Eagles take flight thanks to 'Special K'

The latest spell of wet weather did its best to dampen Saturday’s post-Christmas return to action, but those not defeated by elements certainly put on a show to kick off the new year.

Beginning as always in the Premier Division, where Fulwood Amateurs solidified their place in third with an impressive win over fourth-placed Lostock St Gerards.

Goalkeepers Aaron Lancaster and Austin Wood both made fine instinctive saves in an entertaining first 30 minutes before Aaron Hewitt charged down an attempted clearance to put Fulwood ahead on 38 minutes with a freak opener.

Spencer Lucas then finished off a flowing move two minutes later with a back post volley to make it 2-0 on 40 minutes.

Ben Trafford then made the points safe six minutes into the second half with a powerful header from a corner.

Elsewhere, Burscough Richmond made a blistering start to 2024, netting eight without reply against a depleted Slyne with Hest.

Zach Carberry sealed his hat-trick with a goal from the spot on 58 minutes, whilst Jordan Lorde and Billy Whittle got two apiece. Also on the scoresheet was Will Doherty.

CMB returned to the Division’s summit, with Carl Grimshaw grabbing an 89th minute winner in a 3-2 win at Turton.

The visitors had previously led 2-0 through Oliver Turner and another Grimshaw goal, before debutant Nick Hepple, formerly of Poulton and Hurst Green, and Tosin Adioye struck to briefly level the game.

Milnthorpe Corinthians also triumphed 3-2 on the road, surviving a Blackpool Wren Rovers rally to claim all three points.

Goals from Adam Taylor, Matthew Casson and Oliver Rickerby had the score at 3-0 after just 37 minutes, but Luke Harris and Ric Seear would find the net for the hosts to set up a far more tense ending to the game.

Poulton and Whitehaven played out an eight-goal thriller, with the former ultimately running out 5-3 winners, powered by five different scorers.

Danny Morris, Max Landless, Billy Mckenna, Lewis Camm and Aidan Wintrip were all on target in the victory, whilst Whitehaven’s goals came via Kian Goulding and an Owen Woodburn brace.

Hurst Green recovered from a goal down to see off Cleator Moor Celtic 3-1, with Tom Divver swiftly cancelling out Reece Little’s 46th minute opener.

Goals from Charlie Collinge and Cuan Bradley then sealed the win.
And lastly in the Premier Division, Rossendale beat Tempest United 2-0 thanks to goals from Tom Hartley and Tom Hulme.

In Division One, Eagley returned to the top of the table in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 win at Chipping in which Kieran Sisson netted a hat-trick and Finlay Stafford score twice.

Meanwhile, Hesketh Bank beat previous leaders Ulverston Rangers 4-1, in part thanks to a brace from player manager Dan Birkby.

Josh Brierley and Sebastian Bailey also struck in the win, before Sam Pinnegor pulled one back just after the hour.

Haslingden St Mary’s also remain firmly amongst the promotion race after Dylan Harris’ last gasp winner secured a 2-1 win against Lytham Town, who had initially led through Billy Bould.

Michael Woodvine leveled the game just before the break, before Harris scored what would prove the game’s decisive goal in the 90th minute.

Elsewhere, a Dylan Ellis double helped Holker Old Boys Reserves record a 3-1 victory at Kendal County, with Ellis joined on the scoresheet by Jordan McGarry.

Dan Ferguson got the only goal for the home side.

Just the two games were ultimately played in Division Two, with both ending 3-2.

Astley and Buckshaw’s triumph at Caton United took them to the top of the table, with Jamal John’s opener and a brace from Lucas Gornall sealing the three points.

Edward Harrison and Lloyd Trippett were the scorers the home team.
Meanwhile, Dean Davies and Jordan Chubb both scored twice for their respective sides as Pause United beat Dalton United, though it was Tom Knight who got what would prove the game’s decided goal.

And there’s just one result to report from Division One Reserve, where Thornton Cleveleys Reserves claimed a 2-0 win against Coppull Reserves thanks to goals from Harru Fryer and Jake Mangan.

Wrapping up the league action with a look at Division Two Reserve, where Fulwood Amateurs A recorded an emphatic 10-1 win over Rossendale A.

There were braces from Dylan Jackson-Cooney and Isaac Webster, whilst Ali Mohseni, Connor Ward, Michael Botes, Louis Botes, Max Botes and Alex Smithson all got a goal apiece.

George Richardson was the scorer of Rossendale A’s only goal.

Storeys Reserves also scored a sizeable victory, recovering from falling behind to Esan Gouldbourne’s early opener to ultimately beat Freckleton Reserves 7-1.

Josh Airey scored twice, Josh Heap netted from the spot, and Dominic Hoyle, Tom Charlson, Wayne Beswick and Oliver Nuttall were all also on target.

Meanwhile, goals from Dan Nowell and Chris Harper saw Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves beat Thornton Cleveleys A 2-0.

There were also a couple of cup fixtures completed on Saturday, with an Adam Challoner hat-trick helped Wyre Villa advance to round three of the Richardson Cup.

Kobe Pratt, Alwyn Flynn and Savion Fernando also struck to seal an eventual 6-3 win against Stoneclough in a game that was completed at the fourth time of asking due to the weather before Christmas.

And finally, we wrap up this edition of the roundup with a brief look at the Stewart Rowe Memorial Cup, where CMB Reserves beat Lytham Town Reserves 4-0 in Group D of the competition.

Jax Hazeldine, Matthew Ormrod, Alex Cottenden and Harry Dixon were the goalscorers.