Premier Division Round Up

IT just got a whole lot tougher at the top of the West Lancashire League Premier Division (writes Howard Jones).
Leaders Charnock Richard may well have had prolific striker Carl Grimshaw to thank for four of their goals against a determined Eagley side at Mossie Park on Saturday, but even he, against his former club couldn’t help the leaders dropping two valuable points in the title race to slip to third in the table, meaning four clubs are within three points of one another with the title chase effectively now in their own hands.
While Grimshaw may have been the star of the show for Charnock, Eagley’s Heath Ainscow didn’t do too badly either.
His hat-trick completed either side of half time gave Eagley the lead on 72 minutes at 5-4 but Grimshaw had the last word as three minutes later he grabbed the goal that saved Charnock’s home record in a 10 goal thriller. The point for Eagley moved them out of the bottom three.
New signing Lennie Reid gave Coppull the lead at home to Euxton Villa after 32 minutes and sent them back to the top of the table after a few weeks chasing Charnock.
Team mate Tom Entwistle added a second for United four minutes later, before Ryan Steele with two second half goals, one from the penalty spot cemented a top of the table show from the Springfield Road side who maintained their 100 per cent home record with the win.
Fulwood Amateurs challenge is gathering momentum too as they cruised home 3-1 in front of their own supporters against bottom side Lostock St. Gerards at Lightfoot Lane thanks to goals from top scorer Mitch Newsham (6), Ryan Dodd (12) and Adam Stammers (77).
Oliver Evans 14th minute goal was a consolation for the visitors.
Longridge Town took almost an hour to break down Hesketh Bank’s challenge at the MRG (Mike Riding Ground) where top scorer Brad Carsley had nodded them in front early after two minutes.
Bob Milton’s eighth minute equaliser looked to have given the Station Road side a sniff of a point, but then they were hit with four goals in 33 minutes as Town kept up their title challenge with a 5-1 win.
Defender Sam Marsh nodded in his first goal of the season after 57 minutes with Carsley adding his second of the game two minutes later, while assistant manager Kieran Walmsley bagged himself two penalties late on (72 and 92) to complete the scoring.
Blackpool Wren Rovers continue to impress with their third league win on the bounce - this time 5-2 at Burnley United.
Gary Pett did the early damage at Barden Lane for the Fylde coast side with two goals in 13 minutes before Danny Pickering (78), Danny Morris (84) and Max Landless (85) added the final touches to an emphatic road victory that sees them cement themselves just outside the top four in fifth spot.
Oliver Wood (45) and Joe Rodrigues (68) got the Burnley replies.
Thornton Cleveleys season goes from strength to strength as well with another fine win in front of their own fans, this time to Slyne with Hest 3-1.
Phil Smith gave the Reds the lead on 17 minutes before Adam Challenger (47) and Stuart Dagger (87) nailed the visitors colours to the mast, who replied on the whistle with a late consolation from Alan Jackson - he of FA Vase Final fame with Kirkham & Wesham back in 2008! It was his first game of the season.
Garstang recovered well from their recent derby day home defeat to near neighbours Longridge last week with an encouraging 3-1 away day success on Walney Island against Vickerstown, who scored their goal through Andy Higginson.
Goals from Gary Fawcett and two from Liam Breslin did the damage for the Riverside outfit who cruised into eighth spot with the three points
And in the days other game Southport Hesketh recovered well from a trouncing last week at Slyne to win a five goal thriller against Crooklands Casuals on their new ground at Bankfield Lane, thanks to goals from Simon Hill from the penalty spot after 13 minutes, Connor Wright (47) and Simon Hill (60).
Casuals strikes came from Kevin Edwards a 29th minute penalty and a Steve Caskie second after 71 minutes but it wasn’t quite enough to rescue a point for the Cumbrians.