Leaders refuse to falter to stay at the summit

After several weeks where cup competitions dominated the fixture schedule, this weekend saw league action retake centre stage, and the leading players in the Premier Division wasted no time getting back to business.

The division’s top four all took maximum points on Saturday, including league leaders CMB, who won 3-0 at Tempest United thanks to goals from Ben Thornton, Robbie Deigham and Dylan Winstanley.

Thornton Cleveleys beat Whitehaven 2-1, with Brett Dawson and Danny Fryer netting either side of Carl Denver’s equaliser.

Josh Sarda’s strike saw Lostock St Gerards edge Poulton 1-0, and a Spencer Lucas double saw Fulwood Amateurs triumph 2-1 over Blackpool Wren Rovers, who halved the deficit just before the break through Jacob Aspinall.

That result, couple with postponements at Burscough Richmond and Rossendale, allowed Milnthorpe Corinthians to move up to fifth with a dramatic 2-1 win at Slyne with Hest.

The hosts led much of the game after Oliver Jordan opened the scoring 20 minutes in, only for Shaun Gardner’s 89th minute equaliser and Tyrone Dodgson’s 92nd minute winner to seal a remarkable late turnaround for Milnthorpe.

Elsewhere, Hurst Green fought from 2-0 down to claim a point against Coppull United, with Nick Hepple and Charlie Collinge cancelling out goals from Greg and Ben Brickell in an eventual 2-2 draw.

Ulverston Rangers continue to top Division One, with Ben Wheeler scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win against Hesketh Bank.

And remaining in hot pursuit are Eagley, who sealed a 2-1 comeback victory at Carnforth Rangers thanks to goals from Joe Howlin and Finlay Stafford.

Stan Rich opened the scoring for the hosts after nine minutes.
Also proving their credentials in the promotion race were third-placed Haslingden St Marys, who recorded a 6-2 victory over Millom.

Leon Barker-Williams bagged a brace in the win, including one from the spot, and was joined on the scoresheet by Rhys Barton, Dylan Harris and Brady Boardman.

Haslingden also benefitted from an own goal, whilst Millom’s goals both came in what was a relatively competitive first-half, and were scored by Jamie Pattinson and Callum High.

Kendal County also registered a big win this weekend, with Jay Hayton hitting four of his side’s five goals in a 5-1 triumph at Lytham Town.

Dan Ferguson rounded off the scoring for the visitors, before Daniel Lenahan netted a consolation for the hosts late on.

A second-half Crooklands Casuals comeback sealed a 2-1 win against Chipping, with Kyle Delves and Nathan Shaw inspiring the turnaround after Kane Froggatt’s early opener.

And Croston Sports also fought from behind, recovering from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Askam United, with Corey Fittes and Jordan Freeman earlier strikes from Ben Phizakela and Alex Kaye.

Meanwhile, in the final Division One fixture of the weekend, Faryl Foster got the only goal as Holker Old Boys Reserves beat Southport Hesketh 1-0.

In Division Two, Freddie Mason scored twice as table-toppers Freckleton won 3-2 at Dalton United, with Saul Hamer also on target in the win, and Gareth Jones and Ryan Brown the scorers for the hosts.

But it was the leaders’ closest challengers Walney Island who stole the show, with a comprehensive 8-2 win against Garstang Reserves.

Hayden Skyme hit a hat-trick, whilst Rob Bruce and Zach Walker both the scored twice, with the latter notching both of his goals from the penalty spot.

There was also an own goal in the victory, whilst Garstang Reserves’ goals came via Lewis Wellings and Tom Graham.

The 10 goals in that game, however, were beaten by the 11 at Storeys, where Charnock Richard Reserves recorded a remarkable 7-4 victory.

Fenton Davies netted a hat-trick for the visitors, Danny Regan added two late on, and Cole Davies and an own goal complete their scoring.

Meanwhile, Storeys’ goals came via a brace for Joe Hoare, and strikes from Joe Wareing and Matthew Poole.

Elsewhere, Kendal United beat Caton United 5-2, with Matthew Kennedy scoring twice and Ryan Close, Jamie Harris and James Thornley netting one each.

Jack Tipler and Cain Taylor were the scorers for Caton.

Liam Bamber and Kurt Robinson were the scorers as Astley and Buckshaw won 2-0 at Hawcoat Park, whilst Stoneclough also picked up a big win on the road, defeating Galgate 2-1.

Austin Almond and Max McNulty sealed a comeback victory for the visitors, after Jamie Houghton had opened the scoring 10 minutes in.

And we wrap up our look at this weekend’s league action with a look at the only fixture in Division One Reserve, in which Fulwood Amateurs Reserves beat Tempest United Reserves 6-2.

Noah Hindley scored twice in the win, with the other goals coming via Dylan Chauhan, Cory Gill, a Layton Kirnon penalty and an own goal.

Nick Skelly and James Dean were the scorers for Tempest United Reserves.

Moving on now, and there was another round of, albeit weather-effected, Stewart Rowe Memorial Cup action.

Thornton Cleveleys Reserves triumphed in the only game in Group B, winning 4-0 at Poulton Reserves thanks to goals from Billy Cartmell, Cory Harrison and Jake Mangan, along with an own goal.

In Group C, a John Stead hat-trick, which included a penalty, helped Hesketh Bank Reserves beat Rossendale A 5-0, with Joe Stead and Harry Greenhalgh also getting on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, George Haworth, Bradley White and Jordan Henderson were the scorers as Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves won 3-0 at Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves.

Lastly, in Group D, Tom Airey and Oscar Middlesbrough both hit doubles in Chipping Reserves’ 5-0 victory over Hurst Green Reserves, that after Zach Wilson opened the scoring after seven minutes.

And we complete this edition of the roundup with a brief look at the Lancashire Amateur Cup, where Rossendale Reserves advanced to round three with a 3-1 victory over Thornton Cleveleys A, whilst Wyre Villa Reserves were beaten 3-1, bowing out to Moston Brook Reserves.