CHURWELL LIONS got a big tonic in a faltering season with a 2-1 victory at Brighouse in the Under 18 Division II.

A strong dose of afternoon sunshine did just enough to leave Brighouse’s Hove Edge pitch in playable condition, but it was the visitors who took the points.

Churwell took charge straight from kick off but, despite spending most of the first 30 minutes camped in the opposition half of the pitch, Brighouse keeper Callum Curran was barely troubled as Andy Day, Kris Gorringe, Jonathan Lott and Gareth Widdop dealt with everything the Lions could throw at them.

And when Curran was eventually called into serious action, the keeper proved equal to the task with a superb double save at the feet of Ben Barstow.

Churwell’s frustration at their inability to unlock the home defence began to show when Gorringe and Ian Thompson tried testing the keeper with a couple of long-range shots but, again, Curran was equal to the challenge.

At the other end Brighouse’s first attack of any real danger arrived in the 25th minute but Ashley Thompson’s shot across goal flew just wide of the left upright.

The stalemate was finally broken five minutes before half time when, for once and despite numerous chances, the Brighouse defence failed to clear a corner allowing Thompson time to turn and fire a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Brighouse started the second half determined to turn the game around and their efforts were rewarded almost immediately when a sloppy back pass left Jack Bennett under pressure and the Lions’ keeper sliced his clearance straight into the path of Tom Story, who rolled the ball into an empty net.

With Churwell still reeling from the setback, the home side were enjoying their best spell of the game and might easily have taken the lead when Ashley Thompson ended a terrific run on the right by firing in a cross to the far post – but Andy Walker’s volley flew high over the bar.

The introduction of Liam O’Leary restored the advantage in Churwell’s favour as the substitute found room on the left to set up a series of raids on the Brighouse goal.

But it was from the right that the Lions scored what proved to be the winning goal. Jake Brown’s cross found an unmarked Daniel Stead at the far post and he volleyed into the roof of the net from six yards.

Brighouse mustered a last attempt to draw level again but, by now, Matty Dowse, Ryan Dowse, Brown and Stead were in control and the Lions were happy to take the three points, which propel them four places up the league.