SATURDAY saw Eagle Sports play their first game of 2022 – and they marked the occasion in style.

Indeed their game against Winstanley Warriors was their first competitive action since November 29, but the way in which they ruthlessly dispatched their visitors showed very few signs of ring rust.

Eagle were 7-0 victors at Thornton Road, with six of their goals coming in the second half, as they jumped to eighth in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division table.

Luke Sutton’s smart finish had given them a half-time lead and he went on to complete a hat-trick, with substitute Josh Williams scoring twice.

Tom Griffiths and Nathan Williams were also on the scoresheet to leave co-managers Danny Nixon and Richard Chinn delighted with the performance.

“It was a very good afternoon's work for us, considering we haven't played competitively since the end of November,” Nixon said.

“We rode our luck a couple of times defensively in the first half but we also had chances of our own which we should be taking.

“In the second half, we were completely dominant and the pleasing aspect is that we were ruthless, which is something we have lacked at times in games and has bitten us once or twice already this season.”

Chinn added: “I can’t ask for any more from the lads – the work rate, commitment and aggression was great, alongside some real good quality at times on a typical winter pitch.

“We need to now get into a run of games and keep the performances up if we want to push on towards the higher end of the league table.”

Elsewhere, Greenalls PSO ended a seven-match winless run in the league by beating Congleton Town Reserves 2-1 at Tetley Walkers.

Greens’ goals came from Ben McWilliams and Przemek Staniszewski as they picked up their first Premier Division win since September.

Daten put up a tremendous fight against league leaders FC St Helens, eventually going down 4-3 thanks to a late winner from the hosts.

Joe Barker, Adam Cahillane and Oliver Atherton were on the scoresheet for the Atoms.

In League One, Moore United picked up just their second league win of the season as Connor Anderson’s goal earned them a 1-0 victory at Newton Athletic.