The York Road pitch was understandably wet given the week's heavy rain but it played well throughout for this Premier Division clash.

Storeys were soon on the attack against a much-changed Kirkby Lonsdale side, who were behind within minutes.

The breakthrough came in the 12th minute following good work down the right when a mishit shot by Gareth Turner looped over the Kirkby keeper and just under the bar.

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The second goal followed only three minutes later and again it came down the right as a corner was driven to the far post for skipper Chris Park to head home powerfully.

Kirkby could have been behind by more than just two goals by then but they rallied and were soon back in the game at 2-1.

Their strikers worked well all game and one of them, Nathan Jackson burst through to beat the advancing Nuno Rosario with a delicate chip from just inside the area.

That was the start of a Kirkby Lonsdale fight back, but unfortunately for them they found Bob Eccles and his defensive counterparts in top form.

Storeys attacked at every opportunity with Johnny Byers going close with a 35-yard shot after a good run through the middle.

The second half started with Kirkby Lonsdale in the ascendancy looking to make the breakthrough and they went close on several occasions with Rosario in the Storeys goal having to be alert.

The battle for midfield supremacy between Storeys' Gary McGonnell and the dimunitive Ryan Kendal was keenly fought with neither getting on top.

Storeys' Steve Miller almost put his side into a 3-1 lead when his scooped shot was heading for the net, but the excellent young second team keeper Chris Howsley kept the ball out.

Storeys were not to be denied and in the 82nd minute following good work by young Liam Jeffrey, substitute Adam Lund fired in an unstoppable shot to make it 3-1.

To rub salt into the Kirkby wounds, 16-year-old Luke Atkinson, who played well after coming on, fired in a 20-yard shot which took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

* WITH Saturday's virtually total washout and the previous Wednesday's fixtures being cut to just three games - all of which were abandoned - there have now been 70 cancellations out of 161 fixtures.