Magnanimous Pye buoyant despite defeat

His side lost 4-0 away to Thornton Cleveleys Reserves on Saturday, but there were still positives to take.

Doubles from Jordan Gregory and Billy Cartmell gave the hosts what may have looked like a comfortable win on paper. However, Pye says the result doesn’t tell the full story of the game.

“I think we can safely say it wasn’t a fair reflection of the game,” said Pye.

“Firstly though, I want to put on record my thanks to Thornton.

“They have a great management team and bunch of lads, all the backroom staff and everybody right through to the catering after the game, we were treated really well and the game was played in a great spirit.

“There was no messing about, it was just a good, honest game of football between two teams who played their parts in that.

“I think there were a few decisions that went against us and the result flattered them a bit, but that’s football.

“They were just more clinical than us and we probably gifted them a couple of goals through errors.

“We created some really good chances and a draw probably would have been a reasonable result.

“Vlad [Wiggins] put in a great cross for Dan [Pye] who hit the crossbar, there was another chance where their keeper made a really good save.

“Last week [3-0 win v Hawcoat Park] things went our way, and yesterday they just didn’t.

“It was one of those games where you go away and you’re disappointed not to get anything from it but we didn’t actually play that badly.”

Pye became Garstang Reserves manager last summer after a number of successful years in junior football with Cockerham Junior Football Club, achieving a number of firsts with them.

So far, while at the Riverside, Pye has been pleased with how his side have ‘competed’ and ‘given it their best’ in a season where availability has been an issue.

They currently sit 12th in a league of 16, a positional improvement from 2024/25, when they finished second bottom.

“I think the aim was to get a good group of lads together that wanted to play with each other and for each other.

“We wanted to do better than they did last year, but ultimately to get them to enjoy playing football, because there is no point if you’re not enjoying it.

“I’m quite good at managing people, so we’re trying to get them to work and compete hard, and give their best.”

He added: “One thing that is quite frustrating is that we’ve got 37 or 38 lads on our books and regularly there’s only 18 or 19 available through different things.

“There’s injuries and things like that too which every team get but we just have to manage that.

“On Saturday we had a 16 year old lad and a 17 year old lad both come off the bench and it’s a big step up, there’s a lot of experienced players in the division and my front line were all under 20.

“Predominantly the average age of the squad, up until recently, has been under 21 so we’ve been using a lot of young lads.

“Many of those have been lads that I’ve known through grassroots football but quite a lot of lads who were at the club before I was, have stayed which has been good.

“Overall I think we’re doing alright as we go along.”

Elsewhere in Division Two, Euxton Villa Reserves claimed a comprehensive 7-0 win over Galgate, with goals from Sam Bottoms (3), Alex Colquhoun (2), Ben Quigley and Ewan Fanning.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves remain top of the table after a comfortable win themselves, as they saw off Hawcoat Park 5-0 thanks to goals from Aaron Beattie (2), Dylan Jackson-Cooney, Hugo Strand and Will Pitt.

Stoneclough remain a point behind them following their 2-0 home victory over Walney Island, while Storeys stay fourth and level on points with Euxton Villa Reserves - but with games in hand over them - after a 4-2 win at Bamber Bridge Reserves.

Elsewhere, Appley Bridge beat Caton United 4-1 and Langho edged past Mill Hill in an East Lancashire derby.

In the Premier Division, Eagley extended their lead at the top to 11 points after a 3-0 win over Hurst Green.

Neil Hart’s side remain unbeaten on their own turf, having won nine of their 10 home outings. Their goals this weekend came courtesy of Finlay Stafford, Daniel Fairhurst and Alistair Dickson.

Their advantage at the summit was increased by three points after Blackpool Wren Rovers won 2-1 at home versus second-placed Lostock St Gerards.

An own goal had the hosts in front at the break before Tommy Hanslip made it two with five minutes to go. Craig Ronald got one back for LSG but they left empty-handed.

Astley and Buckshaw secured a 4-2 win at Poulton.

They were two to the good with half an hour gone thanks to Jordan Griffiths and Callum Williams, before Poulton’s quick-fire response through Tyler Hallan and Oscar Wright made it Desmond.

However, Samir Sobeih ensured the visitors went into half time with the advantage, which they made healthier courtesy of Muhammed Samateh shortly after the restart.

Tempest United saw off Whitehaven 4-1, Millom scored three goals in the final quarter of an hour as they beat CMB 3-1, Milnthorpe Corinthians scored late on to edge out Coppull United 2-1.

There were three hat trick heroes in Division One, starting with the prolific Ben McMeeking at Pause United, who actually scored four of their goals in a 5-1 win at Crooklands Casuals.

Kyle Delves pulled one back for the hosts shortly after McMeeking got his third. Jimmy Love’s goal on 68 minutes topped off a comfortable win

Kendal County are up to third after a 3-1 win at Carnforth Rangers. Joe Wilkinson opened the scoring for Carnforth before Matty Casson netted thrice.

Croston Sports were 4-0 victors at Chipping: Isaac Hayes didn’t just secure a hat trick, but he did so in 10 first half minutes, before Ric Tomlinson made it four after half time.

Holker Old Boys are three points clear of Saturday’s opponents Freckleton after a 4-2 win, Askam United beat Slyne with Hest 2-0, two promotion hopefuls in Kendal United and Ulverston Rangers drew 1-1, while Lytham Town v Turton ended goalless.

Runaway Division One leaders Hesketh Bank were in Richardson Cup third round action; they defeated Premier Division outfit and last season’s Presidents Cup winners Cleator Moor Celtic 3-1.

Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves defeated Hesketh Bank Reserves 3-0 in the only Reserve Division One match of the afternoon, with most of the reserve sides in Stewart Rowe Memorial Cup first round action.

Astley & Buckshaw Reserves, Fulwood Amateurs A, Hurst Green Reserves and Lostock St Gerards Reserves all progressed in 90 minutes, while Poulton and Stoneclough’s reserve sides defeated Croston Sports Reserves and Storeys Reserves respectively on penalties.