Thornton lay a marker but Corinthians lead the way

Thornton Cleveleys continued their impressive start to the Premier Division campaign on Saturday, winning comfortably at Burscough Richmond to end the hosts’ incredible home run with pictures from Poulton v Turton by DONNA ARTIS.

The defending champions didn’t drop a single point on home soil on their way to the title last campaign, and hadn’t been beaten at home since April 2022, before a double from John Frazer, alongside goals from Jordan Beavers and Dom Richie sealed a 4-0 win for this weekend’s visitors.

That result left Thornton Cleveleys as one of three sides in the division to have maintained their 100% records; with Milnthorpe Corinthians and CMB the others to have taken maximum points so far.

The former on the only side to have played three games and won them all after Gary Thompson scored on the only goal away at Fulwood Amateurs, whilst CMB made it two from two with a comeback victory over Cleator Moor Celtic.

Rhys Little opened the scoring 15 minutes in, but would quickly see his goal cancelled out by Oliver Turner. A second-half strike from Daniel Locke then completed the turnaround.

Lostock St Gerards are currently the best of the rest, sitting third on goal difference after Theo Ball sealed a 1-0 win over Hurst Green, whilst Tempest United are sat just behind after hitting six on the road at Slyne with Hest.

Remarkably, the hosts had led 2-0 in the first-half through Joe Waring and Jacob Kowalik, before braces from Sam Parkinson and Oliver Grocock, coupled with goals from Jordan Prescott and Jack Morris, turned what had at one point looked like a difficult afternoon for Tempest United into a very productive one.

There was late drama at Rossendale, who rescued a point against Whitehaven thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from Tom Hulme.

The hosts took the lead through Tom Hartley, but looked to be slipping to defeat after Bobby Carter and Aidan Smith completed a second-half turnaround.

However, in the fifth minute of time added on, Hulme found the net to ensure the match ended 2-2.

Poulton picked up their first points of the campaign, with Ryan Charnley and Dominic Gil netting either side of an own goal to seal a 2-1 win.

Meanwhile, William Hopper and Jordan Walshe struck in the second half as Coppull United beat Wyre Villa 2-0.

Askam United are the last unbeaten team standing in Division One, as they made three wins a row with 5-3 victory at Chipping.

Joe Tindall scored twice to set the visitors, before Aiden Pearson, Sheldon Mossop and Callum Rayner sealed the win, the latter scoring from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, Chipping’s goals came via Kane Froggatt and a Harris Bailey double.

That scoreline wasn’t an outlier in a goal-laden day in Division One, with Croston Sports smashing seven on their way to victory at Millom.

There was a hat-trick apiece for Jordan Wignall and Dion Holden, whilst Mark Tugman also grabbed a goal. Jamie Pattinson netted what would prove to be a consolation for the home side.

There were trebles too for Farryl Foster, Ross Ainsworth and Jack Brench, whose hat-tricks helped power their respective sides to victory.

Foster’s goals, along with one from Charley Thompson, helped Holker Old Boys Reserves eventually triumph 4-3 over Hesketh Bank, who were seen off despite goals from Lewis Johnston, Joe Smyth-Ferguson and George Bond.

Ainsworth was assisted by Danny Scarlett in securing Lytham Town a 4-0 at Carnforth Rangers, whilst bench netted all three goals for Kendal County as they beat Ulverston Rangers 3-0.

A brace from Kieran Lomax, along with Luke Bradbury’s opener, saw Eagley record a 3-0 victory over Southport Hesketh.

And we complete our look at Division One with a dramatic game at Crooklands Casuals, where Kyle Delves got his second of the game in the 95th minute to seal a 2-1 win for the home side over Haslingden St Mary’s, who had levelled the game on 70 minutes through Rhys Barton.

As with the Premier Division, there are three Division Two sides left with 100% records after matchday three, and Garstang Reserves sit atop that trio of teams after a 5-0 win over Storeys.

Lewis Heap and Andrew Murphy got two each, before a goal from Nathan Murphy rounded off the win.

Second-placed Walney Island also triumphed 5-0, as a Hayden Skyme double, along with goals from Will Boulton, Zach Walker and Nathan Cloudsdale, secured the victory against Galgate.

