Rampant Thornton lead way as 2023/24 starts with a bang!

Last season’s Premier Division champions Burscough Richmond made the perfect start to their title defence, picking up three points with a 3-0 at Wyre Villa thanks to goals from Michael Galliers, Ade Kirkbride and Billy Whittle.

It was the ideal start too for two of the division’s fresh faces, namely Rossendale and Cleator Moor Celtic.

Rossendale proved their more than capable of handling the step up from Division One, recovering from a goal down to win 4-1 at Blackpool Wren Rovers.

Ric Seear opened the scoring for the hosts just seven minutes in, before a second-half brace from Wayne Morrison turned the game on its head.

Luke Simpson and Regan O’Brien then got one each to make the points safe for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Cleator Moor Celtic, new to the West Lancashire league for 23/24, opened their account with a 3-1 victory over Poulton.

Tommy Whitehead scored twice in the win, either side of a goal by Thomas Short, whilst Luke Noble got Poulton’s only goal.

However, by far the most eye-catching result of the weekend was that produced by Thornton Cleveleys, who put eight without reply past Coppull United.

Dom Richie and Oliver Wilkinson got two each, whilst Adam Sumner, Jordan Beavers, Alfie Tomlinson and Lewis Walmsley netted one apiece in an emphatic home display.

Milnthorpe Corinthians, who battled at the wrong end of the table for much of last season, will be hoping a 3-0 opening day win at Turton is a sign of better things to come this around.

Ewan Atkinson put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes, before goals from Dan Taylor and Reece Pearce late on made the points safe.

Two goals from new signing Nick Hepple helped Hurst Green eventually overcome Slyne with Hest 4-2, that despite going a goal down in the first-half.

Joe Waring struck from the spot to open the scoring 20 minutes in, before Jordan Monk levelled the game just before the break.

Hepple’s first of the game completed the turnaround on the hour, only for Waring to hit his second just four minutes later.

But Hurst Green’s lead would be restored almost as quickly, with James Wolfenden making it 3-2, and Hepple depositing his second to round off the win.

Tempest United also came from a goal down in their opening fixture, leaving it late to seal a 2-1 victory over Lostock St Gerards.

The newly-promoted side took the lead through Josh Sarra, and would hold that lead right up to the 80th minute, when Jordan Coop levelled the game.

Then, in the second minute of time added on, Sam Parkinson made it 2-1 to seal three points for his side.

And completing the opening weekend of Premier Division action, Layton Kirnon netted the only goal of the game as Fulwood Amateurs won 1-0 at Whitehaven.

In Division One, Haslingden St Mary’s and Carnforth Rangers had quite the start to the new campaign, with the former ultimately triumphing 4-3.

Jack Cain opened the scoring for Haslingden St Mary’s, only for Damian Murphy to level the game from the spot seven minutes later.

Quickfire strikes from Dylan Harris and Michael Harris then restored the hosts’ lead, giving them what looked to be a comfortable 3-1 advantage at the break.

However, Murphy quickly netted his second after the restart to halve the deficit, and even after Jordan Lewis added a fourth for Haslingden St Mary’s, Carnforth Rangers would strike back again through Joe Wilkinson to set up a tense final 15 minutes, though there would prove to be no final twist in the tale.

A brace from Harris Bailey helped Chipping record a 3-2 win at Kendal County in their first outing since promotion from Division Two.

Jake Unsworth also got on the scoresheet for the visitors, whilst Kendal County’s goal came via Brody Moffat and Connor Walmsley, with the former netting from the penalty spot.

Askam United also registered a 3-2 win opening day, seeing off Hesketh Bank to claim three points.

Jordan Rayner scored twice in the win, either side of a goal from Aiden Pearson, whilst Dan Birkby and Tony Bond got the goals for Hesketh Bank.

Goals from Scott McDonald and Sean Mooney helped Ulverston Rangers beat Eagley 2-1, that despite Eagley’s Finlay Stafford opening the scoring third minutes in.

And it was a similar story for Millom, who fell behind at Southport Hesketh to an Ethan Hargreaves goal, only to win 2-1 thanks to a Harry Cowley and Jamie Pattinson led comeback.

