Power shifts in race for end of season glory

Kicking things off this week with an extended report, and Burscough Richmond, who pipped CMB to the Premier Division title last season, may well have inflicted a sizeable blow to their title hopes this time round with a 2-1 win over the current second-placed side.

In a cagey first half, Burscough scored from their first real chance, Billy Whittle nodding home at the back post on 34 minutes.

Carl Grimshaw couldn't connect properly with Will Owen's deep cross shortly after.

In the second half, CMB took the game to Burscough with Lee McNab clearing a goalbound effort from the line.

And Saul Guffogg doubled the home side's advantage on 75 minutes, sliding the ball home from Zach Carberry's clever pass.

But CMB refused to bow down and Grimshaw slammed home on 80 minutes after Ollie Turner's header hit the bar.

And a golden chance to equalise went begging late on when Robbie Deighan robbed the Burscough back line, only for a heavy touch to see him lose possession when bearing down on goal.

That result means Thornton Cleveleys now control their own title destiny, with leaders winning 5-0 away at Turton on Saturday thanks to a Dominic Ritchie double, and goals from Matthew Wood, Billy Cartmell and Daniel Stoney.

Blackpool Wren Rovers triumphed by the same scoreline at Slyne with Hest as Ric Seear scored twice and Matthew Sillett, Aidan Burrows and Luke Harris also got on the scoresheet to seal a result which confirmed Slyne’s relegation to Division One.

Rossendale, meanwhile, were the claimants of the division’s biggest win of the day, recording a 7-1 victory at Coppull United.

Jonny Heap’s late brace rounded off the scoring after Luke Tudor, Teal Amos, Rico Gavan, Scott Wylie and Jack Mounsey had all netted one apiece.

Alessio Degrassi got the host's only goal.

A Connor McAuley double and Lewis Pilgrim hat-trick saw Lostock St Gerards win 5-1 against Fulwood Amateurs, who got on the scoresheet via an own goal.

But Cuan Bradley would go one better, netting all four of his side’s goals as Hurst Green won 4-0 at Poulton.

And capping a successful day for the division’s visiting sides were in-form Tempest United, with Sam Parkinson scoring twice before Oliver Grocock and Tom Booth both found the net in a 4-0 victory at Whitehaven.

Wyre Villa and Cleator Moor Celtic, meanwhile, played out a 2-2 draw, with goals from Sam Bowling and Kole Pratt cancelled by a brace from Zac Benson-Lester.

Notably, it was Wyre Villa's first home point of the season.

Eagley extended their advantage at the top of the Division One table to five points this weekend, in large part thanks to a hat-trick from Finlay Stafford.

Kieran Lomax and Lewis Nolan also found the net in a 5-0 win over Kendal County.

Second-placed Haslingden St Mary’s, meanwhile, twice recovered from a goal down on their way to a 2-2 with Holker Old Boys Reserves, with Alfie Edmondson and Lewis Hanley cancelling out goals from Tyler Spence and Josh Woodend.

John Sharples and Joe Tierney both scored twice for their respective sides as Croston Sports won 3-2 at Southport Hesketh, with Liam Robinson also grabbing what would prove a decisive goal for the visitors.

A Joe Smyth-Ferguson brace capped a 4-1 win for Hesketh Bank at Crooklands Casuals, after Matthew Low and Jordan Smethurst had also struck.

Joe Blackshaw got the home side’s only goal.

And Jack Milburn got both of his team’s goals as Ulverston Rangers triumphed 2-0 at Chipping.

Division Two table-toppers Astley and Buckshaw continued their march towards a potential title, with a late double from Finlay Stewart rounding off a 5-0 win against Stoneclough.

Kurt Robinson, Sam Swarbrick and Scott Hammill were also on target in the victory.

Pause United, meanwhile, will be confident of utilising games in hand to secure a place in the top two, and gave their hopes a boost by eventually seeing off Euxton Villa Reserves 4-3 thanks to a Tom Knight double, and goals from Phil Meeks and Jordan Lynch.

Liam McNally, Mackenzie Brown and Jake Greene were the scorers for the home side, who threatened to mount an unlikely late comeback.

Storeys and Garstang Reserves were also embroiled in a seven-goal thriller, with the latter ultimately triumphing 4-3 thanks to a 91st minute winner from Luke Williams.

Williams had already found the net once for the away side, as had Connor Graham and Lewis Heap, whilst Matthew Poole, Josh Cunningham and Connor Crossley got on the scoresheet for Storeys.

Walney Island won 5-1 at Galgate thanks to a brace from Rob Bruce, and goals from Zach Walker, Sheldon Austin and Hayden Skyme.
Paul Dinnan got the hosts’ only goal.

Second-half strikes from Lloyd Trippett and Jack Tipler saw Caton United beat Charnock Richard Reserves 2-1, despite Cole Heaton halving the deficit with more than 20 minutes still to play.

And Freckleton secured a late point against Hawcoat Park, with Freddie Mason and Graham Lyons cancelling out goals from Lewis Woodend and Reece Creswell in an eventual 2-2 draw.

Freckleton and Pause United meet on Thursday in a real six-pointer.

Division One Reserve saw leaders Fulwood Amateurs Reserves register an emphatic 9-2 win at Hurst Green Reserves.

Remarkably, Layton Kirnon was the only repeat scorer, as he scored twice and Alex Rhodes, Dylan Chauhan, Cory Gill, Hugo Strand, Bradley Clitheroe, Lucas Worswick and Harry Wignall all netted one each.

Russell Crook and Fred Hardy were the scorers for the home side.

Second-placed Thornton Cleveleys Reserves also picked up three points, with goals from Jack Sackfield, Harry Fryer and Tommy Dollin sealing 3-1 victory over Lostock St Gerards Reserves, who pulled one back through Dee Edmonds late on.

Ben Seear scored twice, either side of a goal from Rio Gregoriou-Pouncy, as Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves recorded a 3-2 win over Turton Reserves, whose goals came via Jake Wallbank and Matthew Kirkpatrick.

And Eagley Reserves would secure victory at CMB Reserves by the same scoreline, thanks to goal from Matthew Akilli and a quickfire brace from Zach Karanga-Brown.

Ainsley Turner and Yazz Smajic were the scorers for the home side.

Finally, onto Division Two Reserve, which saw the weekend’s stand-out result as Hesketh Bank Reserves secured a thumping 9-1 win at Lytham Town Reserves thanks to a John Stead hat-trick, and doubles from Harry Greenhalgh, Wes Bajraliu and Owen Cuerden.
George Wyatt got the home side’s only goal.

Elsewhere, goals from James Goodyear and Dan Robinson saw leaders Haslingden St Mary’s complete a late comeback against Storeys Reserves, sealing a 2-1 win after Oliver McDermott had earlier opened the scoring.

And it was a good day for the other sides still in the race for promotion, with second-placed Chipping beating Rossendale A 2-0, and Croston Sports Reserves, currently third, triumphing by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Harry Mahon and Ben Davies.

Freckleton Reserves also kept their hopes alive with a high-scoring victory at Thornton Cleveleys A.

A Thiery Bennett brace, sandwiched by goals from Thiery Bennett and Danny Threlfall, sealed an eventual 4-3 win, in which Will Cooper, Josh Wood and Billy Wade netted in vain for the home side.