WILMSLOW Hockey Club men’s team smashed eight goals past Lytham as they continued with their title push.

Ben James’ rocket-fuelled screamer was the pick of the bunch, while Andy Hunt fired in a hat-trick as table-topping Wilmslow moved 10 points clear in North Hockey Men’s League Division Two West.

Mark Lumb, Matt Westbrook, Steve Edmonds and Pete Hallinan also got their names on the score sheet at Oakwood Farm.

Good work from Hallinan in the D led to an easy first for Hunt, but poor marking in the defensive D at the other end led to an equaliser from a short corner.

Lumb found space to apply a smart finish at the end of a flowing move to edge the hosts ahead for half time, when coach Rob Turner gave a rousing speech to his troops.

Wilmslow started the second period in a controlling fashion, with dominance in midfield and at the back enabling more attacking freedom to cut through Lytham.

Lumb selflessly squared the ball for Hunt to tap in, Westbrook struck shortly after with a trademark drag flick low past the helpless Lytham goalkeeper from a penalty corner.

Edmonds wriggled through the Lytham defence and the ball broke kindly for James, who on a rare foray forward managed to keep his composure to rocket the ball into the roof of the net for 5-1.

Hunt completed his hat-trick after great work from Chris Stott, Edmonds added his name to the score sheet with a smart back foot shot across the goalkeeper into the corner after a strong run from Sam Dawson.

Top scorer Hallinan completed the rout with a composed finish into the top corner after a sharp counter attack.

The men’s second team produced one of their best away performances of the season to see off a strong Bramhall side 5-2 in a top of the table clash.

They got off to a shaky start, finding themselves 2-0 down in the opening five minutes, but after a tactical switch that saw Iain Campbell drop back into defence, Wilmslow showed their character as they mounted a stirring comeback.

Ric Pheiffer halved the deficit from a short corner before levelling matters with an angled shot that squirmed under the keeper.

Paul Hallam then capped a fine performance with a well-taken finish under the advancing keeper, before James Bell’s shot was illegally blocked on the line, presenting Pheiffer with the chance to complete a first-half hat-trick from the penalty spot.

After the break the game was much tighter, the only goal coming from Matt Bonner after a well-executed short corner routine.

Elsewhere the men’s third team beat Triton 3-1, but the men’s fourths were unlucky to lose 5-4 to Sandbach.

The women's first team drew 1-1 with Didsbury, while the seconds displayed an outstanding performance against Bowdon to win 8-0 and go 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Jen Nurmi scored five goals, and Grace Kerner, Jacinta Kynaston and Jen Middleton-Egan added one each.

The thirds showed great determination to draw 2-2 with Whitchurch, with goals from Hannah Clare and Becki Eastwood, while the women's fourths were outstanding in defeating beating Neston 13-2.