A quickfire brace from Ross Ainsworth set Lytham Town on their way to a 3-0 over Crooklands Casuals, with Dec Preyzner adding the third late on.

And Holker Old Boys Reserves marked their arrival in Division One with three points, as Freddie Lawton’s 57th minute strike was enough to seal a 1-0 win over Croston Sports.

On to Division Two, and Freckleton put in a five-star performance, as they look to build on a positive 22/23 campaign this season.

Joe Bentley bagged a brace, whilst Freddie Mason, Saul Hamer and Callum Williams also got on the scoresheet in a 5-1 win at Kendal United, who saw their only goal of the game scored by Jonny Voortman.

Walney Island were also amongst the promotion hunt last season, and looked good again as they beat West Lancs debutants Caton United 4-1.

Rob Bruce bagged a first-half brace in the win, whilst Haden Skyme and Zach Walker also found the net. Edward Harrison got Caton United’s only goal of the game.

Jordan Chubb, Robbie Sanderson and Kane Fleming grabbed a goal each as Dalton United beat Charnock Richard Reserves 3-0.

Meanwhile, Astley and Buckshaw registered victory by the same margin on the road at Pause United, with a Danny Cooper double and Jamal John strike enough to seal three points.

Lewis Heap and Owen Pye were the scorers as Garstang Reserves won 2-0 at Stoneclough, whilst the points were shared in the final pair of Division Two fixtures.

Theo Davies scored both goals as Euxton Villa Reserves twice fought from behind to claim a 2-2 draw at Storeys, who had led first through Ryan Yates, and then via Robbie Mooring.

And it was 1-1 between Hawcoat Park and AFC Blackpool Reserves, with Reece Creswell cancelling out Danny Sumner’s first-half strike.

It was a thriller at Rossendale Reserves to kick off the Division One Reserve, as they eventually triumphed 5-3 over Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves.

Rico Gavan, Jack Mounsey, Bradley Marsh and Nobab Mian all got on the scoresheet for the hosts, who also benefited from an own goal.

Two second-half goals from Adam Sharrock helped Tempest United Reserves win 3-2 at Lostock St Gerards Reserves, who had at point led through Adam Whittaker.

Hadlie Russell was also on target for the visitors, whilst Andy Richards got Lostock St Gerards Reserves’ other goal.

Turton Reserves also won 3-2 on the road, with Obidoyim Dominion-Quarm, Tyler McCarthy and Alex Buchanan netting in their victory at Eagley Reserves, whose goals were scored by Lewis Greenhalgh and Corey Harrison.

A Jake Mangan brace helped Thornton Cleveleys record a 2-1 comeback victory at Coppull Reserves, who had taken the lead 14 minutes through Greg Brickell.

And it’s a pair of 2-0 scorelines to wrap up the Division One Reserve recap, as goals from Lewis Cullen and Jack Locke saw CMB Reserves beat Fulwood Amateurs Reserves, and Poulton Reserves overcame Hurst Green Reserves, with Coby Williams and Jared Bain the scorers.

And lastly, we move into the Division Two Reserve, where Chipping Reserves and Lytham Town Reserves set the early pace, with both registering 4-0 wins.

A Tom Airey hat-trick helped Chipping Reserves on their way to victory over Storeys Reserves, with Gareth Jones also getting on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, Cameron Palmer, Adam Zyda, Tom Cartmell and Charlie Ormerod got a goal apiece as Lytham Town Reserves won at Rossendale A.

Freckleton Reserves also hit four on the road, with Guillermo Marchant scoring two in a 4-2 win at Fulwood Amateurs A.

Byron Fletcher and Samson Ogundaisi also netted for the visitors, meaning Connor Mallett’s brace would ultimately be in vain.

David Yeates got a double of his own as Hesketh Bank Reserves beat Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves 3-0, with Jack Goulding rounding off the win with a third in injury time.

Thornton Cleveleys A and Croston Sports Reserves played out a 1-1 draw, with Kyle Housley’s ninth minute opener cancelled out by Ben Wilcock.

And concluding the first round-up of the 23/24 campaign, Rob Lawson got on the only goal of the game as Carnforth Rangers Reserves beat Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves 1-0.