Glory for Gerards as Burscough keep up remarkable record

Premier Division: Hurst Green go goal crazy

It was another action-packed Saturday of West Lancashire League action, and Hurst Green led the scoring in the Premier Division, as they beat Vickerstown 7-1.

Daniel Mort netted a hat-trick, including two from the spot, with Jordan Monk also scoring a penalty as he bagged a brace.

Meanwhile, Sam Lloyd and Charlie Collenge grabbed a goal each.
Elsewhere, the title race continues to trend towards a down-to-the-wire finish, as both contenders again picked up maximum points.

Leaders Burscough Richmond are now just one win away from a perfect home league campaign after a 3-1 comeback victory over Poulton, whilst second-placed CMB won 2-0 at Coppull United.

A depleted Poulton started brightly and took the lead at Burscough Richmond through Luke Noble in the ninth minute, sweeping home from just inside the box, and would hold that lead until the break.

However, three goals in nine second-half minutes would see the hosts recover to seal three points, with Paul Bousique-Green getting the equaliser and a Raj Singh-Uppal netting a double.

First Bousique-Green made it 1-1 in almost identical fashion to Noble's opener, finding the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Within six minutes, they were ahead. Adam Sutton was felled in the area and Singh-Uppal sent the keeper the wrong way.

The result was put beyond doubt on 60 minutes when Singh-Uppal rose magnificently to power a header into the far corner.

Meanwhile, Obi Ebizie and Callum Cornes were the scorers in CMB’s away triumph.

Tempest United also picked up a 2-0 win on the road, with Jacob Pendlebury and Will Brown netting in their win at Milnthorpe Corinthians.

That result, coupled with a 2-1 over Thornton Cleveleys, allowed Wyre Villa to extend their cushion over Milnthorpe Corinthians and give their chances of survival a welcome boost.

Goals from Courtney Skerritt and Zaman Rezoei gave Wyre Villa a two-goal lead, and despite Eddie Pell halving their advantage late on, they would see out the final few minutes to claim a potentially crucial three points.

As he did the Saturday previous, Will Simm started and rounded off the scoring for Fulwood Amateurs as they beat Slyne with Hest 4-1.

Simm’s seventh-minute strike broke the deadlock early on, only for Reece Pearce to equalise almost immediately from the spot.

Fulwood Amateurs would then retake the lead through a penalty of their own, successfully converted by Noah Hidley, before a Cory Gill goal and Simm’s second sealed the win in style.

And rounding off the weekend’s Premier Division action, Turton beat Whitehaven 2-1 thanks to goals from Ricardo Pembele and James Sigworth.

Whitehaven were briefly level courtesy of a Tom Powell goal, but Sigworth’s penalty two minutes later would ultimately seal the win for Turton.

Division One: Chasing pack chip away at Lostock St Gerard’s lead

There looks set to be plenty of title drama across the West Lancs pyramid as the season enters its final weeks, and the Division One race took another turn this weekend.

Leaders Lostock St Gerards drew 2-2 with Crooklands Casuals, which allowed Hesketh Bank and Rossendale to close the gap as they both tasted victory.

Hesketh Bank beat Horwich St Mary’s Victoria 1-0 thanks to a 28th-minute goal from Kevin Edgar, whilst Rossendale recorded a 5-0 win over Askam United, with Scott Wylie scoring twice and Luke Simpson, Tom Hartley and Tom Hulme grabbing one each.

Lostock St Gerards’ advantage is still a healthy six points, but with both of their title rivals possessing games in hand, things at the top of Division One remain delicately poised.

There were also important results at the other end of the table, most notably at Stoneclough, where Ulverston Rangers rallied from 2-0 to win 3-2.

A brace from Austin Almond saw Stoneclough two up after 20 minutes, before quickfire strikes from Archie Butler and Ben Wheeler levelled the game at 2-2.

Chris Wraighte then scored what would prove to be the winner 12 minutes from time to deal a cruel blow to Stoneclough’s already slim chances of survival.

