It was a weekend full of drama, goals, and standout performances across the divisions, with AFC Ainsdale Reserves’ Luke Heighton stealing the show with a first-half hat-trick in their 4-2 victory over Wyre Villa Reserves. Meanwhile, Appley Bridge produced the game of the weekend, edging a seven-goal thriller against Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves in the Lancashire FA Amateur Cup. Elsewhere, Astley FC and Cherrybrook impressed with dominant wins, while Bickerstaffe and Middleton & Overton Sports FC delivered cup excitement with a tense penalty shootout.
Premiership
Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs 3-1 Broughton Amateurs
Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs proved too strong for Broughton Amateurs, securing a solid 3-1 victory. Joshua Brooks, Rob Langley, and Connor Tierney all found the net for the home side, showcasing their attacking threat.
Broughton Amateurs managed to pull one back through Liam Bell, but it wasn’t enough to trouble the hosts, who controlled the game from start to finish.
Tarleton Corinthians 1-3 Bickerstaffe
Bickerstaffe claimed all three points on the road with a 3-1 win over Tarleton Corinthians. The visitors took an early lead courtesy of an own goal before Alex Griesdale and Dale Dineley added to their tally.
George David Carrington’s 75th-minute goal gave Tarleton Corinthians a glimmer of hope, but a strong defensive display and two crucial saves from Bickerstaffe’s keeper, Tom Smith, ensured they saw the game out comfortably.
Division One
Astley FC 5-0 Standish St Wilfrids Reserves
Astley FC put on a dominant display, thrashing Standish St Wilfrids Reserves 5-0. Anthony Baffoe opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, setting the tone for a relentless attacking performance. Tom Crook and Charles Young quickly added to the tally before Luke Robinson made it 4-0 just before the break.
The visitors had no answer to Astley’s attacking prowess, and Jack Brindle sealed the rout with a late fifth goal in the 78th minute. A comprehensive performance from Astley, who never looked in danger.
Cherrybrook 5-2 Leyland RAFA
Cherrybrook ran out 5-2 winners against Leyland RAFA in an exciting contest. Jack Thorogood gave the hosts the lead in the 22nd minute, but Jordan Griffiths equalized before half-time, leaving the game finely poised at 1-1.
The second half saw Cherrybrook shift into another gear. Jack Crowther put them back in front before Connor Thomas levelled again for Leyland RAFA. However, Cherrybrook finished the game strongly, with Harrison Fleming, Aaron Sykes, and Thorogood again finding the net to secure an emphatic win.
Cube FC 5-2 Ribchester Rovers
Cube FC produced a clinical attacking display to secure a 5-2 victory over Ribchester Rovers. Usama Ahmed opened the scoring in the 37th minute, and Riaz Fatakia stole the show with a hat-trick, striking in the 48th, 58th, and 65th minutes.
Imran Chhadat rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute as Cube FC cruised to victory. Ribchester Rovers battled hard, but without a teamsheet, their efforts remain uncredited.
Hoole United 2-2 Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves
It was an evenly matched contest as Hoole United and Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves played out a 2-2 draw. Alfie Parker and Adam Thomas found the net for the hosts, while Jack Osborne’s early brace (10′, 13′) ensured the visitors took a share of the spoils.
Neither side could find a winner in the latter stages, but both will take positives from a well-fought game.
Division Three
Walmer Bridge Reserves 1-0 Shevington Reserves
Zak Deaves was the hero for Walmer Bridge Reserves, netting the only goal in a tightly contested 1-0 win over Shevington Reserves. A solid defensive display ensured they held on for all three points.
Wyre Villa Reserves 2-4 AFC Ainsdale Reserves
AFC Ainsdale Reserves stormed into an early lead against Wyre Villa Reserves, with Luke Heighton putting on a clinical display. The forward netted a superb first-half hat-trick, striking in the 14th, 21st, and 27th minutes, each goal assisted by a different teammate in a true showcase of attacking football. At 3-0, it looked like Ainsdale would cruise to victory, but Wyre Villa found a lifeline before the break, with Ash Bradshaw pulling one back to make it 3-1 at halftime.
The second half took a chaotic turn as Ainsdale were reduced to eight men after three red cards in the first 20 minutes, giving Wyre Villa hope. Curtis Roskell capitalized to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finale. However, despite their numerical disadvantage, Ainsdale held firm and sealed the win late on when James Niedzwiecki struck in the 87th minute to secure a gutsy 4-2 victory. Ellis Whittingham, the Ainsdale secretary, summed it up best: “We went in 3-1 up at half-time, had three red cards, played with eight men for 20 minutes, they made it 3-2, and then we scored late on!” A true test of character for the visitors.
Guildhall Cup
Castle FC 6-2 Burscough Dynamo
Castle FC ran riot in an emphatic 6-2 victory over Burscough Dynamo, asserting their dominance with a relentless attacking display. Despite no teamsheet being available for the home side, their finishing was clinical, leaving Dynamo with no answers to their relentless pressure.
Burscough Dynamo managed to get on the scoresheet through Harvey Johnson and Luke Marray, but it was little more than a consolation on a tough afternoon. Castle FC proved too strong, controlling the game from start to finish and securing a statement win.
Eccleston & Heskin 0-2 Marsh United
Marsh United came away with a solid 2-0 victory over Eccleston & Heskin, with goals from Joseph Pollard and Jamie Taylor ensuring progression to the next round. A professional performance from the visitors.
Preston Wanderers 0-1 Standish St Wilfrids
A solitary goal from Samir Sobeih was enough to seal the win for Standish St Wilfrids against Preston Wanderers. A tightly contested game, but Standish took their chance and held firm to take the win.
Lancastrian Brigade Cup
Bickerstaffe Reserves 1-1 (PENS 4-5) Middleton & Overton Sports FC
A dramatic cup tie saw Middleton & Overton Sports FC edge past Bickerstaffe Reserves on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Stuart Pennington gave Bickerstaffe the lead, but Michael McGrady equalized in the 20th minute.
Neither side could find a winner in normal time, and it was Middleton & Overton who held their nerve in the shootout, converting all five of their penalties to progress.
Lancashire FA Amateur Cup
Appley Bridge 4-3 Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves
A cup classic saw Appley Bridge edge past Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves in a seven-goal thriller. The visitors led 2-1 at half-time, but Appley Bridge showed incredible fight to turn things around in the second half.
Liam Hilton netted twice, with Joseph Carter and Daniel Atkins also getting on the scoresheet. The late winner from Atkins in the 88th minute sealed their place in the semi-finals, where they will take on Trawden Celtic Juniors on 15th March.