NELSON gave their chances of finishing in the top four of the North West Counties League Premier Division a shot in the arm as they hit St Helens Town for six.

There was only one goal in the first half, with Kieran Walmsley tucking away a 17th minute penalty for the Admirals.

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But once Lydon Hodgkiss doubled the visitors’ advantage 10 minutes into the second half the floodgates opened.

Peter Wright made it 3-0 on 67 minutes, followed by a flurry of four goals in the final five minutes.

Matthew O’Neill scored the first of them, then Adam Nuttall before Jonny Hession made it six.

There was still time for Frazer Findlay to net a late consolation for the home side, who remain in relegation trouble.

The win lifts Nelson to seventh, two points and two places clear of neighbours Colne, who were also free scoring in a 5-0 thrashing of West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Steve Cunningham’s side were given a helping hand by their visitors who scored two own goals in the opening 20 minutes to gift Colne a 2-0 lead.

Two minutes before the break, Colne added a third when an end-to-end passing move saw Chris Anderson release Spencer Jordan into the penalty area and his cross was knocked home by Chris Bailey.

West Didsbury came out for the second half determined to make a fight of it and Scott Jones saw his 20 yard shot hit the underside of the Colne crossbar before being cleared from the goalmouth by Alex Coleman.

But the Reds continued to look for further goals and Danny Boyle made it 4-0 after 65 minutes when he swept the ball home from Adam Stockdale’s low cross.

West Didsbury pushed forward but found the Colne defence in great form and the Reds sealed the win with a fifth goal on 86 minutes when Boyle cut in from the left wing and beat the keeper with a confident finish.