Hurst keeps battling Freck in check

They secured a vital 4-3 win over Division One bottom side Slyne with Hest on Saturday, a result which puts them in 10th, seven points clear of the drop zone with a game or two in hand over the teams most at risk of relegation.

However, they had a nightmare start: Slyne were 2-0 up after five minutes thanks to goals from Jakub Kowalik and Ryan Clark.

Tayler Royle’s double brought things level with half an hour gone, but Ryan Hollings reclaimed Slyne’s advantage.

James Jermson made it three-all midway through the half before Jack Williams scored the winner on 83 minutes.

“It was two errors for early goals that are completely avoidable,” said Hurst on his side’s start to the game.

"We did it against Kendal County the other week, we conceded two goals in the first two or three minutes.

“It was nice to see the comeback because I don't think our lads have in the past believed they can come back or it's more of a ‘here we go again’ kind of thing.

“I didn't feel that Slyne were on top to score the goals early doors, it was a couple of counters with quick lads running in behind and individual errors.

“When we got the ball forward and we were playing in their final third, we did well.

“A couple of weeks ago when we played Crooklands Casuals we won the second half 2-0 and Jack who's my captain and assistant manager, he just said all you have to do lads is win the second half 2-0, luckily we were able to.

“It was an unbelievable finish from Jack to get the winner and there was a few celebrations in the corner!”

Despite their solid league position, Hurst - now in his third stint with the club - isn’t getting carried away.

“It’s a bit of an old adage in that the season's not over until it's over, but I've seen things happen in football.

“The deadline for signing new players is coming up so you never know who the teams lower than us are going to end up picking up before then.

“I'm not counting any chickens before they’ve hatched, I’m not saying we've definitely stayed up yet, we'll do that after we play the 28 games and everyone else has played the 28 games. We've got some tough games left.”

Hurst says he and the club are wanting to build for the future so that past club struggles aren’t repeated.

“When I agreed to come back as manager two years ago, I said we really need to try and get the reserve team going again.

“That's something which we're trying to look at, whether it's financially viable, whether we've got enough players for it.

“In and around the club we've got a Freckleton under 23s at the moment and they’re doing well, but they're playing Sunday League and quite a lot of their lads work Saturdays.

“The path to the first team maybe isn’t the most ideal one but Taylor who scored the two goals this weekend came from that setup so it’s nice to have him coming through, but we’d like to get more.

“When I first came in [after Freckleton’s promotion from Division Two in 2024], many of the players left to Astley & Buckshaw so I was essentially taking the reserves in as the first team last season.

“Teams that get promoted from Division Two tend to do well in Division One but the last couple of years have been tough so the thing going forward is stability.

“I just want to make sure that there's a team for the kids who are playing under six, under seven football, in 10, 12 years' time when they're able to play adult football.

“As well as managing the first team, that's basically what I see my job as.

“I remember when Freckleton was a massive team to go and play for. It was a real coup to be able to play for them.

“So it's about keeping us steady, keeping us stable, doing things the right way as best we can, getting younger, more local lads to come and play for us.”

Next Sunday (29th March), Freckleton will host the Paul Fiddler Memorial Trophy, in memory of the former Freckleton and Lytham Town coach who tragically died in December 2024.

There will be two games taking place at 11am and 2pm involving Atletico Warton, Dave’s Gold Stars, Fidds Select FC and North West Community Stars.

Entry is £5 for adults and free for children, with all money going to charities chosen by Paul’s family.

Lytham Town edged past second from bottom Crooklands Casuals 4-3 in another thriller.

Lee Irving gave Crooklands the upper hand early on but Lytham were ahead at the break courtesy of quick fire goals from Noah Fluss and Billy Bould as half time approached.

Lachlan Best extended Lytham’s lead four minutes after the restart but not long after, the margin was reduced to one goal by Nathan Shaw’s penalty kick.

