CLEETHORPES Town warmed up for next week’s title showdown with Skegness United by easing past Louth Town Reserves with a 5-1 victory at Park Avenue on Saturday.

Phil Cawley scored twice for Andy Liddle’s side while Alex Flett, Luke Mascall and Daniel Barrett each grabbed a goal apiece.

With Skegness United edging a five-goal thriller against Hykeham Town at Wainfleet Road, they remain within touching distance of the Owls – meaning next weekend’s meeting between the two sides will be pivotal in deciding the destination of the Sills & Betteridge Lincolnshire League trophy.

There were three changes to the starting line-up which thrashed Heckington United a week earlier. Matthew Coleman, Alan Lamb and Luke Todd missed out and were replaced by Luke Neul, Micky Steer and Renzie Lobendhan.

Cleethorpes had scored 24 goals in their last five games prior to Saturday’s match and continued that excellent goalscoring form within five minutes when Cawley thumped in a bullet header from a Daniel Barrett corner.

Barrett himself went close just after, seeing his free kick tipped onto the bar by James Roberts in the Louth goal.

Despite that save, Roberts nearly gifted Cleethorpes a second moments later after a bad mistake let in Mascall but the speedy forward was hindered by a tight angle.

The game effectively ended as a contest on the half hour mark. A Mascall goalbound effort was parried away on the line by Louth defender Gary Pawson.

He was given his marching orders before Flett stepped up to confidently find the net from the penalty spot.

Louth were visibly deflated when the half-time whistle came, fully aware of the monumental task they faced if they were to grasp anything from the game.

Any feint doubts over where the points would be heading were ended just before the hour mark when Mascall tapped in his 21st league goal of the season to make him the club’s joint top scorer alongside Ricky Belding.

Jonathan Oglesby and Renzie Lobendhan both struck the woodwork before Barrett scored with a low, vicious drive after 67 minutes to give the visitors a four-goal lead.

And Phil Cawley, back in central defence after starting as a striker against Heckington, grabbed his second of the day, and his fifth in two matches, with thirteen minutes still to play.

Ed Cope grabbed a stunning consolation for the hosts, bending in an effort from 25 yards out, but it had no bearing on the outcome of the game as the Owls ran out 5-1 winners.

Skegness United visit the Linden Homes Club next Saturday in what is a massive game for both teams. The club would like to encourage as many people to attend as possible. Kick-off is at 3pm.