IT has been a distinctly mixed week for Pilkington FC.

They went from the high of dumping North West Counties League First Division North leaders Lower Breck out of the Liverpool Senior Cup to the low of a home hammering by Golcar United in a little under 48 hours.

Saturday afternoon’s league disappointment came at the hands of an efficient, well-drilled Golcar side, who left the Arcoframe Stadium with a 5-1 victory.

Buddy Cox had struck twice to put the Yorkshiremen in control before Pilks struck back before the break as Phil Marsh, who had earlier hit the post, seized upon a poor clearance to halve the deficit.

This gave the hosts a platform upon which to build in the second half but they struggled to create chances before Golcar stretched clear to a convincing victory.

Perhaps their efforts at Lower Breck less than two days previous had taken their toll after they had inflicted a second defeat of the season upon their Liverpool-based rivals to set up a clash with Marine in the next round.

Pilks took the lead early thanks to the tenacity of Callum Laird – he chased down a pass meant for the home goalkeeper and his sliding challenge was enough to force the ball into the net.

In foul weather conditions in Anfield, the visitors pressed for a second goal but eventually, the hosts started to apply pressure of their own.

The equaliser eventually came when Stephen Milne’s innocuous-looking cross deceived everybody and floated into the corner of the goal.

If there was a slight doubt as to Milne’s intentions for the leveller, there were none about the goal that earned Pilks victory with five minutes left.

Luke Sephton set the ball back to Marsh on the edge of the area and he let fly with a strike that was bound for the net as soon as it left his boot.

St Helens Star:

Phil Marsh lets fly against Lower Breck