New boys enjoy opening day goal blitz

Before getting their seasons underway, many of our teams observed a minute’s silence for the tragic events in Southport earlier this week.

Fulwood Amateurs are top of the Premier Division at this very early stage of the season after a 5-0 home victory over Cleator Moor Celtic.

A hat trick from one of last season’s Premier Division Team of the Season players Spencer Lucas and a goal each from Will Simm and Kieran Jones gave them a dream start to the campaign.

There was another five-star performance in the Premier Division on the opening weekend as Tempest United beat Lostock St Gerards 5-1.

Four of Tempest’s five goals were scored in the first half by Liam Rice, Tim Raines and Sam Parkinson who got a quickfire double towards the end of the half.

Parkinson then completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the second half but not before Connor Macauley added a consolation goal.

Elsewhere, Blackpool Wren Rovers and Rossendale played out a 3-3 draw.

The hosts struck early through Alfie Gardiner but Rossendale turned the game on its head thanks to goals from Cole Exley and Joe Howarth.

Ric Seear then levelled things up before Gardiner and Oxley got their second goals of the game and a third for their respective sides.

There was another six-goal thriller at Poulton who took on Whitehaven.

An own goal put the visitors in front at half time but Poulton scored four times in 21 minutes after the break to give themselves a convincing lead with Cory Harrison, Mitch Cheetham, Billy McKenna and Noah Sawkins getting on the scoresheet before Paul Lomax made it 4-2 late in the day.

Last season’s second-placed team CMB, who will no doubt be looking to go one better this time around, got their season started with a 1-0 win over 2023/24 Division One champions Eagley thanks to an Oliver Turner goal.

Burscough Richmond came from a goal down to beat newly-promoted Haslingden St Marys 2-1 at home.

Will Thompson got the opener for the visitors before Lewis Corke levelled things up and Jordan Lorde’s strike gave Burscough the three points.

Hurst Green and Milnthorpe Corinthians got a point each as they played out a 1-1 draw in their season opener.

Milnthorpe’s player-manager Garry Thompson put them in front before Scott Craven equalised for Hurst Green.

Wyre Villa and Coppull United’s game also finished 1-1 with Louis Barrow and Jack Hayton finding the net, both in the second half.

In Division One, it looks like Astley and Buckshaw have adapted to life in a higher division with ease.

They recorded a 4-0 win over Slyne with Hest who have made the step down this season.

Lucas Gornall had a day to remember, scoring all four goals and completing a hat trick inside the first 20 minutes of play.

Another comprehensive victory came at Division One newcomers Freckleton, but it was visitors Ulverston Rangers who got the three points.

They won 5-1 with Jack Milburn scoring a hat trick and Sam Pinnigor and Archie Butler also finding the Freckleton net.

Jack Williams got a consolation goal for the hosts just after the hour mark.

Two teams who just missed out on promotion last season met on the opening day.

Askam United and Hesketh Bank locked horns with the latter coming out 3-1 victors.

Peter Atkinson-Jones took the lead for Hesketh Bank but Aiden Pearson equalised, however Joe Roach immediately gave them the advantage again with an outrageous 65-yard strike before the break and Dan Birkby added a third in the second half.

Holker Old Boys Reserves got a 3-0 win at Southport Hesketh, with Charlie McGladdery opening the scoring before a second half brace from Jordan McGarry.

Croston Sports beat Carnforth Rangers 3-0 on home turf, with Greg Brickell getting two first half goals before his son Taylor Brickell added a third after half time.

Crooklands Casuals started their season with a 3-2 win at Lytham Town and survived a late scare.

They were comfortably 3-0 up thanks to first half goals from Nathan Shaw and Lee Irving as well as a strike from Nathan Tracy early on in second half but Tom Bell and Danny Scarlett’s goals for Lytham, the latter coming in the 90th minute, made it a nervy last few moments for the away side.

Turton have dropped down a division this season and had a tough start to their campaign, losing 2-0 to Millom thanks to Jed Phillips and Ben McDonald.

Chipping beat Kendal County 2-1 away from home despite the hosts initially taking the lead through Aaron McMinn, his goal was cancelled out by Jack Rhodes and then Hugo Strand got Chipping’s winner.

There were goals aplenty in Division Two on the opening day, none more so than at Caton United, who hosted West Lancs newcomers Bamber Bridge Reserves in a game that finished 7-2 to the visitors.

Caton did take a 2-0 lead through player-manager Adam Garnett and Lloyd Trippett.

Lewis Pilgrim got one back before half time, after which Bamber Bridge took hold of the game.

Macauley Hopkins levelled things up before Jude Caskey turned the game around.

Lewis Pilgrim scored a quickfire double to complete a hat-trick and added his fourth in added time, but not before Taylor Maguire got himself on the scoresheet.

