IF Winnington Park’s men avoid relegation this season then they will look back on last weekend as a reason why.

They climbed from the North West Men’s League top-flight's drop zone following back-to-back wins against Neston’s seconds and Colwyn Bay.

Mike Dodd’s goal with time running out secured a 2-1 win on Saturday after Harry Garner’s leveller cancelled out an opening goal on the counter-attack.

He carried that form into the following day, netting twice in the first-half against the Welsh outfit to establish an interval lead.

Skipper Paul Stackhouse sent a powerful drag-flick into the net from a short-corner to make it 3-1 and doubled his personal tally five minutes later in similar fashion.

Bay recovered to 4-3 before Stackhouse completed his hat-trick to put Park out of reach.

Runcorn 3-2 Winnington Park 2nd

WINNINGTON let slip a two-goal lead when they lost to Runcorn in a tetchy encounter.

John Stackhouse was on target twice, on both occasions from a short-corner, to set the Northwich team on course for a victory.

However their resistance didn’t last long after the break and their opponents were soon level.

Runcorn then punished sloppy defending to pinch a winner during the closing stages.

Winnington Park 3rd 4-0 Runcorn 2nd

JOHN Crouchley’s brace was a highlight for Winnington’s thirds as they brushed aside Runcorn.

Mark Leigh and Sam Broadbent were on target too at Sir John Deane’s College where Sam Warburton was chosen afterwards as the home team’s best player.

Bebington 3rd 2-2 Winnington Park 4th

LOUIS Greenwood applied the finishing touch to a flowing team move at the back-post to secure a draw for Winnington.

They had taken the lead in the first-half when Freddie Long pushed a loose ball over the line following a scramble before Bebington recovered to lead 2-1 at the break.

Fixtures

North West Men's Hockey League

Saturday, February 16

Division One: Lancaster & Morecambe v Winnington Park (2pm)

Division Four South: Winnington Park 2nd v Mossley Hill (3pm, Sir John Deane's College)

Division Seven South West: Mossley Hill 3rd v Winnington Park 3rd (Midday); Winnington Park 4th v Wrexham Glyndwr 2nd (1.30pm, Sir John Deane's College)