Premier Division Review 13th February 2016

PREMIER Division Champions Charnock Richard posted a positive message to runaway leaders Fulwood Amateurs at Mossie Park on Saturday - ‘We want to retain our title” (writes Howard Jones).
Fulwood, who went into Saturday’s top of the table clash a staggering 14 points ahead were undone by two Carl Grimshaw first-half headers that gave the home side the half-time advantage, but the final nail was hammered into the leaders coffin just after the hour mark when Mark Burrows fired home to claim to points for a 3-0 home win.
Eleven points behind the Preston based side, Charnock now have four games in hand on the leaders and with the win now have their title aspirations firmly now back under their own control.
Over on the Fylde coast Blackpool Wren Rovers made it known that they want to be involved in the title battle with an emphatic 6-0 demolition of Crooklands Casuals at Bruce Park.
The ‘six hitters’ win came on the back of rare 3-1 mid-week victory over Euxton Villa too to fire themselves within two points of second place Charnock.
The win over the Cumbrians saw Rovers claim three goals inside three minutes mid-way through the first-half through Gary Pett (22),Carl Eastwood (23) and a 25th minute Danny Morris penalty.
Pett (47), Kirk Bradley (65) and Max Landless (86) made it a bonus afternoon for the home side, while at Euxton Villa, Longridge Town put behind them the disappointment of a 1-0 reverse at Fulwood a fortnight ago and a six points penalty for fielding an illegible player last September in a game at Eagley, (which incidently they won 7-3) to win 1-0!
And it was West Lancs Premier Division top scorer Brad Carsley who did the damage for Town against a solid Villa defence with a ‘Vardy’ like volley finish that broke the Euxton rearguard 20 minutes from time.
In the divisons only other fixture, Vickerstown’s Danny Cummings came up with the match clincher 10 minutes from time at home to Hesketh Bank to move the Walney Islanders up the table to 12th and ahead of their nearby derby rivals Crooklands on goal difference, but more importantly still with three games in hand.
Southport Hesketh’s attractive clash with Garstang was an early victim to the wet weather but it was more or less a normal afternoon in the Premier Division after such a long spell of wet weather this winter.
Having said that, six other Premier Division sides were all in Richardson Cup First Round action on Saturday.
Coppull United, who had also been handed a six points league points deduction for fielding an illegible player earlier in the season for a game against Euxton Villa in late October, hit back in fine style too by handing Burnley United quite a beating, 5-1 at their Barden Lane HQ.
Ryan Steele bagged himself an impressive hat-trick inside 21 minutes with goals after 8, 20 and 29 minutes, while team mate Mitch Leece got the other two on 16 and 58 minutes to fire United into the Second Round.
Danny Thompson’s 57th minute strike for Burnley was just a consolation for the home side.
At Thornton Cleveleys the home side booked their place in the Second Round draw too with a classy 6-2 thrashing of Lostock St. Gerards.
Alan Stubbs fifth minute strike got the home side on the road to victory and they led 3-1 at half-time thanks to further goals from Harry Rowe (25) and a Brett Dawson strike (42).
James Cook (40), got the visitors opening goal, but in another second-half blitz Thornton ran out big hitters with six of the best thanks to three more strikes after the break from Dawson, again on 70 minutes and a George McAuley 75th minute goal and a last minute Stuart Dagger penalty. Olli Evans got Gerards late consolation for the visitors two minutes from time.
Slyne with Hest booked a place in the second round draw too but had to do so on penalties 6-5 after a 1-1 draw against Eagley
Danny Dickson put Slyne in front after 65 minutes, but Eagley player-manager Simon Whaley, once of Preston North End fame, sent the game into a shoot out thanks to his equaliser two minutes from full-time.