Premier Division Review 7th May 2016

LONGRIDGE TOWN’S Jonty McDonald blew the West Lancashire League Premier Division title race wide open on Saturday with his stunning 79th minute volley that broke the hearts out of title chasing Blackpool Wren Rovers (writes Howard Jones).
In the game’s biggest fixture, top of the table Rovers were on course for three points when McDonald ghosted in to volley home his stunner.
And he could have made it a pointless day for the leaders when in added on time he directed a header straight at Wrens ‘keeper Alex Cameron when he looked odds on to score.
If McDonald was both the hero and villain of the show, then Wrens early play was the stuff made of champions and when Oli Crolla fired Wrens in front after 21 minutes it looked odds on a another three points for Matt King’s title chasing side.
But Nick Greenall steered a shot past his own ‘keeper after 55 minutes to fire Longridge back into the battle which saw fourth vs. top at the Mike Riding Ground but a cleverly worked free-kick on the right provided Max Landless with his 28th goal of the season after 59 minutes and fired his side back in front after clever work on the right by defender Nick Corless.
But then up stepped McDonald with his late party piece to severly dent Wrens title hopes.
Manger King said after: “This result was a massive disappointment for us. We had the title in our own hands - now we are asking others to help us.”
Indeed the chase is now back in the hands of seven times champs Charnock Richard who now know that victory in their final games at Vickerstown (on Saturday) and Thornton a week on Tuesday (May 17) will hand them the silverware as they prepare to depart for the North West Counties League in the summer.
In the days other games there were big wins for Hesketh Bank who blasted seven past a lacklustre Crooklands Casuals at Station Road.
An own goal after 36 minutes got the ball rolling there before a second-half blitz saw the home side hit the Cumbrians for six - literally!
David Hogg was the main instigator of Crooklands woe.
He bagged himself a hat-trick in 34 minutes with strikes after 50, 82 and 84 minutes while the other home efforts came from Bob Milton 52, Ryan Teale 54 and Jordan Smethurst 71.
The result condemned the Cumbrian outfit to the relegation places and while it’s doubtful if they will be in Division One next term following the expected departure of Charnock at the top end and the resignation recently of Burnley United at the other end, they will want to end their season in better form than they have of late.
Elsewhere both Southport Hesketh and Lostock St. Gerrards came up with resounding 5-1 wins.
At Bankfield Lane Hesketh were two in front at the break against visitors Eagley thanks to goals from Dan Loughlin after 18 minutes and Mark Jefferson 33.
Brad Shearwood 54, Shaun Gallagher 63 and an injury time fifth from Dave Brooks completed the scoring.
Jack Cowan’s 70th minute goal being the Bolton sides only reply.
At Lostock the home side enjoyed more success as their revival continued with an impressive 5-1 beating of Slyne with Hest.
John Wilding opened the scoring for Saints with a 22nd minute goal, before Hest’s Luke Fairclough equalised eight minutes before the break (37).
But two goals from Adam Clare (48 and 75) and strikes from Darren Green (72) and James Morley (84) secured an easy win for the hosts.
A win that finally moved them out of the relegation places and into 13th place.
Lofty heights indeed for Saints who have been praying on teams in the past month after propping everyone up all season.
Elsewhere Rob Walker’s 89th minute stunner for Euxton Villa at Thornton Cleveleys won his side the points in a 2-1 win, after Brett Dawson’s fifth minute strike had given the home side an early lead at Bourne Way.
Dan Morris equalised for Villa five minutes after the break - then came Walker’s crisp finish to hand Thornton a crunch defeat!
At bottom club Burnley United, goals from Dave Round (28) and Sean Paterson 41 won the points for visitors Vickerstown in a 2-0 win.