Premier Division Final Review

THE WEST Lancashire Premier Division went out with a goal feast on the final weekend of the season on Saturday - 26 goals in four games saw to it that the fans were treated to the nets bulging from Southport to Burnley (writes Howard Jones).
And pride of place has to go to Merseysiders, Southport Hesketh whose end of season home form has seen them climb up the table to finish in a respectable 10th place after looking like relegation candidates a month or so ago.
They thrashed Vickerstown 7-3 at Bankfield Lane and they had to come from behind to do it.
A goal down after eight minutes to a Dave Round penalty for the visitors, Southport clicked into gear with three first-half goals thanks to a Dave Brooks brace (16, 32) and a Danny Loughlin strike after 20 minutes.
In between Round bagged his second penalty after 32 minutes to leave the game nicely poised at the break, but Guy Buckley increased the home sides lead two minutes into the second-half before John O’Brien added a fifth after 58 minutes.
Dave Jepson pulled one back for the Cumbrians after 62 minutes but further goals from Buckley (72) and a Steve Hoy seventh after 81 minutes gave the Southport side an emphatic end of season farewell for their fans.
And there was little joy either for another travelling Cumbrian outfit.
Crooklands Casuals slipped into the relegation places after a 4-2 beating at Burnley United, who, with this impressive 4-2 success masterminded their great escape from relegation.
But again the home side had to come from behind to do it.
Mike Woods gave Casuals the benefit of an 18th minute lead, but Dave Patrick soon equalised for the East Lancs side after 24 minutes before top scorer Oli Wood made it two four minutes later (28).
Prolific scorer Dave Mansergh put the visitors level 10 minutes into the second-half to suggest that Crooklands relegation fight was well and truly on, but it only lasted 12 minutes.
Two goals in two minutes mid-way through the second-half finally settled the destiny of the three points at Barden Lane.
Adrian Cheetham (67) and a second from Wood (68) put United 4-2 up and in command.
Danny Birkby’s hat-trick for Hesketh Bank won them the day in a five goal thriller with visitors Coppull United at Station Road.
But again the home side had to come from a goal down to secure the points.
Coppull’s top scorer Mitch Leece netted after 13 minutes before Birkby equalised six minutes later (19) and when Lennie Reid fired home after 29 minutes the visitors looked to be in control.
But Birkby’s second half strikes after 65 and 85 minutes won the home side the spoils with a 3-2 win, a result which sees them leapfrog their opponents into seventh in the final table.
Lostock St. Gerrads’ escape from danger in the final weeks of the season looked to be back on course after an early setback at Wateringpool Lane, where visitors Longridge Town went in front early thanks to Brad Carsley’s 39th league goal of the season after three minutes courtesy of a header.
But home stars Darren Green (24) and Lewis Wilkinson (33) gave the home side a 2-1 lead going into the break as Town looked to get themselves back into the driving seat.
And they did so mainly thanks to two goalkeeping howlers.
First stylish Cory Bent fired Town back level after 51 minutes and then Carsley with his 40th of the campaign saw to it that fourth placed Longridge went away with the points thanks to his 63rd minute goal that crept in underneath the ‘keeper when it looked to everyone in the crowd of more than 100 that he had saved it.
It proved a costly error for the Saints who lost 3-2, but no one would have given them a prayer to finish 12th in the table a month or so ago, but a 6-1 home thrashing of Coppull United 48 hours before certainly helped them.
FACTS: Had Longridge not been deducted six points for fielding an illegible player back in September they would have finished above Fulwood Amateurs in third place.
They also had the meanest defence conceding the fewest goals, 35 and the third best attack scoring 90 goals, of which Brad Carsley hit 40 of them to win the Golden Boot award for 2015-16.
Others to impress were of course champions Blackpool Wren Rovers.
They bagged a club record 107 goals in 30 games to lead the way in that department, while no one remained unbeaten at home, both Wrens and Charnock Richard were beaten just once in front of their own fans.
Away from home Longridge and Fulwood had the most wins (11), while Wrens lost just two on their travels - the least.
Incidently of their 11 away wins Longridge’s win on Saturday at Lostock was their first of the season playing in their traditional home colours of red.
Rumours continue for next season, but it’s likely now that Burnley United will remain in the Premier Division after previously handing in their notice to quit the WLL after 52 years. It seems they have had second thoughts.
And it’s likely that next season will see not only the promoted teams, Turton and Tempest United return to the top tier, but that there will be a place too for Wearside League outfit - Whitehaven.
An FA directive looks likely to see the Cumbrians become the county’s third side in the top flight with just Eagley consigned to the drop even though Crooklands currently sit in the relegation zone.
It all makes for an interesting AGM, which incidently, comes up at Leyland on 9th June so stay tuned throughout the summer to the web site for further information on next season’s plans.
And finally lets all wish Charnock Richard every success for the future as they leave the West Lancs League this summer for the higher echelons of the North West Counties League.
The WLL is certainly losing a club, who over the past 10 years or more has stamped its mark on proceedings with a string of trophies and silverware and been a great advert for the WLL that will make it hard for any other side to emulate.
We wish them well.