PILKINGTONS were completely outplayed as they went down 7-1 to Mersey Valley.

They struggled from the first few minutes with the physicality of the opposition and the constraints of the small pitch.

Mersey Valley took the lead after only three minutes when they didn’t deal with a simple long ball and it took Pilks over 20 minutes to get a shot in the region of the opposition's goal.

Somehow they managed to get themselves back in the game on 35 minutes. Good work from Brad Smailes released Matty Taylor on the wing and he netted from 20 yards out after spotting the keeper off his line.

This should have settled Pilks down but they committed suicide as another long ball caught them out almost straight from the kick off.

Smailes had a few chances to draw level but the keeper saved well and Pilks went into the half 2-1 down.

Pilks started the second half with some vigour as they tried to get their game going but this was short lived as ten minutes in Mersey Valley got their third - again from sloppy defending.

The story of the game was that Pilks huffed and puffed without any real efforts on goal and struggled defensively all day, they conceded the fourth and fifth goals too easily midway through the half.

A change in formation didn’t help Pilks and with the game entering the dying minutes two further quick goals, again from simple long balls, compounded a truly miserable day for Pilks.

The team is struggling to find the scintillating form of last season as they lie in mid table but they must find the answer soon to ensure they are not out the title race before Christmas.