WALSHAW put in a sparkling performance in the Lancashire Amateur Shield, to send the West Lancs League runaway leaders back up the M6 with their tails firmly between their legs.

After the overnight deluge it was a credit to the groundstaff that the game went ahead at all, but in bright sunshine Walshaw set about the visitors in a combative style.

The midfield area was shored up with an extra man, and this gave Walshaw the edge in the first period.

Chances were few and far between but the best did fall to Charnock with David Burrows forcing Jordan McBrier into an excellent save low down to his left.

Walshaw still dominated possession but couldn't fashion the opening in the first period.

Five minutes into the second half the breakthrough arrived when a ball was played in from the right and, after a goal mouth scramble, the ball fell to the returning Luke Chapman who rifled a shot into the roof of the net to give the home side a deserved lead.

Walshaw continued to press and 10 minutes later they got their second. A move through central midfield saw the ball played down the left to Luke Chapman who whipped in a cross which was met by the head of Stephenson, who doubled the hosts’ lead.

The third and final goal of the game came when Martyn Howley was felled in the box and substitute Jamie Treanor fired home the spot kick to send Walshaw into the quarter-final to face fellow MPL side Rochdale Sacred Heart.