Elsewhere, goals from Jonny Ash, Lucas Pennington and Alex Worthington saw Carnforth Rangers win 3-1 at Hawcoat Park, with Mike Melia getting the hosts only goal of the game.

A Ben McDonald brace saw Millom beat Kendal County 2-0.

And in the final Division One game of the weekend, Croston Sports beat Haslingden St Marys 2-1 thanks to goals from Ryan Fletcher and Jordan Freeman.

Fletcher’s opener and Freeman’s penalty gave their side a 2-0 lead, and despite Charlie Hulse pulling one back from Haslingden St Marys with 14 minutes to play, Croston Sports would see the game out to take the win.

Division Two: Stevenson stars as Holker Old Boys Reserves score nine

Holker Old Boys Reserves made a significant statement in their pursuit of Freckleton at the top of Division Two, as they hit nine unanswered goals at Charnock Richard Reserves.

Tom Stevenson netted a 10-minute hat-trick in the win, whilst Tyler Spence, Samuel Joel and Faryl Foster all scored twice.

The league leaders refused to falter in their final match of the season, however, as a pair of doubles from Saul Hamer and Kiefer Cunningham saw they eventually overcome Garstang Reserves 4-3 in a game where the lead changed hands a number of times.

Lewis Heap and Jake Salisbury found the net for Garstang Reserves, either side of an own goal, but it would not be enough to prevent defeat to a Freckleton side who will now wait to see if their final tally of 66 points will be enough to seal promotion.

Meanwhile, Walney Island and Chipping, third and fourth respectively, both lost ground on the top two as they played out a 2-2 draw.

Harris Bailey and Gregg Trimbell got on the scoresheet for Chipping, whilst Reece Craig and Zach Walker netted for Walney Island.

Euxton Villa Reserves will hope games in hand could yet see them gatecrash the party at the top, and they certainly showed their credentials this weekend, defeating Pause United 7-2.

Ash Ball scored a hat-trick, whilst Lewis Sullivan, Nick Buckley, Rahul Parmer and Xavier Green each got one.

Pause United’s goals were scored by Will Sharkey and Marc Cottee.

That result also allowed Cartmel to cut the gap to Pause United down to four points at the other end of the table, as they won 3-0 at AFC Blackpool Reserves to record just their second win of the season.

Two goals from Jack Addison, including one from the spot, set them on their way, before Tim Hornby completed the scoring to seal a priceless win.

Elsewhere, a pair of penalties from Matthew Poole and Jamie Hastings saw Storeys seal a 2-2 draw at Astley and Buckshaw, that after the hosts had twice led through Sam Swarbrick and Wes Bajrallu.

And finally in Division Two, Burnley United sealed all three points on the road as they recorded a 4-3 win at Galgate.

Division One Reserve: Lostock St Gerards Reserves crowned champions

Lostock St Gerards have held a healthy lead in Division One Reserve, and on Saturday they officially secured the title with a 3-0 win at Poulton Reserves.

Jonny Wilding opened the scoring, before Adam Whittaker scored twice, with his first coming from 12 yards.

That result confirmed Lostock St Gerards Reserves as champions after second-placed Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves played out a 1-1 draw with Coppull United Reserves, with Steve McEwan’s
second-half opener cancelled out by Scott Hendy five minutes from time.

A Josh Pope hat-trick set CMB Reserves on their way to a 6-2 win over Croston Sports Reserves.

Harry Dixon then scored twice, before Scott McNair completed the scoring.

Both of Croston Sports Reserves’ goals were scored by Dominic Medejros.

And Ezio De Santos also hit a brace, as Hurst Green Reserves won 3-1 at Fulwood Amateurs Reserves.

The visitors’ win was rounded off by a goal from Scott Craven, whilst Kane Froggatt scored Fulwood Amateurs Reserves only goal, which had looked for a significant portion of the game like it could be enough to secure a point.

Division Two Reserve: Lytham Town Reserves take the limelight

In the division’s only game of the weekend, and the last in this edition of the roundup, Lytham Town Reserves beat Carnforth Rangers Reserves 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Jimmy McPhee and Leyton Collier.