TURTON manager Neil Hart believes his Division One title chasers threw down a marker for their league campaign after winning 4-2 at Premier Division leaders Coppull United in the Lancashire Amateur Shield.

They booked their quarter-final spot the hard way, however, after centre-half Matt Warburton was sent off on the stroke of half time for fighting.

But a two goals from Ally Dickson and one each from Dylan Winstanley and Danny Locke put them 4-0 up before the home side pulled two back in a late rally.

"I am absolutely delighted with the team's performance," said Hart.

"We said to the lads before the game that this was an opportunity to set down a marker and to see how far we have progressed as a team against a very strong Coppull outfit.

"Anyone watching would not be able to say that we didn't deserve the victory."

Both sides had chances before Turton took the lead on 30 minutes, Dickson poking the ball home after a goal mouth scramble following a corner.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Dickson scuffed in a shot at the far post following a corner.

And the clearly rattled home side went further behind a minute later when Winstanley stormed into the box to convert a cross from the right wing following a flowing move.

Coppull were handed a potential lifetime just before half time when Warburton was dismissed following an altercation with a Coppull player.

Turton sat back and soaked up pressure at the start of the second half before hitting Coppull on the break on 50 minutes.

Dickson chased down a long ball and fired in a shot from 25 yards that the home keeper did well to save but the ball broke to Locke who showed great composure as he side stepped the Coppull defender and passed the ball into the net.

Coppull pulled a goal back with a crisp shot from their left winger and added a second from the penalty spot, but Turton hung on for the final 15 minutes to secure victory.

Hart added: "I am obviously disappointed with the sending off. Warby knows he was in the wrong and it was completely out of character although he was provoked.

"One of the most satisfying aspects of the game was the togetherness of the lads. They worked so hard for each other and deserve all the plaudits for a great team performance."

Tempest United also won through to the last eight of the Shield with an equally impressive 4-1 victory at Premier Division side Vickerstown, following goals from Ste Barlow, Liam Stewert, Phil Howard and Ash Farlow.

"We've won the last 10 games and are 12 unbeaten so we are on a fantastic run at the moment," said Ross McNair, manager of the Tempest, who are second in Division One.

"We are really playing well and Saturday was another great performance.

"Vickerstown thought they could bully us but we were just too good for them, physically and with the ball."

The area's other three sides left in the competition bowed out.

Division One side Ladybridge put up a fantastic fight at Premier Division high-flyers Charnock Richard before going down 5-3, with Sam Parkinson scoring a double and Mike McGinlay getting the other for the visitors.

Last year's finalists CMB were edged out 2-1 at Hurst Green, Paul Hallows equalising for them in the first half before injuries took their toll on a depleted side in the second.

And Bolton County lost 4-1 at Poulton.

In the league, Premier Division Eagley lost 2-1 at Crooklands Casuals. They took the lead through player/manager Simon Whaley on 29 minutes but the home side stole the points with two goals inside the final 20 minutes.

Stoneclough are third in Division Two after second-half goals from Ryan Hargreaves and Linford Stewart helped them see off Swarthmoor Social 2-1.