A ROUSING half-time team talk by Simon Whaley inspired Eagley to one of the upsets of the weekend as they beat second-placed Blackpool Wren Rovers 3-2.

The ex-Preston North End, Bury and Norwich City player started for the Eagles and has vowed his side now must turn Dunscar Bridge into a fortress for their remaining two home games against Lostock St Gerards and Vickerstown this month.

He said: “It was a fantastic result and I want more of the same in the next two matches.

“We should have the advantage being at home and the other teams should not have an easy ride.

“Lostock St Gerards are in 10th place which is three points above us.

“I said at the start of the season it was my target to keep us up and the result gives us belief.

“So far this season we have beat the leaders Charnock Richard and second-placed Blackpool Wren Rovers and that is a boost.”

Luck was not on Eagley’s side as they conceded a goal just before the break.

The hosts put a lot of pressure on Wren Rovers and had a shot cleared off the line before the visitors doubled their lead.

Whaley pulled a goal back from the penalty spot and then a brace of goals by Ashley Watson handed Eagley the win.

Eagley are in 13th position in the relegation zone along with Hesketh Bank and Thornton Cleveleys.

Whaley added: “We have got a settled squad of 18 players and things are starting to look good.

“Training has been great, they are playing with hunger and don’t want to lose the ball.

“We played Wren Rovers in the cup the previous week and that gave us an idea of how they would be set up and we prepared for it.

“When we went 1-0 down at the break I told them to go out and ensure they had no regrets at the final whistle.

“They set the standard on Saturday and we have to keep it up.

“The other teams below us did not play at the weekend but I would prefer to have the points in the bag rather than needing to win them.”

Elsewhere, in Division One, Turton slipped up in the promotion race after losing 3-2 against fellow contenders Poulton.

Poulton took the lead before being reduced to 10 men and Neil Johnson’s men hunted for an equaliser but hit the post.

Instead Poulton doubled their advantage which was soon cut with an own goal.

In the second half, Turton were caught out on the counter-attack and there was controversy with a goal which the hosts thought was offside. Damien Keegan scored to make it 3-2 but Turton could not get a goal to earn a point.

Johnson said: “It was a very disappointing result with Burscough getting beat, a point would have been fine but now its going to be very hard to go up.

“It’s so frustrating because we have thrown too many points away over the last two months. We have got to be more clinical at both ends of the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Tempest boss Gary Westhead was frustrated as his side had to settle for a point, drawing 2-2 with Hawcoat Park, They found themselves behind at the break but Gaz Gemmill levelled the scores.

Tempest conceded a penalty then Danny Ashcroft scored from the spot.

Westhead said: “We played well but keep giving soft goals away.

“It is frustrating because we were best team but we give poor goals away all the time.”

Philip Crowe was on target for Bolton County but he could not stop his side losing 3-1 to Dalton.