Premier Division Review 14th May 2016

HAIL the new champions of the West Lancashire Premier Division - Blackpool Wren Rovers, who finally put four years of hurt as runners-up to Charnock Richard behind them with a win at Coppull United on Saturday to scoop the league’s top prize (writes Howard Jones).
With the title destiny firmly in the seven times champs Charnock Richard’s hands, two dropped points in a 2-2 draw at Vickerstown finally saw Andy Westwell side’s title hopes well and truly sunk, where even goals from Josh Norgate (20) and a penalty conversion from leading scorer Carl Grimshaw (55), failed to turn the champions title ambitions into three points.
David Swarbrick’s two goals either side of half time (35 and 51) for the home side finally meant that the title hopes of Charnock Richard would be decided at Coppull, where Wren Rovers emphatic 5-1 demolition of the home side saw Matt King’s side crowned champions for the first time since 2011.
But it took 53 minutes for Wrens to settle into their title rhythm with Oli Crolla’s 53rd minute goal proving the match that finally lit the fire in the Wrens attack.
Carl Eastwood had given Wrens an early seventh minute title boost, but Lewis Pilgrim equalised for Coppull three minutes after the break (48) to give the title race even more spice.
But Crolla’s goal, and another two minutes later from Danny Morris gave the Fylde side the momentum to kick on and when they were gifted a fourth off a home defender after 76 minutes and Eastwood added his second and Wrens fifth on 87 minutes the title celebrations were almost complete.
That is until word came through that Charnock’s hopes had finally been sunk at Vickerstown.
So the toast of the day just has to be Blackpool Wren Rovers and as manager Matt King explained later, they really thought that their chance had gone a week earlier.
The delighted title winning boss explained: “Its been a bizarre week really as we have experienced both the highs and lows of football.
“There was a disappointment last week when we only drew at Longridge when we were in control of our own destiny.
“But l told the players before yesterday’s game at Coppull that we had to do our job. Make sure that we won the game and hope that Charnock slip up at Vickerstown, which is exactly how it turned out.
“I’m delighted for everyone at Wrens as it’s been a 10 month slog.
“We knew what was going on at Vickerstown so when our game finished early we just had to sit around the pitch and wait.
“Then, when we got the word that Charnock had drawn, the lads and everyone at the club started to celebrate.”
But there was disappointment in all the euphoria of success.
King explained: “It would have been nice for the boys to have been presented with the trophy and to some extent that spoilt the occasion really, but we are so pleased to have won it while Charnock are still around because it really does give our achievement more credibility.
“Its been a funny season as until recently no one had seen us coming up on the rails.
“One minute Fulwood were running away with it having played more games and then everyone thought that Charnock would win it.
“Then when we drew consecutive games at Slyne and Longridge we even thought we had blown our chances.
“To have won the Lancashire Amateur Shield and now the Championship in the same season is fantastic.”
King, in his first term in charge of the side at Bruce Park was quick to praise the part his assistant Dave Worthington had played in the clubs success.
He added: “Dave’s been an inspiration, not only to the players but to me too.
“I don’t think we would have achieved what we have without his dedication. He’s been fantastic.”
“Its been a great race in a difficult season,” said King, who was humbled to receive a call on his mobile after the game adding: “Fair play to Andy Westwell (Charnock’s manager)
“He rang me after the game to offer his congratulations which l though was a magnificent gesture on his part. It was certainly appreciated.”
Elsewhere Burnley’s late season resurgence continued at Bardon Lane where two late goals finally lifted them off the foot of the table with a 3-1 win at home to Thornton Cleveleys.
Nat Egan gave the home side a 31st minute lead, only for Phil Smith to pull the Fylde side level on 55 minutes and then came two goals in the last five minutes, the first from top scorer Oliver Wood on 85 and then in the final minute Egan added his second and Burnley’s third for a win that confirms Bolton based side Eagley will finish with the wooden spoon in 2015-16 and likely relegation to Division One, even though they were without a game.
At Southport Hesketh Pete Henerty rescued a point for the Merseysiders with a goal in added on time to cancel out Garstang’s goal scored by Joe Miller after 71 minutes in a 1-1 draw.
In the days only other game it was a case of two makeshift sides that contested Longridge Town’s visit to Crooklands Casuals.
Callum Rayner, recently signed from Askam United gave the home side the lead with a rasping shot from the edge of the box after seven minutes, before Brad Carsley added to his 38 goal collection as the league’s top scorer after 13 minutes when team mate Ryan McKenna was up-ended in the box.
But a goal early in the second-half from 43-year-old former PNE legend and Longridge Town player-manager Lee Ashcroft won the visitors the points with a neat finish after 47 minutes in a game in which both sides gave two players their league debuts, the finest being young 16-year-old Henry Harrison of Longridge who gave a competent and promising performance after the club’s longest serving player Joe Melling was forced to leave the field after 35 minutes with a pulled hamstring.
And Turton will be playing Premier Division football next season after being crowned champions of Division One, who incidently even found time to lose their final two home games, including a 4-3 loss to Poulton on Saturday.
They still finished an astonishing 15 points ahead of second placed Tempest United who joined the T-party by gaining a point at home to Haslingden St. Mary’s in a 2-2 draw that will likely see them officially confirmed as runners-up later in the week.
Tempest, while still having a game to play at home to Lytham Town on Wednesday would now need to lose that game by at least a 14 goal margin to throw away their promotion hopes - which seems unlikely!
So with Turton and Tempest United set to replace Charnock Richard, who are expected to move up to the First Division of the North West Counties League in the summer and already relegated Eagley, both these decisions are likely to be rubber stamped at the league’s AGM in Leyland next month, meanwhile the Premier Division Championship Trophy will be presented to Blackpool Wren Rovers at their own awards evening at Bruce Park on Saturday May 28 starting at 7pm.