Another new addition to the league in Mill Hill started life in the West Lancs League with a comprehensive victory as they beat Pause United 6-0 at home with six different players netting.

They had a strong 3-0 lead heading into half time thanks to a Corey Cooke penalty and strikes from Connor Gilgun and Covy Smith.

The hosts looked comfortable with their margin of victory but added three more in the final 15 minutes of the game - Louis Almond, Curtis Poole and Aaron Philipson making sure of a statement win.

Kendal United beat Garstang Reserves 6-1 away from home, scoring all of their goals in the first half.

Brody Moffatt scored their first and last goals with Jamie Harris, Jason Jones and Matthew Kennedy also finding the back of the net.

The hosts also conceded an own goal during the first half but had a much better second 45, with Joseph Painter scoring a consolation.

Charnock Richard Reserves came from two goals down to beat Galgate 6-2.

Galgate took an early lead thanks to two goals inside 11 minutes from Godfrey Boamad and Joe Winstanley.

Charnock’s comeback began on the half hour mark through Ian Billington, before Luca Navarro made it all square at the break.

Billington struck again within a minute of the restart then goals from Danny Regan, Alfie Hodgkinson and Cole Heaton gave them a comfortable win.

Walney Island were 3-0 victors over Storeys of Lancaster, Hayden Skyme scoring twice inside the opening 20 minutes and Zach Walker getting a goal on the hour mark to cap off a strong first day of the season.

Hawcoat Park got a 2-0 win over Euxton Villa Reserves thanks to goals from Reece and James Cresswell.

Barnoldswick Town Reserves’ first game in the West Lancs League was a 2-1 defeat away to Dalton United.

Harrison O’Brien scored inside the first minute for Dalton before Luke Parkinson got an equaliser mere seconds after the second half got underway, but Robbie McMurdo restored the hosts’ lead and got them the three points.

Stoneclough came from behind twice against Thornton Cleveleys Reserves as the two sides played out a 2-2 draw.

Thornton Cleveleys were ahead at half time thanks to Lewis Bowes but Jordan Wignall made it a goal apiece.

Dan Hadgraft put them back in front just minutes later but Lewis Greenhall equalised again and rounded off the goal action.

In Reserve Division One, Chipping had the perfect start to the season as they beat Poulton Reserves.

Gareth Jones, Zach Wilson, Oliver Alston and Connor Wylie were all on the scoresheet for them and an own goal went their way too.

It wasn’t the only 5-0 win in the division, as Blackpool Wren Rovers travelled to Rossendale Reserves and won by the same scoreline.

They took a 3-0 lead into the break thanks to an opener from Harvey Walford and a brace from Liam Wenman.

Goals from Charlie King and Reuben Williams in the second half made sure of their victory.

Elsewhere, CMB Reserves got a 3-0 win at Eagley Reserves thanks to Ainsley Turner, Jamie Granty and Callum Walsh.

Jonny Wilding and Joel Chester got the goals as Lostock St Gerards Reserves beat Tempest United Reserves 2-1 at home, Charlie French got the goal for the visitors.

It finished as a 1-1 draw between Haslingden St Marys Reserves and Fulwood Amateurs.

Harry Wignall put Fulwood Amateurs ahead but the hosts levelled it up through Charlie Ridge.

Turton Reserves looked to be heading for a win on the first day of the season against Coppull United Reserves thanks to a Morgan Rouch goal, but Ben Bicknell’s late equaliser meant it finished 1-1.

In Reserve Division Two, Pause United Reserves were on the right side of a nine-goal thriller as they beat Lytham Town Reserves 7-2 in their first West Lancs League game.

Jack Carr and Alex Requena put Pause two goals to the good before Harris Fairgreave halved Lytham Town’s deficit on the stroke of half time.

After the break, Pause scored five goals in 24 second-half minutes: Ryan Worrall, Adam Walmsley, Jamie Wilkes and Max Davies (2) all netting in a comprehensive victory, with Charlie Ormerod scoring a consolation partway through that period of the game.

Fellow West Lancs newcomers Stoneclough Reserves got their first three points on the board in a 2-1 victory at Fulwood Amateurs A.

The hosts took the lead through James Bell but Stoneclough turned it round with a goal in each half, the first from Josh Brock and the second from James Dean.

Carnforth Rangers Reserves got a 3-0 win over Croston Sports Reserves.

It was a dream start to the season for Josh Hadwin who netted a first half hat trick.

A goal either side of half time from Ben Rothery helped Storeys Reserves defeat Hurst Green Reserves 2-1, with Jordan Monk halving the deficit late in the day.

Owen Cuerden was the hero for Hesketh Bank Reserves as they drew 2-2 with Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves.

Jordan Knowles’ brace put Milnthorpe 2-0 up at half time and it looked like they would be getting the win, however two late goals from Cuerden in the 85th and 90th minutes rescued a point for Hesketh Bank.