Morris treble sinks derby rivals as league pays tribute to Cliff

Morris helped table-toppers Thornton dismiss the challenge of bottom club Poulton Town to move nine points clear at the summit thanks to the 3-0 win.

It was one of 12 matches to beat the moist December weather on a day when those in action held a minute's applause for former league referee Cliff Trickett, who died last Sunday aged 64.

Hurst Green's James Wolfenden also helped himself to the match ball after his treble in the Ribble Valley side's 6-1 thrashing of Southport Hesketh.

Jordan Monk opened the scoring on 18 minutes before doubling his side's advantage on 30 minutes. Wolfenden then got in on the act with three strikes in 31 second half minutes, sandwiched by Matthew Norcross' effort for the Merseysiders.

Daniel Mort struck a sixth on 85 minutes to round off a comfortable home win.

Whitehaven Amateurs enjoyed the trip to Slyne-with-Hest, a Bobby Carter brace sealing the points after Reece Pearce had opened the scoring for the home side.

Lytham Town enjoyed a 2-1 home win against Turton with Ross Ainsworth and Dan Stammers on the scoresheet for the Fylde coast side, who are up to third. Ally Dickson grabbed Turton's goal.

In Division One, Ben Marshall grabbed a last minute winner for Stoneclough against Millom.

The Cumbrians had gone into the half-time interval ahead thanks to an own goal before Tom Letcher restored parity on 66 minutes.

In Division Two, Charmock Richard Res hit Cartmel and District for seven with seven different goalscorers netting.

Lewis Thompson and Ross Ellison had given the home side a 2-0 half time advantage before Cartmel were hit with a second-half meteorological and footballing deluge with four goals in 12 minutes ending the contest.

Daniel Wyatt, Jack Bennett, Sam Milburn and Harvey Bradshaw added their names to the scoresheet before Daniel Bibby became the seventh different scorer on 77 minutes.

Carl Airey grabbed a consolation in injury time for the battling visitors.

Prolific striker Tom Hulme scored twice in Rossendale’s 5-0 rout of Kendal United, while Scott Wylie with a brace and Paul Stannard sealed the points.

Carnforth Rangers and Burnley United, in second and third respectively, shared the points after a 2-2 draw, Dan Mardell and Cameron Holmes for the home side and Michael White and an own goal for the visitors.

Walney Island are nicely poised after a 7-1 win over Galgate.

The game was over as a contest by half-time as they raced into a 5-0 lead thanks to goals from Will Boulton, Zach Walker, Connor Carson and a Reece Craig pair.

Jack Preston replied for Galgate but James Bailey and Seth Storey added the cherry on top for Walney.

And Joe Brierley also netted a pair in Freckleton’s 3-1 win over Dalton United.

Jack Williams had given the home side the lead on 25 minutes but Andy Frazer cancelled it out on the stroke of half-time. But then Brierley struck twice to seal the points.

In Division One Reserve, Thornton Cleveleys lost the chance to close the gap on leaders Euxton Villa by losing 2-1 at home to Tempest United.

Nick Skelly and an own goal for Tempest eclipsed Mike Moon’s strike as three valuable points headed back to Bolton.

Fulwood Amateurs Res benefited from the odd goal in nine at home to Horwich St Mary’s Reserves.

Kane Froggatt (2) and Aaron Alton, Alex Rhodes and Brad Fox were the scorers for the Preston side while Brad Partington, Tom Walsh and Matthew Hancock (2) replied for the visitors in the 5-4 goalfest.

Every match in Division Two Reserve fell foul of the weather.