Mersey Valley kept the pressure on in the Cheshire League Two promotion race with a brilliant performance beating Lymm Rovers last night.

With nothing other than a win needed by both teams it promised to be a great game and it didn’t disappoint the good crowd at Lymm Leisure Centre.

The game roared into life both teams started well but it was the home side who opened the scoring on 10 minutes, Heale headed home unmarked from a corner.

Two more goals from red hot Owen Adams – 19 for the season.

Valley hit back straight away with an identical goal – Riley with the corner, headed home by Owen Adams – his 18th goal of the season.

But Lymm then retook the lead, Roach missed a header and that allowed Quarmby to run through and score.

But again Valley responded – Walsh with a clever ball to break the line and Adams timed his run, took a touch and calmly slotted the ball past Grisdale in the Lymm goal.

The breathless start continued, both sides creating half chances but just before the break it was Lymm who again took the lead. The impressive Heale ran straight though the middle to keep his nerve and beat Phillips.

HT: Lymm Rovers 3 Mersey Valley 2

Valley needed a response and they started the second half on the front foot but Lymm stood firm and on the break looked dangerous.

The visitors had to change the game on just before the hour they replaced the injured Dignan and Woolley with Jordan Downing and Aaron Johnson, changing to 3 at the back.

A brilliant goal from striker Aaron Johnson levelled it up at 3-3

Within minutes the change had worked, Johnson with his first touches picked up the ball on the right, beat his man and fired a brilliant low show past the keeper into the back of the net.

It was all Mersey Valley, Skelton hit the underside of the bar, Riley and Walsh both had good chances blocked and Adams nearly completed another hat-trick but headed wide.

The big moment came on 69 minutes – Evans and Riley combined to set up Howarth down the right hand side and his brilliant cross was turned into the back of his own net by the unlucky Lang to give the visitors the lead for the first time.

Benson was sin-binned for abusing the referee and Valley closed the game out with a solid display to record a vital victory which all but confirms a top three finish for the team.

After the match manager Jon Hudson praised his team for their resilient performance. “It’s a huge win against a team that has been pushing for promotion as well but to do it with such a good performance is even more satisfying, This team has developed to much this season, this is a game last season we would have lost but this group never gives up and we know we can beat teams and out fitness it better than most. I don’ t think we’ve done enough for a top-two finish which will hurt us but if I can keep this group together we all know what we can achieve”.

Valley travel to unbeaten champions St Helens Town on the final day of the season.

FT: Lymm Rovers 3 Mersey Valley 4