In-form Wrens into first Richardson Cup final for eight years

Starting with cup semi final action, and in the last four of the Richardson Cup, Rossendale grabbed a dramatic late winner to beat Tempest United 3-2.

Teal Amos gave Rossendale the lead on 10 minutes against the current league leaders, who responded in the second half and briefly turned the game on its head.

Jordan Pendlebury equalised on the 55th minute before Tom Booth put Tempest ahead on 70 minutes, with Rossendale reduced to 10 men.

Just moments later, though, Pierce Beetham brought Rossendale level and the drama wasn’t done there: Milan Tinant found a winner in the fourth minute of added time to send his side through to the final and give them the chance to repeat the success of two seasons ago.

2017 winners Blackpool Wren Rovers will be their opponents after a 3-1 victory over CMB - their fifth straight win in a perfect March.

The scores were level at the break after Alex Leigh cancelled out Danny Fletcher’s opener, but the prolific Ric Seear restored Wren Rovers’ lead three minutes into the second half.

Jackson Bateman cemented the win with a goal in the last minute of normal time.

As for the Presidents Cup, Cleator Moor Celtic progressed to the final after a 2-1 win against Lytham Town.

They scored the crucial goals before the break, with Owen O’Neill and Ben McCarron finding the net in the opening 25 minutes.

Lytham’s sole reply came through Will Eastham on 47 minutes but they couldn’t mount a comeback from that point on.

Croston Sports will also be in the final; they beat Askam United 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in normal time.

Whitehaven's Great Escape could be on after they moved off the foot of the Premier Division table after a 3-0 win at Milnthorpe Corinthians.

An own goal put them ahead before a Kian Goulding double made sure of the valuable three points.

Lostock St Gerards leapfrogged their opponents Haslingden St Marys in the table after a 2-0 away victory.

Mason McKay opened the scoring on 25 minutes before Alex Carnovale made it two with 10 minutes until full time.

In Division One, two hat trick heroes helped Holker Old Boys Reserves to a 6-2 win at home against Slyne with Hest.

Joe McGladdery and Frankie Ellis both scored three in a comprehensive victory, with Slyne’s two coming courtesy of Jamie Huddleston and an own goal.

Freckleton drew 4-4 at Crooklands Casuals in a thrilling encounter to move to within just one point of Slyne with Hest and the safety zone.

Lee Irving got the hosts off to a flying start with two goals inside eight minutes but Jack Williams and Theo Cunliffe scored to send the sides into the break on level terms.

Williams scored his second and Freckleton’s third 10 minutes after the restart to remarkably turn the game around but Joe Blackshaw was there five minutes later make things all square once more.

The same could be said for when Irving scored his hat trick, five minutes after Connor Hopcroft had edged Freckleton in front again on 75 minutes; the game finished four apiece.

Astley & Buckshaw are now one victory away from promotion following a 1-0 win at Kendal County thanks to Dan Cooper’s 62nd minute strike.

Hesketh Bank are now Astley’s closest rivals for that second promotion place, they kept the pressure on with a 3-0 win at home to Chipping.

Aiden Johnson, Kevin Edgar - now on 28 for the season - and Nathan Gonzales scored to maintain the seven-point gap between themselves and Astley, with just three games remaining for both sides.

Carnforth Rangers remain in sixth after a 2-0 away win to now-fourth Ulverston Rangers thanks to Josh Green and Sonny Graham’s strikes which were scored in quick succession just prior to the half hour mark.

There were goals galore in Division Two, starting with Storeys of Lancaster’s 9-1 win over Mill Hill.

Goals from Joe Waring (4), Luke Barnby (3) and Archie Addison (2) gave Storeys the comfortable victory, which now puts them level on points with second placed Kendal United, albeit with three more games played.

Brandon Clifton scored Mill Hill’s only goal.

Another team in with a chance of promotion, Stoneclough, won 8-2 at Euxton Villa Reserves.

The hosts were very much in the game in the opening half an hour thanks to Jacob Greenhalgh’s early double.

However, Joe Howlin netted a hat trick with Jermaine Meggoe, Lewis Greenhall and Ross Wakefield also on the scoresheet, as well as two own goals along the way, to earn Stoneclough a big win.

Kendal United were made to settle for a 4-4 draw at Caton United, who had all four of their goals scored by Tommy Varey.

Kendal’s four goals came from Jamie Harris (2), Jamie Looker and an own goal - they are now 10 points behind Pause, with those crucial three games in hand.

Walney Island held on to win 4-3 against Garstang Reserves after a late flurry of chances.

They were comfortably winning at the break with a 3-0 lead through Zach Walker’s double and Preston Gaitskell, but Joey Strawn pulled one back after the hour.

Kyle Beach made it four at the midway point of the second half but Strawn found the net again not long after, as did Rory Walmsley late in the day, yet ‘Cleveleys’ stood firm to prevent an equaliser.

Thornton Cleveleys Reserves defeated Hawcoat Park 4-1 thanks to doubles from Will Hockings and Harry Fryer, with Charlie Thompson scoring an early second half consolation.

Reserve Division One’s bottom side Rossendale Reserves are giving it their all in their final few games.

Although goal difference is far from on their side, they lived to fight another day following a 2-1 win against Haslingden St Marys Reserves.

George Brown’s first half double gave them the three points, while James Goodyear got Haslingden’s goal on 65 minutes.

Current top dogs Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves beat Turton Reserves 2-0.

Ryan Nickless broke the deadlock from 12 yards before Haiden Wrathall’s strike with seconds of the first half to go.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves are now the leaders of the chasing pack - albeit having played one more game than third place - following a 3-0 away win versus Chipping Reserves.

Joe Collins and Wes Enoma struck for Fulwood before an own goal five minutes before time.

There was late drama in the 3-3 draw between Eagley Reserves and Coppull United Reserves.

The game was heading for a two-all draw after Jordan Hibbert’s double and goals from Joe Galloway and Lewis Foster, but in the first minute of stoppage time, Eagley got themselves ahead through Rhys Hardie.

Eagley’s ecstasy, however, was short-lived: Scott Hendy brought things back to level terms just moments later.

In Reserve Division Two, Carnforth Rangers Reserves secured their promotion following a 4-1 away win against Croston Sports Reserves.

The division’s top scorer Will Mead and Cole Holt netted doubles, while Lewis Townley got Croston Sport’s goal.

That result means third placed Thornton Cleveleys A have missed out on promotion but they still battled to victory over Caton United Reserves.

Goals from Finley Garrett and Josh Alderson were respectively cancelled out by Joseph Jenks and Jamie Townley but Cleveleys found a goal to which Caton could not reply on 83 minutes through Logan Hunston.

Hurst Green Reserves are up to fourth following a 3-1 win over Lytham Town Reserves.

Max Hetherington gave Lytham the advantage within the opening 20 minutes but Hurst Green Reserves improved in the second half and secured the three points thanks to a Reece Rhodes double and a Luke Dickinson effort.

Pause United Reserves also came from a goal down to win 3-1 as they faced Stoneclough Reserves.

Martyn Parkinson gave Stoneclough the lead but Joe McDermott equalised on 32 minutes, before Roger Sharrock put Pause ahead early in the second half and Taylor Fagan made sure of the win on 90 minutes.