Evergreen Gardner keeps marvellous Milnthorpe top of table

Milnthorpe Corinthians, who spent much of last season fighting relegation from the Premier Division, made it four wins from four with a 3-2 victory over Cleator Moor Celtic.

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Former manager Shaun Gardner cancelled out Tommy Whitehead’s opener for Cleator Moor and then put Milnthorpe 3-1 up following Ewan Atkinson’s 53rd minute effort.

Taylor Hambling pulled one back but Milnthorpe couldn’t be denied to take top spot.

Burscough Richmond and CMB – last season’s outstanding sides – played out an entertaining game with Matt Taylor’s men coming back from an early own goal to win 3-1.

Danny Crook, Dylan Winstanley and Daniel Locke all scored to make it three wins from three for the Boltonians.

Tempest United saw off Coppull United 3-0 thanks to an Aaron Thorpe double and Josh Firth while Fulwood Amateurs are third after a 4-0 win over Wyre Villa, Ben Trafford, Aaron Aiton, Will Pitt and Lucas Gornall getting the goals there.

The points were shared at Blackpool Wren Rovers where Lostock St Gerards took the lead through Olly Evans only for Ben Duffield to reply immediately in a 1-1 draw.

Thornton Cleveleys came back to earth with a bump after Saturday’s 4-0 win at Burscough, succumbing 5-2 at Poulton.

Dom Richie had put Terry Green’s men in front but two own goals and efforts from Billy Dollin and Billy Joyce put Poulton out of sight. Adam Sumner pulled one back but Bevan Foxhall finished off the scoring.

Slyne got their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw at home to Whitehaven.

Jakub Kowalik put the home side ahead but Carl Denver earned a point for the west Cumbrians.

New boys Chipping lead the way in Division One, earning their third win in four games with a resounding 6-0 win at Lytham Town.

Kane Froggatt grabbed a hat trick and further goals from Declan Hardacre, Harris Bailey and Oscar Middlesbrough added to the tally.

Eagley are second after an eye-catching win at LFA Shield holders Hesketh Bank.

An own goal and a Luke Bradbury effort made it 1-1 at the break but Eagley pulled clear in the second period to win 3-1 thanks to Kieran Lomax and Kennedy Corvelli.

It leaves much-fancied Hesketh Bank in 11th with one win in four.

Holker Old Boys are third after a 5-2 win at Askam, where all five of the visitor’s goals were scored in the second half.

Askam were two up at the break through Callum Rayner and Aiden Pearson but a Farryl Foster pair and goals from Charley Thompson, Robbie Wallace and Jordan McGarry completed a remarkable turnaround.

A Ben Jackson brace helped Carnforth Rangers earn their first win of the season, 4-0 at home to Ulverston Rangers. Cole Holt and Joe Wilkinson got the other goals.

And Millom’s home woes continued with a 2-0 loss to Crooklands Casuals for their third home defeat on the spin. Luke Armstrong twice did the damage in the first half.

In Division Two, Freckleton have bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on promotion last term with a perfect start in 2023/24.

Freckleton edged a crazy game against Galgate 5-3 with seven goals coming in the first half.

Rhys Turner scored a first half hat-trick for Freckleton with Ryan Thompson also on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Galgate, though, gave us good as they got and only trailed by one at the break through two Liam Painter strikes and Chris Stripp.

Ellis Campbell made it 5-3 in a much quieter second half and that’s how it stayed to full time.

Astley and Buckshaw eased to a 6-1 win at Charnock Richard Reserves, Dom Case and Adnaan Patel both on the mark twice.

Liam Wylie and Wes Bajrulla added to the scoreline with Alex Kaye getting the home side’s consolation.

Jamie Hastings also netted a hat-trick – and injury time winner – in Storeys’ 5-4 eventful victory over Kendal United.

Hastings twice netted inside 16 minutes, cancelling out strikes on both occasions by Jonny Voortman and Marco Thompson.

Matthew Poole also scored twice for Storeys to make it 4-2 within 26 minutes with Voortman pulling one back on 33 minutes.

Voortman made it 4-4 with his own hat-trick but Hastings slotted home from the spot in the 96th minute to hand the points to Storeys.

Pause United saw off Caton United 3-0 through a Tom Knight double and Jordan Lynch while Hawcoat Park and Dalton United cancelled each other out in a 0-0 stalemate.