AFC Liverpool moved one step closer to safety with a comprehensive win over rivals Litherland REMYCA.
Jesse Dowling was the pick of the goalscorers with a goal in either half as Luke Stephens, Rhys Hardacre and Anthony Lyons found the back of the net to secure the three points.
Chris Anderson’s side extended their unbeaten run to five with the win moving them into 13th whilst the REMY remain rooted to the foot of the table.
The visitors opened the scoring inside the opening quarter after Dowling’s teasing delivery forced REMYCA goalkeeper Ryan Jones to keep out the delivery only for the save to deflect off of his own defender into Stephens’ path who tapped into the empty net.
In a game of few chances for the hosts in their makeshift home of Vesty Road, their best chances came through Karl Clair in the first half as the tricky attacker firstly stung the palms of Jack McGovern before he unleashed a magnificent outside-of-the-boot right-footed strike only to be denied by the bar.
On the half-hour mark, McGovern sprung into life to deny Jamie Hay who rose highest with the Non-League Reds’ goalkeeper tipping round the post.
However, a flurry on the stroke of half-time put the game beyond reasonable doubt as Dowling picked up his first of the match with a superb curling effort.
Shortly after, Hardacre thumped home after Lyons saw his effort partially cleared off the line by the hosts, leaving the visitors number seven no option but to fire into the roof of the net.
READ MORE: AFC Liverpool eye ‘must-win’ Litherland REMYCA clash after Lower Breck draw
In the brisk Bootle air, the opening stages of the second half saw one side caught cold and it was the side that hadn’t played since the beginning of December.
To Colin McDonald’s sides credit, they continued to look for a consolation goal but as they pushed, the gaps appeared and with the threat on the break, AFC soon found themselves adding to their tally.
The relegation strugglers were at six’s and seven’s as Anderson’s hungry attacking force queued up looking to have a bite of the action. Lyons – who was brilliantly denied in the build-up to the third – got his second in as many matches as he fired home beating Jones who could only get his fingertips to it as it curled into the corner to make it four.
Dowling added his second after springing the offside trap, he rounded the REMY shot-stopper, despite the former-Bootle goalkeeper getting a hand to it, he only could help Dowling on his way to his brace as he waltzed in the fifth and final goal of the night.
But the relentlessness didn’t stop there, the prolific Kyle Schorah and substitute Olly Sanderson could only find the wrong side of the post with the AFC top goalscorer, Schorah, blazing over in what was the final act of a one-sided night.
REMYCA remain at bottom of the North West Counties Premier Division 14 points adrift whilst the victors move up to 13th with a 12 point cushion.
Match Info
Litherland REMYCA 0-5 AFC Liverpool
Goalscorers: 12′ Luke Stephens, 36′, 62′ Jesse Dowling, 45′ Rhys Hardacre, 54′ Anthony Lyons.
Bookings: N/A.
HT/FT Score: 0-3/0-5.
