'Baby' steps as point gained for battling Caton

The Division Two side drew 4-4 with Garstang Reserves, a result that sees them move a place higher and into 13th: Tommy Varey opened the scoring before Edward Harrison bagged a hat trick.

As for Garstang Res, now two places below Caton, Liam Painter and Dan Pye both scored twice.

“We were absolutely brilliant for 95 minutes,” said Walker (pictured above).

“We were 2-0 up after 20 minutes and kind of cruising, we could have scored more and put our foot on the gas a bit more but that comes with experience.

“We conceded in the 95th minute to make it 4-4 and that was the first time we hadn’t been in front since kick off, so the initial reaction was frustration on everyone’s part because we deserved three points yesterday.

“We have to look at it as a point gained and the fact it’s moved us up a place.

“I’m really pleased for Ed and Tommy because they haven’t scored for a couple of games, so their goals will be massive for us and for them.”

The key word for Caton this season is ‘stability’, as they continue to navigate the West Lancs League in their second season.

Walker, who has been with Caton for seven years, took charge of the first team earlier this season and is overseeing a youthful yet talented squad.

“We’re still a baby in the West Lancs so it’s really about solidifying our position with the long term vision of moving up through the leagues.

“We’re bringing so many young lads through at the moment; the average age of our 16-man squads have been less than 20, and a lot of the time our most experienced player on the pitch is 23.

“That’s really exciting for the future but it can bring its challenges at the present time as some of the lads have gone straight from playing under 16 football to playing first team, West Lancs football.

“Over the last four weeks, the lads have learnt a lot of lessons already and started to pick up some really good performances and anyone who has watched us would agree.

“The next stage is transferring that to more wins and points on the board.”

The village club are very community-focused, with many off the pitch projects and a home turf that they take huge pride in.

“We work closely with Lune Valley’s youth team, a lot of our 18 and 19-year-olds have come through that setup.

“We work with Kendal Town regularly and we have a yearly friendly and family fun day with them, and we are also doing stuff with Bay Leadership Academy as our community sponsor.

“We have put loads of investment into the pitch; we would argue it’s one of the best in Lancashire.

“The compliments we get about it on a regular basis are ridiculous and the players sometimes say ‘we don’t appreciate how good we have it at home’, even when we go to some other really good grounds.

“The work that has gone on off the pitch has been brilliant and we are still looking to invest in other bits and pieces around the club, attracting more players and hopefully reintroducing the reserve team again once we get the right numbers.”

It wasn’t just at the Riverside where the goals were flying in, there were a whopping 157 across all West Lancs games on Saturday, and none more so than in the rest of the Division Two action.

The league’s highest-scoring team - by quite some distance- Fulwood Amateurs Reserves, enjoyed another comprehensive victory, as they defeated Hawcoat Park 9-0; they have now scored 74 goals in 13 games - 5.7 per game on average.

Charnock Richard made it three home wins in a row with a 7-1 win over Walney Island; Tom Cardwell scored the first three of the afternoon before his side ran riot in the final 25 minutes.

One of if not the most dramatic stories of the afternoon came at Mill Hill, who completed a stunning comeback as they went from trailing 3-0 to scoring a last minute winner over Appley Bridge.

Danny Atkins, Liam Hilton and an own goal gave the visitors a three-goal advantage with half an hour played, but Finley Dewhurst pulled one back with five minutes until half time, before Connor Gilgun and Anthony Harkness levelled things up.

In the fifth minute of added time, Matthew Bulcock scored the all important and winning goal to move his side up to sixth.

Stoneclough remain top of the table after a 2-0 win over Euxton Villa Reserves.

In the Premier Division, top of the table Eagley extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games with a 7-1 win over Whitehaven, as Alistair Dickson scored a hat trick.

There was a nine goal-thriller between Poulton and Cleator Moor Celtic, with the latter running out 5-4 winners, but it was far from straightforward.

Cleator Moor were 4-1 up at one stage but Tyler Hallam and a Raeden Shirran double brought things level, before Josh Palmer regained their lead in the 95th minute, also completing his hat trick.

Two of the top three turned their games around in the final 20 minutes: Haslingden St Mary’s came from 1-0 down to beat Millom 2-1 thanks to Michael White and Lewis Hanley.

Meanwhile, Tempest United moved into third after a 3-2 win at home to Astley & Buckshaw.

Tempest struck first but two goals in as many minutes for the away side threw a spanner in the works midway through the second half. Last season’s champions recovered, though, with Danny Warburton and Tom Booth flipping the game around once more.

In Division One, Carnforth Rangers triumphed 6-0 in a local clash versus Slyne with Hest, three of those goals came courtesy of Cameron Holmes - for whom the phrase ‘in-form’ is an understatement: that’s now 11 goals in his last three games.

Crooklands Casuals produced a five-star display against Turton, Kyle Delves scored a hat trick as they moved off the bottom of the table.

Division leaders Hesketh Bank also had a hat trick hero: Kevin Edgar’s goals helped them to a 4-2 win over Chipping.

They remain five points clear of second placed Ulverston Rangers, who edged out Croston Sports 3-2 in a tight contest.

In Reserve Division One, Haslingden St Mary’s Res remain top after a 2-1 comeback win over Eagley Res and CMB Res saw off Turton Res 4-0.

The top two of Reserve Division Two were forced to settle for a score draw as Hurst Green Res v Thornton Cleveleys A finished 2-2.

In the second round of the Westmorland Senior Cup, Kendal United were 4-1 victors on derby day over Kendal County, and Milnthorpe Corinthians progressed after a 3-0 win versus Penrith Academy.