PILKS started their encounter a little apprehensive after the 7-1 drubbing by Mersey Valley in September but the first chance of the afternoon fell to Luke Sephton as he turned and skimmed the post after just 5 minutes.

It was a pretty even first half with both teams having chances but it was Mersey Valley who opened the scoring on 18 mins when Curley’s rocket shot was unstoppable.

The opening minutes of the second half saw a penalty appeal for Pilks waved away by the referee and Mersey Valley doubling their lead when Ferguson broke free to finish on 49 minutes.

Pilks play was good and had their fair share of the game with both Sephton and Adam Dixon coming close to pulling a goal back.

The game seemed dead and buried on 60 minutes when Bennett increased Mersey Valley’s lead.

But Pilks continued to press for that elusive first goal and it came with 15 minutes left when Sephton slotted after a well-worked goal.

Pilks kept on pushing as they sensed Mersey Valley were tiring – Smailes, Frazer and Taylor all having chances but to no avail.

Then in the last minute Sephton popped up to finish again and set up a tense and exciting final few minutes. Mersey Valley were on the ropes and Pilks came back at them again with Sephton completing a fine hat-trick when he got the equaliser in the first minute of injury time.

Rather than sitting back Pilks sensed a winner and when Taylor wriggled through everyone thought that was it but he somehow scuffed his shot into the side netting.

However as the game entered the 3rd minute of injury time disaster struck for Pilks when for the 3rd time this season they conceded a killer goal with virtually the last kick of the game. Mersey Valley lobbed a free kick into the box and debutant keeper, James Conoghan spilled the ball to the oncoming Kyle Watson who got the winner for Mersey Valley.