Ormskirk Royals went top of the league, maybe only for a few hours, as they hit five on a day when they could have scored so many more at Wargrave Rovers.
Throughout the game it was the Royals who dominated the ball, playing some scintillating stuff at times but early on the Royals struggled to adapt to the size of the pitch when they lost it.
It was Wargrave that opened the scoring early on as the royals failed to defend a straight long ball with keeper Sharkey rushing out only to be rounded by the attacker. 1-0.
Culshaw called for calm from his players and they responded by dominating the ball, playing some great stuff and creating chances.
On 24 minutes the equaliser arrived after Pitkin screwed his shot into the path of Broomhead who span quickly and finished emphatically in the bottom corner. A milestone goal for the player with his tenth of the season. 1-1.
Countless chances were wasted by the Royals as they lacked composure in the final third and couldn’t find that killer ball or finish. It did however come on 39 minutes as another through ball from Pitkin found Lea through on goal. The midfielder rounded the keeper only to be brought down for a clear penalty, however the keeper waved play on and Haines tapped home into an empty net. 2-1 at half time.
The second half saw the Royals continue to dominate. By shoring up the defence at half time they had the base to play freely and create numerous chances. Again though they struggled to finish off their opponents as clear chance after chance was spurned.
On 71 minutes the game was won after a team move, instigated by the excellent Knott and Pitkin, left Broomhead in, whose trickery played in Haines to fire past the keeper from close range. 3-1.
On 74 another was added as Cannon swung a free kick into the box and the unmarked Knott headed into the top corner. 4-1.
On 78 Cannon went on a mazy run at the defence and was brought down in the area for a penalty. Unselfishly regular takers Knott and Cannon let skipper Kemble take it, and the captain coolly converted it low down the centre. 5-1.
That was how the game finished and although the Royals left the field feeling they should have wrapped the game up much earlier a 5-1 win on their travels represents another successful day for the royals who go into next week’s top of the table showdown with St Helens Rovers in good form.
