Premier Division Review 16th April 2016

HIGH drama in the West Lancashire League title chase this weekend and cup final places for both Charnock Richard and Garstang who will contest the Richardson Cup Final later in the season (writes Howard Jones).
In the chase for the Premier Division title leaders Fulwood Amateurs posted their championship aspirations by hitting visiting Crooklands Casuals for six in a dynamic first-half goal feast that sunk the Cumbrians out of sight.
Men doing the damage for the home side were Andy Naylor (17), two goals from Rick Coar (19 25), Conal Platt (34) Leon McLoughlin (40) and a Mark Fiddler penalty (42).
And it hardly got any easier for the hard pressed visitors after the break either when Fulwood fired four more into the Crooklands net courtesy of another Platt strike (78) two Mitch Newsham goals (86 90) and a George Pennington effort (88) to finally run out 10-0 winners.
The double digit victory extended Amateurs grasp on things at the top of the table to a seven points lead from second place Blackpool Wren Rovers, who like Hesketh Bank were without a fixture this weekend.
But Wrens are still most pundits favourites to take their first Premier Division title since 2010-11 following two emphatic home wins over the past week that saw them thrash champions Charnock Richard 5-0 last Saturday and Vickerstown 6-1 in mid-week at Bruce Park to complete their seasons’ home games on a real high.
Sitting seven points adrift of leaders Fulwood, but with three games in hand, Wrens will likely fancy their chances of lifting another Premier Division title, but will have to do so now on the road to clinch it all.
And while many believe it is possible for Matt King’s side, those five away day specials include difficult trips to Garstang (23 April), Fulwood Amateurs (30 April ), Slyne with Hest (2 May), Longridge Town (7 May) and finally to Coppull United (14 May) to suggest that Fulwood could well still hold the cards in their own hands come the end of the campaign.
In the days other games in the Premier Division, there was a first home win of the season for Lostock St. Gerards who defeated Eagley 2-1 coming from behind to do so too with two second-half strikes from Jordan Dashti (55) and Darren Green (71).
Taylor Jones five minutes into the second-half had given the Bolton side the lead but there was a memorable rally by the divisions basement team to suggest that they may yet have a say in whether they go down this season.
The days other three games all ended honours even with Cory Bent’s second goal for Longridge Town after 63 minutes at Coppull United cancelling out a Lewis Pilgrim goal for the home side after 24 minutes in a 1-1 tie at Springfield Road, while at Slyne with Hest they fought out a six goal stalemate with another club deep in trouble, Burnley United in a 3-3 thriller.
Olli Wood gave the visitors a first minute lead before Tom Entwistle equalised for the hosts after 25 minutes, but then Slyne defender Neil Uberscher was sent off for two yellow card offences inside five minutes to give the game a whole new complexion.
A Danny Thompson goal on 33 minutes restored Burnley’s advantage before Danny Dixon struck on 57 minutes to bring the game back even at 2-2.
Then in the final five minutes the sides shared another two goals. First 10 man Slyne went back in front courtesy of a Mark Murphy goal after 85 minutes and then with just two minutes on the clock Burnley drew level thanks to an equaliser at 3-3 from another Danny Thompson strike.
At Vickerstown Josh Gay’s goal two minutes from the whistle rescued a point for the home side against visiting Euxton Villa who had gone in front just before the break thanks to a Sam Bolton goal after 44 minutes.
And this years final of the Richardson Cup, which will go ahead at Lancashire FA headquarters at Leyland on the evening of Wednesday 27 April (kick-off 7.30pm) will be between current holders Charnock Richard and Garstang.
David Jack’s 24th minute goal for Garstang was enough to see off the challenge of Thornton Cleveleys who only in mid-week beat Longridge Town in their much delayed quarter-final tie 2-0 in a game played at Hurst Green, while for Charnock it will be a chance to claim a hat-trick of Richardson Cup’s having won the trophy the past two seasons.
They came through their semi-final at Euxton thanks to two second-half goals against Southport Hesketh through their prolific strike force of Carl Grimshaw (47) and David Burrows (79).
Simon Hill though had fired Southport ahead after 33 minutes, but the double combo Charnock pairing made sure Andy Westwell’s side get the opportunity to make it three in a row later in the month at Leyland.
So for Charnock even though they have lost recent league games at home to Burnley United 3-2 and at Blackpool Wren Rovers 5-0, they are remarkably still on course to retain their double of Richardson Cup and Premier Division championship before they depart for the higher echelons of the North West Counties League in August.
Title run-in: Fulwood Amateurs (2 games left) - Charnock Richard (H - 23 Apr), Blackpool Wren Rovers (H - 30 Apr).
Blackpool Wren Rovers (5 games left) - Garstang (A -23 Apr), Fulwood Amateurs (A - 30 Apr), Slyne with Hest (A - 2 May), Longridge town (A - 7 May), Coppull United (A - 14 May).
Charnock Richard (5 games left) - Hesketh Bank (A - 19 Apr), Fulwood Amateurs (A - 23 Apr), Thornton Cleveleys (A - 26 Apr), Southport Hesketh (A - 2 May), Vickerstown (A - 14 May).