Premier Division Review 30th January 2016

IN the Premier Division’s biggest match of the season, Fulwood Amateurs fired themselves nine points clear of the chasing pack with a 1-0 win over second placed Longridge Town at Lightfoot Lane on Saturday and now have the title bragging rights firmly in their own grasp (writes Howard Jones).
In a stylish performance built on their tough defence by the division’s pacesetters, Tony Hesketh’s boys weathered an early Town surge in a game played out in arctic conditions.
And in front of their highest home gate for some years, more than 200 hardy souls braved the sometimes blizzard conditions to see the home side cement their place at the top, thanks to a first-half injury time penalty conversion from Peter Wright.
And in a sometimes fast and furious second-half the game was all but gift wrapped for the Fulwood side when visitors ‘keeper Matt Hind committed a foul outside his area and was promptly sent off in added on time.
And in the day’s ‘OTHER’ big clash, derby rivals Coppull United and Charnock Richard both failed to take the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Fulwood when they fought out a classic six goal thriller at Springfield Road.
Dave Burrows bagged two goals inside 14 minutes for the visitors, but a Ryan Steele penalty and a Lennie Reid goal got the home side back on level terms inside 18 minutes in what was turning out to be a classic encounter between the third and four placed sides in the Division.
Free scoring Lewis Swarbrick looked to have won it for Charnock on 68 minutes, but a late Steele second penalty three minutes from time shared the points with the home side.
Euxton Villa moved into the top four with a tasty 3-2 win over Burnley United at Runshaw Lane and had to come from two goals down to do it.
Dave Patrick fired the visitors ahead after only two minutes and Olli Wood grabbed another for Burnley a couple of minutes later, but the home side clawed their way back into contention with two goals before half-time from Ryan Thompson after 41 minutes and two minutes later from Greg Johnstone (43).
Dave Heald (56) put Villa in front 11 minutes into the second-half which in the final reckoning proved to be the match winner.
And while the top sides were battling it out for divisional supremacy, spare a thought for rock bottom Lostock St.Gerards who had lost 13 games on the bounce before their visit to Slyne with Hest on Saturday.
This time they tasted the sweet smell of victory for the first time this season and how they celebrated it in some style with an emphatic 4-1 demolition of the home side, thanks to a first minute goal from Chris Ward who also scored on the hour (60) and two more from Oliver Evans on 15 and 80 minutes.
Tom Entwistle had earlier equalised for Slyne with a fourth minute strike but how the visitors must have enjoyed their win after so much pain earlier in the season.
With a ruck of home fixtures to follow could the Preston side yet pull themselves out of relegation worries?
Eagley impressed at home to Vickerstown where they had the early advantage of a seventh minute own goal.
Joe O’Keefe put the Bolton side two up on 25 minutes before the Walney Islanders pulled one back through Dave Round 10 minutes from the break.
But O’Keefe added another on the hour and then player-boss Simon Whaley wrapped up the points with a penalty conversion 10 minutes for the home side.
And in the day’s other game, Thornton Cleveleys enjoyed their visit to the far north with an emphatic 4-2 success at Crooklands, where home striker Dave Mansergh got a brace of goals, the second a penalty after 10 and then another after 56 minutes.
But In between time Thornton ‘s Phil Smith (14) and Stuart Dagger (40) gave them a 2-1 half-time lead before Mansergh equalised from the spot, but not to be denied the visitors fired back with second-half goals from Smith again on the hour (60) and a fourth after 74 minutes from Harry Rowe.
The win moved the ‘in-form’ Fylde side into the top six, while the games at Garstang (vs. Blackpool Wren Rovers) and the local derby clash at Hesketh Bank (vs.Southport Hesketh) fell victim to the weather the previous day (Friday).
So while second placed Longridge Town and third placed Charnock Richard have games in hand on leaders Fulwood Amateurs the gap’s now nine points giving Tony Hesketh’s side the edge heading into February.
A fine achievement for the side promoted from the First Division back in April.
And with ambitious plans to relocate off the pitch, this seems a pretty good time to be a Fulwood fan as their bumper gate on Saturday lifted them out ahead of the chasing pack.
Chairman Paul Eastwood, who helped Kirkham & Wesham lift the FA Vase at Wembley back in 2008 said: “It gives me great satisfaction to see both our senior teams top of their respective leagues.
“With the location of the new East-West link road finally being decided this will enable us to push on with our own plans.”
Exciting times then at Lightfoot Lane!