PILKS ended the year at the top of Cheshire League Division One after a dominant display against local rivals Garswood.

They ran out 4-0 winners with in-form striker Luke Sephton bagging another hat-trick.

Pilks started well with Brad Smailes finding it too easy to get in behind the Garswood defence.

On 10 minutes his great work released Graham Boylan, who pulled the ball back to the edge of the box but David McGrath skewed his shot wide.

It was McGrath who opened the scoring on 22 minutes.

Some great interplay released Smailes again and his cross was met by Sephton and although the keeper pulled off a great save McGrath was on hand to follow up.

Ten minutes later Pilks doubled their lead.

In the move of the match, Smailes won the ball on the halfway line and played a slick one-two with McGrath to get in behind and his pass across the six-yard box was tapped in by Sephton.

Pilks had a few more chances before the half, the most notable was Boylan’s header that was cleared off the line.

The second half started slowly and it took 15 minutes before Pilks had their next chance to extend their lead.

Andy Cook’s free-kick hit the bar and Boylan somehow missed the follow-up and a chance to secure the game for Pilks.

Somehow despite their dominance Garswood were still in the hunt as Pilks struggled to put them to bed.

On 65 minutes Smailes had an effort cleared off the line after a Danny Hughes free kick was well saved.

Finally with 20 minutes left Pilks got the breakthrough they wanted.

A reverse pass from Ian McBride set Boylan free down the right and his cross to Sephton was easily dispatched to make it 3-0.

In injury time Sephton completed his hat-trick.

Substitute Danny Hughes played Boylan in again down the right and he squared for Sephton to score his 18th goal of the season.

It was a dominant display that puts Pilks in a good position to push on for the second half of the season.