper could do about Taylor’s second. Gillum won possession and fed it wide to Tarrington whose ball into Boylan was laid off to Taylor for him to curl it into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Lostock could have pulled one back straight away as from the restart a cross found the forward free in the box but his header went over the bar. Taylor had another half chance from a long clearance before making it 3-0 a minute before the half. Frazer won the header and Sephton set Taylor free and he smashed it into the top corner again from just inside the box.

The start of the second half was much of the same as Pilks continued to dominate possession and create the chances.

Taylor had the ball in the net five minutes in but was deemed offside and in the 60th minute Boylan’s strong run down the wing produced a great cross that was met by Brad Smailes but his shot was blocked on the line.

Two minutes later and the game changed on its head.

Some neat play and a quick turn in the box from the Lostock forward caught Luke McCausland out and his tackle resulted in a penalty for Lostock.

The momentum suddenly shifted Lostock’s way and Pilkington were under real pressure for the first time in the game. Lostock pushed men forward as they searched for another goal and this helped Pilks.

A neat one-two with Boylan set Smailes free and he slotted past the keeper only to see it hit the post.

Fortunately Gillum followed up to make it 4-1.

Despite the goal difference, Pilkington seemed very nervous as Lostock kept coming back. With 17 minutes left, Lostock scored their second at the back post.

Boylan was replaced by McBride to add steal to the midfield that was now being dominated for the first time in the game by Lostock.

It seemed as though Pilks were falling apart.

Their shape had gone and they were panicking every time they got the ball. With six minutes left Lostock scored again and it was clearly panic stations now for Pilks.

In the last minute though, a long punt found Taylor free down the side and he drove into the box and his cut back found Gillum who was just about to convert before being fouled by the Lostock defender – penalty! Unfortunately, the keeper saved well from Taylor and the scores stayed the same.

Lostock still kept coming forward in the five minutes of injury time but Pilks held on for the win, even surviving a late penalty shout with one of the last plays of the game.

Line-up: Rob Cork, Liam Tarrington, Tom Potter, Connah Kilgallon, Luke McCausland, Ian Frazer, Miguel Gillum, Brad Smailes, Luke Sephton, Graham Boylan, Matty Taylor. Subs: Ian Macbride