Double still alive for comeback kings

CMB’s hopes for a league and cup double are still alive after a rip-roaring cup win at Fulwood Amateurs.

The Premier Division pacesetters had a tough Richardson Cup quarter-final tie at Fulwood on the 3G at UCLan and looked to be heading out, going 2-0 down early on through Jonty McDonald and Aaron Hewitt.

Dan Crook pulled one back before half-time and Carl Grimshaw levelled it up 13 minutes from time for last year’s beaten finalists.

Charlie Scholes then unleashed a fine winner with five minutes left on the clock to complete the turnaround.

CMB will be joined in the semi-finals by a rampant Haslingden St Mary’s who despatched higher level opponents for the second round running.

After defeating Burscough Richmond in the last 16, they put five past Blackpool Wren Rovers without reply.

Michael Woodvine was the star man notching a hat-trick by the 60th minute and Alfie Edmondson and Lewis Hanley finished off the 5-0 victory.

No ties beat the weather in the Presidents Cup and only one survived in the Challenge Cup quarter finals, Carnforth Rangers edging Walney Island in a tricky looking tie.

Ben Blackburn grabbed a double for visitors Rangers with Paul Wrathall halving the deficit for the hosts. But Walney couldn’t find an equaliser and Carnforth, the current holders, made it into the last four.

In league action, Thornton Cleveleys would have gone top of the Premier Division with a win at Tempest United, another match played on 3G.

But they could only manage a draw – a second half own goal cancelling out Jordan Pendlebury’s fifth minute opener for Tempest, who remain 13th.

Hawcoat Park gave their chances of escaping the bottom slot in Division Two a shot in the arm with a resounding 5-0 win at home to Galgate.

An own goal set them on their way to a third win of the season, with strikes from Kieran Culley, Sam Beattie, Matthew Roberts and Matthew Pickering adding the gloss.

In Division One Reserve, Thornton Cleveleys stayed top with a 5-0 victory over Tempest United with five separate scorers making their mark.

Billy Cartmell, Jordan Rankine and Tommy Dollin made it 3-0 at the break and Danny Sumner and Jake Mangan added further goals in the second period.

Cole Exley was on the spot for Turton Reserves in a 3-2 win at Lostock St Gerards Reserves.

Jordan Glover put Gerards ahead with Ben McCabe equalising. Exley fired Turton back in front with his first penalty and added another spot kick on 51 minutes. Zac Wilkes pulled one back but it was not enough.

Joh Stead notched a brace in Hesketh Bank Reserves 2-1 win over Thornton Cleveleys A in Division Two Reserve, Byron Greenwood on the scoresheet for Thornton, and Ricardo Mwale’s effort on the stroke of half time proved the only goal in Carnforth Reserves’ win over Rossendale A.

Milnthorpe Reserves’ home match with Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves was abandoned at half-time due to a worsening playing surface.

There will also be no West Lancashire League representatives in the Westmorland Senior Cup final with Kendal County and Kendal United both falling to 2-1 semi-final defeats to Appleby and Kirkoswald respectively.