Half-time changes do trick for clinical Croston

He snapped up strikers Kurt Robinson from Astley and Buckshaw and Aaron Quigley from Chipping and both were on target in Wednesday night’s 4-0 victory over Quigley’s former club.

It followed up Saturday’s 4-4 draw at Holker Old Boys meaning it’s eight goals in two games for the Westhead Road side – a healthy return for a side who were the 10th lowest scorers in Division One last term.

“We didn’t really need to recruit but we did get two centre forwards in,” said Birch, who is eyeing a top five finish.

“We were always solid defensively but we needed to start scoring more goals.”

Bar one header cleared off the line, Croston played second fiddle to a very impressive Chipping in terms of chances, Max Bamford thundering a left foot shot against the post and Ishmail Usman looking a right handful up front.

Birch made two changes at half-time and within seven minutes they were 2-0 up – Christian Bolton spotting the keeper off his line with an inch-perfect 45 yard lob and Robinson then volleying home from close range.

“I wasn’t happy with the work rate of some of our personnel, not necessarily the two that I took off but I needed the legs to come on in those positions,” added Birch, who said referee Ella Sands handled both sides ‘brilliantly’.

“Chipping were fantastic in the first half, they marauded all over us, hit the post and didn’t give us chance to breathe.

“All credit to them but to play at that intensity for 90 minutes at this level is tough and we had fresh legs and brought good subs on and kept that intensity going.”

Cory Gill made it three, again lobbing the visiting keeper after he raced out to make a clearance, before Quigley calmly slotted home from 10 yards late on.

Elsewhere in Division One, Sam Pinnegor was the star for Ulverston Rangers with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Holker Old Boys Res – a result which put Ulverston top of the embryonic table after Saturday’s 3-0 win at Freckleton before Pause United’s Wednesday win over Crooklands Casuals.

Kendal County and Hesketh Bank also have perfect records after two games, the former coming from behind to beat Askam 2-1 while last season’s Golden Boot winner, Kevin Edgar, was on the scoresheet for Hesketh Bank in their win over Carnforth by the same scoreline.

Eagley and Burscough Richmond are the pacesetters in the Premier Division, both enjoying wins over Blackpool Wren Rovers and Coppull respectively.

Poulton are also ticking nicely, Toby Scammell with a second-half hat-trick in a 6-1 defeat of Milnthorpe.

If you’re looking for entertainment, then look no further than Hurst Green who have been involved in two consecutive 3-3 thrillers.

After being denied in injury time at CMB on Saturday, they were again left to settle for a point as Rossendale equalised for the third time in the match in the 87th minute, Jack Mouncey popping up with the leveller.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves have settled well into life in Division Two with two straight wins, the second a 3-2 victory over newboys Appley Bridge.

They are joined at the top by Thornton Cleveleys Res who saw off Storeys 4-2 thanks to a brace by George McCauley, and Stoneclough who saw off Langho 3-0.

The game of the midweek was surely at Charnock Richard Reserves where they came back from 3-1 down to defeat Bamber Bridge Res with seven goals coming in a bonkers second half to win 5-4.