Edmondson's eye on the future after hectic season finale

Edmondson was announced as the permanent boss at the Premier Division after an interim spell; he will see out this season and bring in the next.

They lost 4-1 at Millom on Saturday, with the hosts’ goals coming courtesy of Oliver Pachul, Jamie Pattinson, Aaron Bradley and Callum High.

Zach Clark, who forms part of Edmondson’s coaching staff along with assistant Keith Singleton, Bruce Richardson and Rob Wilson, got a late consolation.

“We had eight players who were missing through injury and holidays,” Edmondson (pictured middle with Keith Singleton and Bruce Richardson) said. "And we rested a couple as well due to having four games in seven days the week after next.

“It was a tough day at the office, shall we say. And we should have done a lot better but we didn't.”

However, Edmondson has been pleased with what his side have done since his return to the club in October, after a previous spell more than a decade ago.

Garry Thompson departed The Strand after Corinthians picked up just one point in the opening two months of the campaign, but now they sit three points clear of the drop zone with six games in hand on second-from-bottom Coppull United.

The club have brought in several players from other clubs since Edmondson’s arrival, perhaps most notably Saturday’s scorer Zach Clark who was previously prolific at Pause and has transferred that across to Milnthorpe.

“We're very pleased and obviously it was very important for the club of Milnthorpe’s stature [to get players in] because it's a fantastic club behind the scenes, it really is.

“For them to stay up it was paramount and that's what we've done for them.

“So as a club we can hopefully build on that next year and take it to the levels that the club deserves with the people who work so hard behind the scenes.

“There's a lot of good young players there.

“We've mixed youth in with the experience of the likes of Rob Wilson, Zach Clark, Robbie Murray and Josh Coulthard have helped to pull us through.

“We’ll be in place next season and we'll try and bring some more good young players in as well as some experience to the club and see if we can finish in the top half of the table.

“It’d be great for the club if we could finish in the top six with the first team and the second team get promoted.

“That'd be a massive thing for the club because obviously good players will come to a winning club within the area.

“If the club's doing well or both teams are doing well you can attract better players for both teams. That would be the ambition.”

The club have the Westmorland Senior Challenge Cup final to look forward to on Friday April 10 as they take on Appleby at Kendal Town’s ground, as well as a Presidents Cup quarter final two days prior against Pause.

“We’re looking forward to it, there’ll be a big crowd there with it being a Friday night.

“The club have won it quite a lot of times before so it is an important cup obviously and it's something to look forward to which is making the players excited and working harder to get selected.

“We’ve got a cup quarter final on the Wednesday and two league games on the Saturday and the Monday so it won’t be an easy week but it's brilliant for the club, for the team spirit and morale.

“It's keeping the season going if you will but we do need results in the league to be absolutely sure of staving off relegation.”

Elsewhere, Eagley maintained their eight-point lead in the Premier Division over second placed Lostock St Gerards after a 4-1 win over Cleator Moor Celtic.

Cleator, however, did take the lead on 29 minutes through Lucas Caige, but Eagley quickly turned it around and romped to victory as Sam Crook, Alfie Cowan, Finlay Stafford and Kieran Lomax all found the net.

LSG saw off Astley & Buckshaw, also with a 4-1 win; Ashton Cookson gave them an early lead inside 60 seconds with Alex Caunce, Josh Brown and Josh Sarda adding goals later in proceedings, before Joe Ball bagged a consolation in the final 10 minutes.

Hurst Green defeated Haslingden St Mary’s 4-0 to overtake them and move into third; Harvey Monk, James Whitworth, Charlie Collinge and Danylo Demitriiev all found the net.

Blackpool Wren Rovers are now in fourth after a 2-1 win over Tempest United, with the same scoreline going in Rossendale and CMB’s favour as they got three points against Whitehaven and Burscough Richmond respectively.

Division One leaders Hesketh Bank could get promoted this weekend after they put five past bottom side Slyne with Hest; goals from Kevin Edgar, Aiden Johnson, Josh Brierley and Dan Birkby (2) guided Hesketh to victory, with Jakub Kowalik scoring for Slyne.

Promotion race outsiders Ulverston Rangers halted fellow hopefuls Pause United’s good form with a 2-1 win over the division’s third placed side.

It was level at the break after Jack Preston cancelled out Sam Harrison’s opener on 15 minutes.

The game looked to be heading for a score draw but Shane Kelly grabbed an 86th minute winner for Ulverston.

Kendal United kept alive their promotion hopes with a 3-1 win at home to Crooklands Casuals.

Carnforth Rangers are eight points behind them with two games in hand after a 2-0 win over Chipping while Askam United and Freckleton played out a 2-2 draw.

The teams occupying Division Two’s promotion places have boasted perfect home records this season but they both grabbed vital away wins this weekend: let’s start with Fulwood Amateurs Reserves who won 4-0 at Caton United.

Hugo Strand, Alfie Raymond, Jacob Lucas and Harrison Collinson all scored to preserve their side’s four point lead at the top.

Stoneclough left it late to secure their 1-0 victory at resilient bottom side Hawcoat Park, but Jomar da Silva won it in the 94th minute.

Storeys are just behind Stoneclough albeit with one more game played; they beat Charnock Richard Reserves 5-1 after a superb final 15 minutes.

Josh Whittaker gave Charnock the lead on 25 minutes but Bailey Backhouse made things all square before the break.

Storeys first took the lead on the 75th minute thanks to Noah Hindley and took full control from there: Cameron Hollywood, Reece Pearce and Rory Harding all scored in the last quarter of an hour.

Langho leapfrogged their opponents Euxton Villa Reserves to go fourth after a 2-0 win, while Dalton United edged Galgate out 3-2, Appley Bridge beat Mill Hill 3-1 and Bamber Bridge came away from the Riverside with a 1-0 win over Garstang Reserves.

Blackpool Wren Rovers Res are one point behind Reserve Division One leaders Hesketh Bank Res after a 3-2 win over Chipping Res, while Carnforth Res saw off Eagley Res 3-1 and Haslingden Res defeated Tempest Res 2-0.

Reserve Division Two’s most eye-catching result was a 7-2 win for Fulwood Amateurs A over Pause Res which featured a hat trick for Finley Clarke.

Meanwhile, leaders Hurst Green Res won 2-0 at Milnthorpe Res, Stoneclough Res saw off Thornton Cleveleys A 5-0, Rossendale Res edged past Lytham Res 2-1 and Storeys Res won 1-0 away to Croston Res.