Tight at the top as league pays moving respects

Clubs across the league held minute silences to honour Queen Elizabeth II and Mr Ashworth ahead of Saturday's matches.

Milnthorpe Corinthians joined forces with drone operator Peter Hill and landscapers D&C Atkinson to create a special emblem on the pitch ahead of their reserve match with Carnforth Rangers.

That victory leaves Burscough Richmond third in the Premier Division table and, along with results elsewhere, means the league’s top four are now separated by just a single point.

Second-placed Slyne with Hest moved level with Poulton at the summit with a 5-1 win against Milnthorpe Corinthians.

Danny Dixon, Reece Pearce, Joe Hoare, Josh Draycott and Joe Wareing all found the net for Slyne with Hest in a true team effort, whilst Tom Jackson got Milnthorpe Corinthians’ only goal of the game.

Fulwood Amateurs currently sit fourth, level with Burscough Richmond and a point adrift of the top two, that’s after a 4-1 home victory over CMB.

Brad Fox’s double and a strike from Ryan Dodd gave Fulwood Amateurs a 3-0 lead before the break, and despite Dylan Winstanley pulling one back for CMB early in the second half, Harrison Walsh would add another for the hosts to make the points safe.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Blackpool Wren Rovers came from behind to beat Thornton Cleveleys 3-1.

Thornton Cleveleys took the lead through a 12th minute Danny Morris penalty, but an own goal, along with strikes from Carnen Dawson and Djay Delacruz, would ultimately see Blackpool Wren Rovers emerge victorious.

Lytham Town’s Ross Ainsworth fired his side to victory with a hat-trick in their 4-2 win over Turton, that after they had twice trailed in the first half thanks to a brace from Turton’s James Sigworth. Billy Bould was Lytham Town’s other goalscorer.

James Nightingale would also hit a double in vain as Coppull United beat Hurst Green 3-2.

Nightingale scored both of Hurst Green’s goals, but strikes from Mohammed Patel, Ethan Wellington and Jack Ramshaw would secure all three points for Coppull United.

First-half goals from Finley Stewart and Richie Allen helped Wyre Villa see off Tempest United 2-1.

Tom Booth did halve the deficit for Tempest United heading into stoppage time, but Wyre Villa would hold on to take the win.

Vickerstown also secured a 2-1 victory as they triumphed over Whitehaven thanks to goals from Rob Bruce and Kurt Robertson, which came either side of a strike from Whitehaven’s Kyle Jenkinson.

Division One: Lostock St Gerards hand Hesketh Bank first loss

Lostock St Gerards picked up a significant win this weekend as they beat Hesketh Bank 4-2, with the league leaders dropping points for the first time in 10 matches this season.

A brace from Oliver Evans, along with goals from Josh Sarda and Harvey Close, secured the win for Lostock St Gerards, with George Bond and Harris Labrey finding the net for Hesketh Bank.

Rossendale, Hesketh Bank’s closest challengers for top spot, seized the opportunity to close the gap as they beat Stoneclough 3-1 thanks to goals from Michael Saunders, Tom Hulme and Scott Wylie. Stoneclough only goal came courtesy of an own goal.

Fourth-placed Ulverston Rangers also made up ground on the table toppers, but were forced to do it the hard way as they came from two down to win 3-2 at Askam United.

Aiden Pearson and Will Hinde established the hosts’ 2-0 lead, before strikes from Jack Davis, Josh Cronin and Sean Mooney, the latter coming in the 90th minute, completed a remarkable turnaround for Ulverston Rangers.

Crooklands Casuals would also seal a late comeback victory as a stoppage time penalty from Ryan Rogers helped them eventually beat Carnforth Rangers 2-1.

Stan Rich had opened the scoring for Carnforth Rangers, only for that lead to be cancelled just five minutes later by Crookland Casuals’ Morgan Trelore.

Southport Hesketh ended their wait for a first win of the season as they saw off Horwich St Mary’s Victoria.

Goals from Charlie Gray and Matthew Howard helped Southport Hesketh to the 2-1 win, as they held on despite Leiden McLean pulling one back for Horwich St Mary’s Victoria with eight minutes of normal time to play.

Haslingden St Marys and Croston Sports drew 2-2 as they played out Division One’s only draw of the weekend.

Lewis Hanley and Jordan Lewis found the net for Haslingden St Marys, whilst Mark Forshaw and Jordan Freeman got on the scoresheet for Croston Sports.

Finally in Division One, Millom picked up three points away at Kendal County thanks to goals from David Mennell and Theo Dreghorn.

Kendal County halved the deficit through Matthew Casson heading into the final 15 minutes, but the visitors would hold on to take victory.

