SKIPPER Rich Lowry was in inspired form in the Neston South Wirral goal, as they rounded off their season with a hard fought 2-1 victory at struggling Deeside.

Neston started the game knowing that relegation was still a slim mathematical possibility, but they rarely managed to get out of first gear in a torrid opening.

In a performance that their 7th XI would be ashamed of, Neston were guilty of giving away cheap possession repeatedly and Lowry was called upon to race out of his goal on several occasions to thwart the marauding Hedley Pollard.

From almost their first meaningful attack, Neston opened up the Deeside defence with ease and from the resultant penalty corner, Mark Donnelly calmly flicked the visitors into the lead.

Moments later Lawrence McNeight made it 2-0, as he finished after good work from Dor Proudfoot.

After the interval, Neston continued to hand the initiative to their hosts, but they could find no way past Lowry.

At the other end, when Neston could string more than a couple of passes together they carved out a number of clear cut chances, although McNeight and Matt Siggins would probably rather forget a couple of their efforts.

With ten minutes to go and an unlikely clean sheet looming for Neston, Deeside finally got the goal their efforts deserved.

In the closing stages both teams had further opportunities, but remarkably the score line remained unchanged.

Victory secures Neston's North League status for another year, and the debut performance of 15 year old Joel Hennel-Neally bodes well for the future.

Elsewhere, Neston's ladies first team are on the verge of the Cheshire League title after they picked up a 3-2 win at second placed Bowdon.