'Ave it! Boltonian bonanza in cup final showdown

Matt Taylor’s men won 3-2 on penalties in the gathering gloom against Division One Haslingden St Mary’s – a side who had beaten two Premier Division sides on their way to the semi-finals – in the Richardson Cup semi-final at Croston on Monday night.

The game finished 1-1 in normal time before the late shoot-out drama.

CMB will now meet Tempest United in the final at Lancashire FA on Wednesday May 1.

Pause United booked a final date with Ulverston Rangers after seeing off Stoneclough in the delayed Presidents Cup semi-final at Fulwood.

Aaron Helliwell’s men won 3-2 and will now meet the Cumbrians in the final at a date and location to be finalised.

In league action, it was a case of away-day blues in the Premier Division as each set of visitors were on the receiving end of heavy defeats.

Lostock St Gerards are up to sixth thanks to a 6-0 defeat of Wyre Villa. Conor Linighan, a brace from Joey Richardson and a Gary Basterfield effort put them four up at the break and further goals from Adam Whittaker and Lewis Pilgrim completed the win.

Tempest United enjoyed the same scoreline versus Turton with Sam Parkinson hunting down the Golden Boot award with his second hat-trick in four days.

Jack Booth, Jordan Pendlebury and Tom Booth also got on the scoresheet.

Blackpool Wren Rovers put five past Coppull United thanks to Luke Harris, Aidan Burrows, Carnen Dawson and two from Ric Seear.

In Division One, Askam United kept alive their promotion hopes with a 5-1 win at Ulverston Rangers.

They’re back up to second after a Joe Tindall hat-trick in 19 minutes and a Will Hindle double did the damage. Jack Milburn grabbed a consolation for the home side.

Kevin Edgar lit up an otherwise drab first half at Hesketh Bank with a wonder goal as the home side saw off Croston Sports 3-0.

Edgar’s exquisite volley at the back post from a right wing cross put Hesketh Bank a goal up at the break, a lead Owen Cuerden doubled in the second half.

Dan Birkby then made no mistake from 20 yards to add the gloss to a workmanlike win for the fifth placed side.

Millom leapfrogged Croston into 12th with a 2-0 home win over Holker Old Boys Res, Jamie Pattinson and Ellis Heasley scoring late in each half.

Ryan Close struck at the start and end of Kendal United’s 3-2 win at Galgate in Division Two to move them to sixth.

Close’s early strike was cancelled out by Jonny Thorn but Jonny Voortman and an 87th strike by Close looked to have sealed the win.

Liam Painter pulled one back but Kendal United left with all three points.

Remarkably, Dalton United experienced their first home league draw of the season as Hawcoat Park fought back in a 1-1 draw.

Sam Johnson’s strike was matched by Sam Beattie as both sides had to settle for a point.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves went back top of Division One Reserve after a thrilling 4-3 win at Turton Res.

Callum Higson opened the scoring for Turton only for Cory Gill, Joe Slinger and Hugo Strand made it 3-1 to the visitors.

Dominic Farrimond halved the deficit but Strand made it 4-2. Cole Exley pulled one back but Fulwood kept them at bay for three vital points.

CMB Res grabbed a point after trailing 2-0 at half-time at Eagley Res, who led through Jordan Hibbert and Zach Karanga-Brown.

Lewis Cullen and Harry Dixon earned CMB a share of the spoils in the second-half.