Weaver sends Southport spinning as Amateurs ramp up title pressure

The title race at the top of the Premier Division has continued to hot up as the games run out.

Fulwood Amateurs are three points behind Thornton Cleveleys but have a game in hand on their title rivals as the season nears its conclusion.

Fulwood have been in great form, particularly since Christmas, and continued that with a 6-0 win over already-relegated Southport Hesketh.

Lucas Weaver got the scoring started in the first minute and it continued right up to the 88th-minute with Ben Trafford’s goal.

Jonty McDonald, Ellis Wallbanks, Weaver and Ryan Dodd all netted in the interim.

If both Fulwood and Thornton both win their remaining games, it could come down to goal difference with Fulwood on 40+ and Thornton on 39+.

CMB beat Slyne with Hest 4-0. Charlie Scholes, Olly Turner, Callum Conrnes and Dylan Winstanley all netting in a game that only served to further pressurise the battle for the top four.

Hurst Green are level on points with CMB but sit a place higher in fifth.

Their 3-2 win over Vickerstown ensured that they retained their advantage in the league.

Ryan Bolton, Sam Chatburn and Jordan Monk scored for the winning side, with Scott McDonald and Josh Miller being the unfortunate pair to score for the losing Vickerstown.

Turton moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 draw with Blackpool Wren Rovers.

Despite falling behind early on to an Alex McLaughlin goal, Turton fought back through Tom McKee and Sam Rigby to take the lead before an own goal ensured that the points were shared.

Turton played again on Monday however, and fell to a 3-0 defeat to Burscough Richmond.

Raj Uppal, Jordan Lorde and another own goal ensuring that Turton could not get carried away with their good point at the weekend, still looking over their shoulder at Poulton who are three points behind with three games left.

Division 1: Too little too late for Crooklands

Crooklands Casuals were destined for relegation before this round of games started, but will be buoyed about their prospects for next season with a resounding 4-0 win over Croston Sports.

Morgan Trelore and Ryan Rodgers both scored before 10 minutes had passed to give Crooklands and early lead before Ross Bird added a third and Ryan Rodgers got his second of the game with time to spare.

Eagley beat Stoneclough 3-0 through goals from Akbar Koshab, Jordan Hibbert and Mike Linney. This moved Eagley to within one point of fourth-placed Hawcoat Park.

Hawcoat drew their game on Saturday against Haslingden St Marys. Greg Sharp’s 33rd-minute goal was not enough to see Hawcoat take all three points.

Askam United beat the division’s second-bottom team 2-0. Joe Tindale and Sam Purslow condemning Kendal to a sixteenth loss of the season.

Horwich St Marys Victoria also won 2-0. Matthew Hancock and Sean Jones netting for the team now sat in 13th in their match against Lostock St Gerards.

Hawcoat Park followed up their disappointing game at the weekend with a 3-1 win over Millom, Danny Pattinson scoring Millom’s only goal of the game.

Division 2: Walney Walk(er) past Dalton

Zach Walker scored a hat-trick in Walney Island’s 5-1 battering of Dalton United.

Dalton actually took the lead in the second minute through Ryan Brown, but James Bailey equalised before another two minutes had passed. Bailey got his second later in the game, with Walker’s hat-trick securing a big victory.

Charnock Richard Reserves also got a big victory with their 6-1 smashing of Galgate.

Ross O’Farrell scored a treble for the away side with his goals being complemented by the finishes of Jack Bennett, Luke Power and Alex Neil.

Rossendale - the division’s runaway winners - kept up their winning run. A 3-0 win on the road at Storeys was their 23rd win of the season. Tom Hulme’s double adding to Paul Stannard’s early opener to get the win.

Kendal United beat Garstang 1-0 in their game. Ryan Close scored the only goal in that game.

Division 1 Reserve: Lostock’s double treble

Adam Whittaker and Harry Vaughton both scored hat-tricks in Lostock St Gerards Reserves 6-1 win over Croston Sports Reserves. Keelan Spiby got the sole goal for Croston.

Burscough Richmond Reserves eventually won an incredibly goal-laden game against Poulton Reserves. Josh Murray scored twice, with Adam Sutton and an own goal all adding to Burscough’s goal tally.

Aaron Fleming, Matthew Sillett and Josh Few scoring for Poulton in their 4-3 loss.

Euxton Villa Reserves secured the title as they beat Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves 3-2. Nick Buckley, Sean Elliott and Ryan Thompson scored for the winning side.

Thompson’s key goal coming with four minutes remaining and rendering Ellis Wilson and Ben Seear’s goals as irrelevant in terms of gaining points.

In Monday's Division 1 Reserve game, Thornton Cleveleys Reserves beat Burscough Richmond Reserve 1-0 thanks to a Sam Cross goal.

Division 2 Reserve: Lytham close gap on top four

Aaron Sethi and Kai Clarkson helped Lytham Town Reserves to beat Haslingden St Marys Reserves 2-1. Connor Crisp got one back for Haslingden with 20 minutes left to play, but the home side couldn’t press home their momentum to equalise.

Dan Nowell scored a hat-trick as Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves destroyed Thornton Cleveleys A 5-1.

Will Booth opened the scoring for Milnthorpe in the seventh minute before Thornton Cleveleys A were temporarily given some hope through Byron Greenwood before the Dan Nowell show began.

His treble, and Caine McCartney’s conversion, all added up to a convincing win.