Rory Kelly scored Lytham’s fourth 83 minutes in but Crooklands kept pushing and made the final few minutes very interesting when Ryan Rodgers got their third.

Kendal United saw off Croston Sports 4-0 and Chipping’s Harris Bailey was their hat trick hero in a 3-0 win over Askam United, while Ulverston Rangers and Carnforth Rangers drew 2-2.

In the Premier Division, Hurst Green earned a 4-1 win over Cleator Moor Celtic, with goals coming from Jack Burgess, James Whitworth,Sam Chatburn and Scott Craven; Jamie Martin scored Cleator’s goal.

The story of Millom’s 2-1 win at Astley & Buckshaw was told in four second half minutes, as Harry Cowley and Ben MacDonald turned the game on its head after Samir Sobeih’s opener.

Poulton won 3-1 at Coppull United thanks to goals from Tyler Hallan, Ben Liptrott and Dan Smith.

Division Two leaders Fulwood Amateurs Reserves brushed Thornton Cleveleys Reserves aside in a 6-0 win with six different scorers getting in on the goal action: Joe Slinger, Hugo Strand, Wes Enoma, Jacob Lucas, Theo Ball and Will Pitt.

Stoneclough bagged a 2-1 win at Euxton Villa Reserves: Aaqil Campbell’s opener was cancelled out by Tom Fletcher but the visitors regained the lead late on with a goal from Addison Lomax-Small.

Two big games at the bottom of the table saw Caton United beat Hawcoat Park 4-0 and Garstang Reserves see off Galgate 3-1.

Declan Ashhurst scored three as Appley Bridge won 4-2 at Walney Island, while a top five clash saw Langho and Storeys draw 1-1 and Dalton United came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Bamber Bridge Reserves.

Hesketh Bank Reserves won 1-0 at Carnforth Rangers Reserves in Saturday’s only Reserve Division One game.

In Reserve Division Two, Lytham Reserves comprehensively beat Milnthorpe Reserves 6-0, Pause Reserves edged past Croston Reserves 2-1 and Storeys Reserves picked up a decent point in a 3-3 draw with Thornton Cleveleys A.

Tempest United were made to work hard for their Richardson Cup semi-final spot after being put through the first-half wringer by Division One promotion hopefuls Kendal County.

The home side took the game to Ross McNair’s rattled visitors in a first 30 minutes where they pressed and harassed their back four into numerous hurried clearances.

Matty Casson forced Charlie Fletcher into a smart save from a dipping 20-yard volley before hard-working midfielder Kris Worsley fired over when the ball fell to him at close range.

It was to prove costly as Tempest went ahead against the run of play on 34 minutes – Elliot Hailwood firing a brilliant left-foot free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards.

McNair read the riot act at half-time and within two minutes of the restart Tempest had doubled their lead, Connor Griffiths slamming home after good work on the left by Lucas Robinson.

Fletcher had to be alert to tip Cammy Khan’s effort over the bar as Richard Close’s young side tried in vain to get back in the tie.

As they pushed forward, they left gaps at the back and Tom Booth exploited it to maximum effect, striding forwards before stroking home past the outstretched hand of Joe Fiddler to seal a 3-0 win.

Elsewhere in the final eight of the cup, Premier Division leaders Eagley and Division One top side Hesketh Bank both secured 5-0 wins over Prem outfits in Haslingden St Mary’s and Burscough Richmond respectively, while Blackpool Wren Rovers were 1-0 home victors against Lostock St Gerards.

CMB are through to the semi finals of the Presidents Cup after a 4-0 win over Whitehaven.

In the quarter finals of the Stewart Rowe Memorial Cup, Lostock St Gerards Reserves, Poulton Reserves, Rossendale Reserves and Hurst Green Reserves secured their place in the final four, while Fulwood Amateurs A, Chipping Reserves, Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves and Stoneclough Reserves bowed out.

Mill Hill’s fantastic Lancashire Amateur Shield run came to an end with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Daten of the Cheshire League.