Premier Division Review 28th November 2015.

HIGH winds and lashing rain may have dampened spirits around the Premier League on Saturday but there were a number of sides who took full advantage of the weather to brighten up their title aspirations, while another booked a place in the Lancashire Amateur Shield semi-finals with a seven goal blitz (writes Howard Jones).
 And ground conditions got the better of the basement battle planned for Lostock St. Gerards where the home side, without a point all season where due to play hosts to second bottom Burnley United.
That game fell foul of the weather early in the day as it did too at Southport Hesketh where Vickerstown should have been the visitors.
Surprisingly on such a drab and dreary afternoon five games did get the thumbs up and table toppers Fulwood Amateurs kept up their momentum as title challengers to Charnock Richard’s crown, with a hard fought 3-2 victory against Thornton Cleveleys, who at 2-2 saw a shot stuck in the mud on the line which would have put them ahead.
As it was Fulwood grabbed the initiative to battle it out against the elements for their fifth win at home in six, thanks to an early goal from new signing Rick Coar who took all of two minutes to stamp his name in the Fulwood record books.
But Thornton stormed back 12 minutes from the break when Tom Arden (33) equalised and eight minutes later (41) Dave Rossall put them in front.
But two goals in the second period won it for Tony Hesketh’s boys thanks to Peter Wright on 76 minutes and Sam Braithwaite scoring deep into injury time
The win kept Fulwood’s noses out in front of the chasing pack that saw Charnock Richard hit the season’s biggest win - 10-0 against a lack lustre Crooklands Casuals side at Mossie Park.
Lewis Swarbrick started the demolition job after just three minutes before Mark Adams (22) and David Burrows (42) added further strikes before half-time.
In the second period Charnock did their goal difference a power of good when Carl Grimshaw with Four goals (46 66 79 90), while Mark Woods (60) and Matt Ashcroft 84 minutes, added to the champions tally and there was even a second from David Burrows after 67 minutes.
The win took Charnock into second place ahead of Longridge Town who were without a game, nine points off Fulwood, but more importantly with three games in hand, but with a vastly superior goal difference to suggest that the clash between the two powerhouses at Charnock on February 13 might be a date to etch into the football calendar, and with the return at Lightfoot Lane also yet to be given a date, these two may well fight it out to decide who are the season’s best!
One team not at their best in recent weeks and who are losing touch with the pacesetters at the top, are Coppull United, even though recent signing Lennie Reid put them ahead at Slyne with Hest after only eight minutes.
But the lead was short lived when home star Reece Pearce (10) got his name on the score sheet just two minutes later with an equaliser and in a dour game that ended at 1-1 without further goals.
The draw keep Coppull in fourth spot, while Slyne stay in ninth place.
Euxton Villa didn’t mess around at home to Hesketh Bank either as they hit the West Lancs side for five at Runshaw Lane where Dan Morris bagged himself a 39 minutes hat-trick with goals on 17, 46 and 56 minutes.
Danny Hogg (48) and Dan Marland (63) got the other Villa goals on a day when the sounds of Danny Boy could be heard around the ground at full-time!
For Euxton it was only their fourth win at home this term and was also the fourth defeat on the road for Hesketh Bank.
Arguably one of the days best performances was that of Garstang who were 4-2 winners at Eagley who suffered their sixth defeat at home in eight this season.
For the A6 boys the win was only their third on the road this season and was secured with a dominant first half performance that saw them race into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Matty Poole (7), Dan Birch (10) and prolific scorer Liam Breslin (43).
Eagley did cause a stir in the Garstang ranks when they were almost sunk by home sub Simon Neary who struck with a brace of goals on 75 and 88 minutes, but in between time the visitors held the winning formula with an 85th minute Jack Swindlehurst strike that secured the points.
Having played all three subs Eagley picked up a head injury to Kirtis Monson after 70 minutes and played out the last 15 minutes with 10 men - and surprisingly it was during this period that they got themselves back into the game.
And in the days other game involving Premier Division clubs, Blackpool Wren Rovers took full advantage of their Lancs Amateur Shield tie being played at Bruce Park after two postponements at Turton, to hit the First Division outfit for seven!
Danny Pickering (2), Mike Clark (2), Nick Corless, Carl Eastwood and Danny Morris did the damage for Wrens who booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition where they will await the draw at Lancashire HQ later in the week along with Poulton, Charnock Richard and Manchester League side Royton Town.
It proved to be a big day for Wrens who led 3-0 at half-time and one to forget for First Division title chasers Turton who lost forward Jordan Lomax for dissent just before the break.
A Turton spokesperson said: “We never really turned up today. We are normally a lot better than this.
“The weather was atrocious but we really didn’t play to our true potential.”
For First Division Turton they will now turn their attention back to the league where they are well placed and in control to win promotion even though they sit in fourth spot, seven points off leaders Burscough Richmond - but with a welcome four games in hand!