LIVERSEDGE remain second in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division after taking all three points from the derby clash at Albion Sports in a thrilling 5-3 win.

Albion’s Lions came from a goal down three times but Sedge were the stronger side and they finally battered the opposition into submission. The visitors’ spearhead Joe Walton started and finished the scoring.

Sedge boss Jonathan Rimmington was satisfied with the performance and said: “The only disappointment was that we gave three goals away really.

“We should have had a good lead at the interval but they got one back right on the stroke of half-time. But we said at the break we would get more goals in the second half so all we needed was to tighten up and not give any chances.

“Albion huffed and puffed a bit but they didn’t have us under any pressure for long spells. They were never that much of a threat.

"John (Francis, Albion manager) has got them organised and playing nice football but even after that first half I expected us to win.

“Their two first-half goals were from openings that we should have stopped. They were both well taken by Lamin (Jannah) but that’s what he can do. Lamin was with us a few years back and he is a very good player – he will always get goals.”

The visitors got off to the best possible start as Walton netted inside 40 seconds, but a counter-attack from a Sedge corner in the 19th minute led to a foul and, as the free-kick dropped in the area, Janneh lashed home his first.

An unfortunate own goal ten minutes before half-time saw Sedge retake the lead. An aerial dual between Elliot Holmes and the visitors’ skipper Tom Jackson led to the ball looping over Albion keeper Matt Smith.

Janneh had drilled in a second low shot in first-half stoppage time but Oliver Fearon struck on the hour mark to put Sedge back in front. The lead lasted just four minutes as Joe Thornton pounced on a loose ball in the area to net the Lions’ third.

Rimmington’s side still kept coming and Jake Thompson edged them back in front before Walton wrapped up the scoring four minutes from time.

Francis knew that his side had been beaten by the better side. He said: “It’s disappointing to score three at home and come out with nothing but that shows the inexperience of our players.

“We try to play football and we put the effort in, but I think that sometimes we have a soft underbelly and that’s what we are working on.

"Liversedge are a good side. They have a lot of experience in their ranks and are a big, physical side who will cause problems for a lot of teams.

“I don’t know what their budget is but I’m guessing that it’s a lot bigger than ours and that’s the type of player you can bring in. We have work to do.”