Giantkillers Appley enjoy 'coming of age' cup victory

Their win against higher league opposition sees them progress to the second round of the Richardson Cup.

Fellow joint-manager Ryan Craven got their first to bring them back to level terms following Kian Kelly’s opener for Lytham.

Will Eastham restored the hosts’ lead just three minutes later but Appley Bridge turned things around after the break, with goals well into the second half from Clayton Beattie and Liam Hilton, who scored the winner in the first minute of stoppage time.

Wain said: “We are massively proud, the performance had been coming for a long time.

“It was a coming of age performance for us and you could tell the lads really wanted it.

“We controlled the game in large parts which was so impressive against higher league opposition, we dominated possession and created some really good chances.

“We conceded two disappointing goals against the run of play in the first half but to turn the game around from 2-1 down, in a scrappy second half, was really pleasing.

“On 75 minutes we scored the equaliser and from then on there was only one team that looked like winning and the winner came right at the end.

“The lads kept going for 90 minutes - we’ve got a really tight-knit group and I think that togetherness and team spirit got us through in the end.”

Wain and Craven assumed their roles ahead of a very successful 2024-25 campaign, in which they won the Mid Lancashire League Division One by 12 points.

This convincing title win encouraged the side to consider challenging themselves further in the West Lancashire League.

“Ryan and I are both from Appley Bridge and the opportunity came up for us to take over, it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.

“There were some great lads at the club already and a few more came in. We had a great season and won the league at a canter, but it was obvious we needed a step up.

“We strived to push on to that next level and the application to join was off the back of last season’s success.

“It’s been a massive effort over the summer to try and get ourselves ready for the league but we are seeing now it was the right thing to do.”

On and off the pitch, Wain is delighted with how things are going in a new league.

“The professionalism of the league is a massive eye opener to us, from presentation nights to match days.

“The grounds and hospitality have been excellent and the people around the league have been great too.

“The difference in standard on the pitch has been a massive step up for us, we had a difficult start, playing a lot of the top teams but we’ve won four of our last five so we are starting to find our feet, proving we can compete at this level and we feel at home.

“Appley Bridge’s development is a work in progress, we started from very little but we’ve made big improvements over the summer: we renovated the changing rooms, the dugouts and there’s been a lot of work on the pitch too.

“All of that work has been done by volunteers, from fans to staff to players, so it’s been a real club effort.

“We aspire to have even better facilities and it’s a big work in progress.”

Looking at the pick of the other Richardson Cup action, Division Two side Hawcoat Park defeated Freckleton of Division One in an extraordinary, thrilling 9-6 win.

Reece Cresswell bagged five times for the winning team while Freckleton’s Jack Williams scored a hat trick.

There were a couple of other victories for Division Two sides against those in the league above: Charnock Richard Reserves saw off Croston Sports 3-2 in a superb comeback win and Garstang Reserves edged out Askam United 1-0.

In other eye-catching results, Stoneclough came away from Galgate as 7-1 victors with Jordan Wignall netting a treble, as did Harry Wignall for Fulwood Amateurs Reserves as they knocked Dalton United out in a convincing 6-0 win and Kendal County beat Caton United 4-0.

In the Premier Division, Eagley’s superb start continued as they secured a 4-1 win over Astley & Buckshaw, with Harry Waterhouse bagging a hat trick.

That was one of many big wins in the top tier: CMB came from a goal down to beat Milnthorpe Corinthians 5-1 and Burscough Richmond earned three points at Whitehaven with the same scoreline.

Third placed Tempest United produced a strong first 45 to see off Millom 4-0, while Lostock St Gerards’ 5-2 win at home to Rossendale featured four goals across the closing five minutes of the first half and opening two of the second.

Blackpool Wren Rovers picked up a 4-1 win at Coppull United, Poulton came from behind to triumph 2-1 over Hurst Green and Rico Gavan’s late goal for second placed Haslingden St Mary’s earned them a point at Cleator Moor Celtic.

Two teams remain unbeaten in Reserve Division One: leaders Lostock St Gerards Reserves defeated CMB Reserves thanks in part to Greg Brickell’s hat trick, and Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves scored late to win 3-2 versus Eagley Reserves on home turf.

Elsewhere, Chipping Reserves got the joint biggest win of the weekend, winning 7-0 against Turton Reserves.

At the top of Reserve Division Two, Hurst Green Reserves made it six wins from six as they recorded a 5-0 triumph at Pause United Reserves, while Storeys Reserves saw off Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves 7-0.