Home games have recently been as infrequent as Christmas Day for Thornton. But it was Thornton who handed out the gifts on this occasion; the home side never recovering from conceding 3 goals inside the first 15 minutes and then failing to convert a myriad of chances that would have delivered an unlikely victory.

Lostock’s opener came just seconds after Thornton had squandered the first of a plethora of goal-scoring opportunities; Mikey McAlpine causing havoc on the left before delivering a cross which evaded all but the Lostock left back who promptly knocked a long ball down the line leaving a team mate to cut inside and send a thunderous shot into the top corner of the net.

Thornton rallied and within moments McAlpine combined with John Beavers and Brett Dawson before providing a classy finish to equalise.

The reprieve was short-lived, Lostock retaking the lead with a far post header from a free kick.

On the quarter hour mark, the visitors increased their lead when the Thornton defence failed to deal decisively with a long ball so allowing a Lostock forward to capitalise with relish.

There was similar defensive confusion when Lostock notched their 4th after half time but from then on it was all Thornton as, inspired by McAlpine and the excellent Harry Roe, they created a host of mouth-watering chances.

Dawson had been denied by the woodwork in the first stanza and he suffered further frustration when a combination of good goalkeeping and ill fortune saw him thwarted twice.

Substitute Chris Thomas was similarly profligate, failing to convert a series of chances that fell his way, although credit to the youngster for instinctively finding those positions.

Man of the match McAlpine won a late penalty, Dawson ending 2014 with his 13th strike of the campaign.

Thornton Cleveleys Football Club

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