Division Two: Foster hits four as Holker Old Boys Reserves win big

Farrell Foster netted four of his sides goals as Holker Old Boys Reserves beat Cartmel 8-1.

Holker Old Boys Reserves’ other goals came courtesy of a brace Freddie Lawton, a Charlie McGladdery strike and an own goal. Ryan Patterson was the scorer for Cartmel.

That result sets the tone for what was a weekend of high scoring in Division Two, with no fewer than three sides hitting six on Saturday.

Kendal United triumphed 6-0 over Pause United thanks to a Ryan Close hat-trick, strikes from George Key and Sam McKee and an own goal.

Mattew Poole was the hat-trick hero for Storeys as they won 6-1 at Galgate, with their other goals coming from Daniel Palin, Jack Preston and Tim Last.

A pair of doubles from Sam Milburn and Rhys Barton would power Charnock Richard Reserves to victory over previously-unbeaten Freckleton.

Cameron Laurie and Oliver Oxley were Charnock Richard Reserves’ other scorers in a 6-2 win, whilst Reece Jones and Joe Bentley found the net for Freckleton.

A brace from Reece Craig and James Bailey goal helped league leaders Walney Island eventually secure a 3-2 victory at Dalton United, despite the hosts leading twice through goals from Jordan Chubb.

AFC Blackpool Reserves launched a dramatic comeback to ensure a share of the spoils as they drew 2-2 with Chipping.

Chipping led 2-0 until late on thanks to an Oliver Alston penalty and a strike from Rick Coar, but late goals from Dom Ritchie and Tyler Hallam, coming in the 85th and 93rd minute respectively, would ensure that the game would end level.

Two goals in the opening eight minutes from Connor Ashe and Kurt Robinson would be enough to see Astley and Buckshaw beat Burnley United 2-1.

Harris Tomlinson would find the net for Burnley United with two minutes of normal time remaining, but they would ultimately run out of time to find an equaliser.

Division One Reserve: Seventh heaven for Tempest United Reserves

Tempest United Reserves scored a remarkable victory this weekend as they beat Poulton Reserves 7-2 thanks to goals from seven different scorers.

Gareth Roberts, Kallum Russell, Gary Barnes, Jake Whittle, Nick Skelly, George Sorensen and Gareth Gemmell all got on the scoresheet for Tempest United Reserves, whilst Pamusa Sarr and Will Andrew found the net for Poulton Reserves.

League leaders Lostock St Gerards continued their positive start to the season in style with a 6-0 win at Hurst Green Reserves.

Adam Whittaker and Kian Clarkson both bagged braces, with Dan Fryer and Andrew Richards completing the scoring.

CMB Reserves also scored six in their victory over Coppull United Reserves.

Harry Dixon’s double, along with goals from Declan Roberts, Lewis Cullen, Jamie Boyd and Finley Stafford gave CMB Reserves a 6-1 win, with Nathan Malone scoring Coppull United Reserves’ only goal of the game.

Mirroring the clash between their first sides, Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves would come from behind to beat Thornton Cleveleys Reserves 3-1.

George McAuley opened the scoring for Thornton Cleveleys Reserves, before goals from Alfie Tomlinson, Anthony Utomi and Steve McEwan turned the game in Blackpool Wren Rovers’ favour.

Croston Sports Reserves and Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Reserves played out a 1-1 draw, as Zak Threlfall’s opener for Croston Sports Reserves was cancelled out by a penalty from Horwich St Mary’s Victoria Reserves’ Bradley Spencer.

Division Two Reserve: Five out of five for Rossendale Reserves

Rossendale Reserves extended their 100% start to the season to a fifth game with a 4-0 win over Chipping Reserves thanks to goals from Jack Mounsey, Regan O’Brien, Brad Marsh and Dylan Harris.

Matthew Billington and Hugo Strand grabbed two goals apiece as Fulwood Amateurs A beat Haslingden St Marys Reserves 6-1, with Joe Austen and David McPearson their own scorers.

Rounding off this week’s league action, Carnforth Rangers Reserves triumphed 4-2 over Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves courtesy of a Curtis Graham double and goals from Igor Galona and Jack Butler. Tom Pearson scored both goals for Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves.

Lancashire Amateur Cup: Two out of three ain’t bad

Away from league action, three sides from across the West Lancashire League were involved in the first round of the Lancashire Amateur Cup, with two securing victories.

Division Two side Euxton Villa Reserves beat Radcliffe Town 7-6 on penalties after an initial 1-1 draw, Division One Reserve outfit Turton Reserves saw off Walmer Bridge 2-1, whilst Thornton Cleveleys A of Division Two Reserve were beaten 4-1 by Kirby United.