AMBLESIDE United recovered third spot in Division One of the West Lancashire Football League as they thumped mid-table Bac/Ee Preston 6-1.

But the game started poorly for the Cumbrians as they went 1-0 down after just five minutes, John Greenwood scoring from the penalty spot after a foul by Jamie Hastings.

But it was all one-way traffic from then on as Simon Rawnsley equalised for Ambleside after half an hour following great work by Maison McGeechan on the right hand side.

Hastings and McGeechan got themselves on the scoresheet just before half time to give Ambleside a two goal cushion going into the interval.

The second half continued where the first half ended as Zach Clark added the fourth in the 50th minute before Martin Grundy made it 5-1 with 65 minutes on the clock.

A Shaun Gardner header five minutes later sealed an emphatic victory for Ambleside as they kept within four points of second-placed Wyre Villa, who won 4-1 at home to Furness Rovers.

In Division Two Kendal County and Askam United were just as clinical as they both secured comfortable 5-1 victories against Furness Cavaliers and Ladybridge respectively.

County dominated most of their game and took a deserved lead after 30 minutes through Jez Walsh, who was following up a blocked Joe Baker shot.

Sloppy defence allowed the hosts to equalise soon after through Dells but straight from kickoff County went down the other end and Dan Ferguson scored from a near post flick.

County then stepped up a gear and got a deserved third goal from Kris Clough’s 40 yard lob after the goalkeeper failed to clear.

County went on to grab two late goals with an own goal after Nick Hayton’s driving run, and Kev Pickering sealed the victory in the 90th minute.

Callum Raynor bagged a brace for Askam in their 5-1 win over Ladybridge.

Kevin Edwards, Kyle Jefferson and Matthew France got the other goals for United, while Ladybridge scored through Ian Smalley.

Askam moved up to second just two points behind Hurst Green thanks to their success, while Kendal County remain sixth but are now only three points off the promotion places.