Meanwhile, Rhys Turner, Courtney Skerritt, Joe Bentley and Ryan Thompson were all on target as Freckleton won 4-2 at Pause United to extend their perfect start, with Jack Preston and Taylor Fagan getting the goals for the hosts.

Ryan Close netted a hat-trick which included two penalties as Kendal United beat Stoneclough 5-3, with Jonny Voortman and Matthew Kennedy also netting in the win.

Austin Almond and Max McNulty scored for Stoneclough, as did Chris Smith, who also successfully converted a spot kick.

Not to be outdone by that high-scoring clash, AFC Blackpool Reserves and Dalton United shared nine goals in their fixture, with the latter eventually emerging 5-4 victors.

Robbie Sanderson scored three for Dalton United, whilst Alex Bolland bagged a brace as their side survived surrendering a 3-0 lead and another late scare to ultimately claim three points.

AFC Blackpool Reserves’ goals came courtesy of James Bleakley, Denny Cain, Mitch Nordwind and an own goal.

It was a slightly less stressful afternoon for Euxton Villa Reserves, as they beat Hawcoat Park 4-1 thanks to a Sam Burton brace and goals from Matthew Thompson and Mackenzie Lewis.

Tom Hammond pulled one back for Hawcoat Park late on.

And in the final Division Two fixture, Caton United and Charnock Richard Reserves played out a 2-2 draw, with goals from Simon Wearing and Roy Rachier cancelled out by James Sloane and Tom Cooper respectively.

Tempest United Reserves are the early pace-setters in the Division One Reserve, and continued their fine start to the season with a 4-0 win over Rossendale Reserves thanks to goals from Adam Sharrock, Hadlie Russell, Mitchell Davenport and Josh Firth.

Thornton Cleveleys Reserves also made it three wins from three, coming from behind to beat Eagley Reserves 3-1.

Will Hockings opener was cancelled out almost immediately by Harry Wood, before goals from Tommy Dollin and Billy Cartmell sealed the comeback victory.

And Turton Reserves are the last of the division’s unbeaten sides, that after a claiming a 3-2 victory against Poulton Reserves.

Ethan Mason scored twice in the win, either side of a goal from Alex Buchanan, whilst Poulton Reserves’ goals were scored by Reece Russell and Jared Bain.

A brace from Ric Seear, sandwiched by goals from Alex McLoughlin and Olly Hesford, saw Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves registered a 4-1 win over CMB Reserves, whose only goal came via Jean Mark-Ekegue.

And Alex Smithson saw his strikes cancelled out first by Chris Fletcher, and then by Scott Hendy, as Fulwood Amateurs Reserves and Coppull Reserves played out a 2-2 draw.

Carnforth Rangers shot all the way up to second in a tight Division Two Reserve table after a 4-0 victory at Lytham Town Reserves.

That was of a trio of 4-0 wins in the division on Saturday, with Croston Sports Reserves and Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves both triumphing by the same scoreline.

The former saw off Rossendale A, whilst the latter were victorious against Thornton Cleveleys A thanks to goals from Charlie Lord, Olly Thompson, Charlie Howard and Forlan Jakovvlevs.

In total, there are six sides tied on six points at the top of the table, that after Hesketh Bank Reserves beat early leaders Chipping Reserves thanks to a David Yeates double.

And we end this weekend’s addition of the roundup with a look at two of the other sides in that mix, namely Freckleton Reserves and Storeys Reserves.

Freckleton Reserves are currently fourth after goals from Andrew Fletcher, Samson Ogundaisi, Guillermo Marchant and Byron Fletcher sealed a 4-3 win against a spirited Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves, who through Jack Ponter, Lucas Schofield and Tom Shaw had at one point fought from 3-0 down to be level at 3-3.

Meanwhile, Storeys Reserves sit sixth following a 2-1 over Fulwood Amateurs A, with Wayne Beswick and Oliver McDermott netting either side of Dillon Jackson-Cooney’s leveler to seal the win.

Where next?

Richardson Cup: Round 1 draw made The draw for the first round of the Miller Roskell Ltd Richardson Cup has been made.
LFA Amateur Shield Round 1 draw revealed LFA Amateur Shield holders Hesketh Bank will renew battle with Rossendale as they look to retain their trophy.

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