Premier Division Easter Monday Review

AS the Premier Division title race hots up going into it’s final two months of competitive action, there was almost a full calendar of fixtures on Easter Bank Holiday Monday this week with six time champs Charnock Richard stoking up the boilers for a full steam ahead charge towards title number seven (writes Howard Jones).
While most pundits will point to the fact that their 4-0 away day success came at lowly Lostock St. Gerards it fired them right back into the title mix as leaders Fulwood Amateurs again shipped two points up at Vickerstown in arguably the days drabbest result - a 0-0 draw!
At Lostock, Charnock seized the moment to steam roller their challenge and it was their dynamic combo of Carl Grimshaw and David Burrows who did the structural damage - again!
Grimshaw’s 29th minute opener got them on their way, while Burrows slammed in a 28 minute hat-trick with goals after 32, 56 and 60 minutes to cast away the shadow of their surprise loss at Slyne 48 hours earlier.
For Fulwood their lead at the top has been cut to 10 points and in normal circumstances many would argue - so what!
But with Charnock having five games in hand and the leaders having only three games left to play, the title race is now firmly back in the champions grasp, although Blackpool Wren Rovers might well have a say in matters yet.
Their attractive fixture at Longridge Town fell foul to heavy rains on Saturday night, but they have yet to face Charnock Richard at School Road (April 9) and go to leaders Fulwood on April 30 to suggest that they too could yet steal the thunder from Charnock’s control.
Another side to have to sit out the Easter show were fifth place Thornton Cleveleys who too are suffering pitch problems after the heavy winter rains.
Their Bourne Way clash with Burnley United was also postponed, while a Mitch Leece goal after 59 minutes for Coppull United at home to Crooklands Casuals won them the points to move them back amongst the chasing pack in seventh place, although they, like Longridge are now ruing the deduction of a six points penalty earlier in the season.
Simon Whaley’s boys at Eagley enjoyed their Bank Holiday home clash with visiting Southport Hesketh racing into a two goal lead thanks to two goals from Taylor Jones in the first-half after 26 and 29 minutes.
Mike Ashton (52) and Kirtis Monson (65) added to the tally before Simon Hill bagged an injury time consolation for the Merseysiders on the whistle.
And there was an impressive three points for Euxton Villa as they came away from Garstang’s Riverside Ground victorious thanks to a solitary Jordan Darr winner after 62 minutes putting behind them the disappointment of losing at home to Fulwood 48 hours before.
With no fixtures scheduled for Slyne with Hest and Hesketh Bank, this completed the Easter Show in the Premier Division.
This Saturday (April 2) the attention turns to the Second Round of the Richardson Cup with four matches due for completion that sees Southport Hesketh travelling to Coppull United, while Garstang vs. Slyne with Hest will see local derby rivalry to the fore and at Longridge Town, where in-form Thornton Cleveleys who are on a six game winning run in league and cup will try to ko Lee Ashcroft’s side.
And in the day’s other tie, the top two Fulwood and Charnock in the West Lancs League Premier Division go head to head to suggest that there will be a tasty crowd eager to see the tie of the round in action.
On the league front Crooklands travel to Coppull, while Lostock host Eagley and Vickerstown welcome Euxton.
And in the race for the Premier Division Golden Boot award, Longridge Town’s Brad Carsley leads the way with 29 goals, (a total that could have been 31 had his two goals in Saturday’s washed out game at home to Eagley been completed) followed by Charnock Richard’s hungry goal machine Carl Grimshaw on 24 and Wrens Max Landless with 22.
Charnock’s David Burrows is fourth on 21 and Fulwood’s Mitch Newsham on 19 complete the top five goalscorers this term so far!