Squires Gate still unbeaten in pre-season after 6-1 win over Anchorsholme

Gate had drawn both previous friendlies at their Brian Addison Stadium, against Poulton and Garstang, and Ryan Riley soon forced the Anchorsholme keeper into a save with a testing free-kick.

The resulting corner almost produced a freakish goal when the keeper punched the ball against the head of Gate forward Elliot Pond, but a goal-line clearance kept the hosts out.

Waves of pressure resulted in the breakthrough on 10 minutes, when centre-half Cameron Gourley headed powerfully home at the near post from Riley’s inswinging corner.

Joe Johanson could have made it two in a minute from the influential Riley’s cut-back but fired over from the edge of the box.

Pond and Jamie Ramwell were both denied by the keeper and Anchorsholme equalised on the half-hour when a corner swung straight into the net.

Gate were back in front three minutes later, when Ramwell met Riley’s excellent cross from the right to head home.

Riley scored the third himself five minutes later in fine style, meeting Ramwell’s crossfield ball on the edge of the box and volleying into the bottom corner.

Leading 3-1 at half-time, Gate looked like increasing their lead but substitute Dean Ing was denied by the keeper and Pond fired over with the goal gaping.

Ing had further chances but made no mistake on 65 minutes, heading home when James Boyd whipped in a corner.

High pressing enabled Pond to add a fifth on 76 minutes, shooting through a crowd of players .

The keeper denied him a second after a driving run, and it was Boyd who completed the scoring with a low shot from Ing’s pass. There was still time for a post to deny Boyd his second in this comfortable victory.