From a 7-7 penalty shootout thriller to a 9-1 demolition, Saturday’s fixtures had it all – goals galore, last-minute drama, and unforgettable moments!
Premiership
Burscough Dynamo 2-2 Shevington
It was a tale of two halves for Burscough Dynamo as they battled Shevington in a game full of twists, turns, and a few questionable passes. Shevington’s Jordan Dainty broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, and it looked like Dynamo were running on empty. But in classic fashion, Burscough found some late heroics. Substitute Curtis Carberry was subbed on and wasted no time in bringing Dynamo back into the game, leveling the score early in the second half like a superhero throwing on his cape mid-battle.
Dynamo’s Dylan Kenyon then took the lead with a cheeky finish that sent the home fans wild, but Ryan Crawford of Shevington had other plans, equalizing just past the hour mark. The game finished 2-2, leaving both sides with a point and Burscough wondering what might have been if they’d remembered to turn up for the first 45 minutes.
Eccleston & Heskin 3-2 Preston Wanderers
This match was like a rollercoaster of emotions, with Eccleston & Heskin and Preston Wanderers trading goals like they were swapping football cards. Jordan Aird got things going for Eccleston with a goal in the 11th minute, and Ted Ball doubled the lead with a strike so smooth it could have been buttered. But just when they thought they had it wrapped up, Preston’s Declan Creighton pulled one back, and Finlay Stewart equalized before halftime, proving once again that football is a game of two halves.
The second half was a battle of wills, but it was David McMillan who provided the final twist, scoring the winner for Eccleston in the 69th minute. Preston Wanderers pushed hard for an equalizer, but the Eccleston defense stood firm, sending Wanderers home wondering where it all went wrong.
Walmer Bridge 1-0 Highgrove
Walmer Bridge kept things simple but effective in their clash with Highgrove, with Zak Deaves’ 29th-minute goal proving to be the difference. In a match that could only be described as “tactically cautious” (a.k.a., slightly boring), Deaves’ strike was the highlight of a first half that had more possession changes than shots on goal. Highgrove, meanwhile, made a flurry of substitutions like they were auditioning for a Broadway show, but none could find the magic touch.
Despite their best efforts and some interesting tactical choices, Highgrove couldn’t break down the Walmer Bridge defense. The final whistle blew, leaving Walmer with a 1-0 win and Highgrove cursing their luck—or possibly their tactical book.
Division Three
Bickerstaffe Reserves 1-2 Marsh United Reserves
Marsh United Reserves left Bickerstaffe scratching their heads after a tight 2-1 victory that could have gone either way. Peter Myerscough opened the scoring for Marsh in the 23rd minute, and by halftime, Bickerstaffe looked like they needed a team talk worthy of a Hollywood sports movie. However, instead of a dramatic comeback, Nathan Graham doubled Marsh’s lead with a goal in the 56th minute, leaving Bickerstaffe feeling like they were chasing shadows.
Bickerstaffe managed to pull one back late in the game, but it was too little, too late. Marsh United held on for the win, and Bickerstaffe were left rueing missed chances—and maybe a few missed tackles too.
Middleton & Overton Reserves 3-8 Shevington Reserves
Shevington Reserves showed no mercy as they ran riot over Middleton & Overton Reserves, scoring eight goals in what turned into a rout. Ben Lyons was the star of the show, bagging four goals and leaving Middleton’s defense chasing their own shadows. Robert Pilling opened the scoring in just the 5th minute, and from there, it was one-way traffic as Shevington piled on the misery.
Middleton managed to grab three consolation goals, but by that point, it was like sticking a plaster on a sinking ship. Shevington celebrated a dominant win, while Middleton will be hoping for a better day at the office next time.
Guildhall Cup Thrillers
AFC Ainsdale 6-0 Chipping FC A
AFC Ainsdale decided to throw a goal-scoring party, and poor Chipping FC A forgot to bring their defense. Matthew Howard got things rolling with a 34th-minute opener, and after that, it was like Ainsdale couldn’t stop scoring. Howard grabbed another just before the hour, and substitute Lewis Harwood made an instant impact, adding Ainsdale’s third and fifth goals like he’d just come off the bench in a FIFA match.
Chipping’s defense spent most of the game chasing shadows, and by the time Fabrizio Anelli scored the sixth in the 90th minute, they were probably counting down the seconds until the final whistle. Ainsdale could’ve scored more, but they kindly decided to stop at six.
Astley FC 4-2 New Longton Rovers
Astley FC’s Luke Robinson was in the mood for goals, bagging a hat-trick in the first 35 minutes to leave New Longton Rovers wondering if they’d stumbled into a one-man show. Robinson’s finishing was clinical, and by the time James Knott added a fourth just before halftime, Astley were cruising. New Longton tried to mount a comeback in the second half with goals from Christian Roach and George Kelly, but the damage was already done.
Astley took their foot off the gas in the second half, allowing Rovers some time in the spotlight, but the three-goal deficit was too much to overcome. Astley bagged the win, with Robinson undoubtedly making his case for man of the match—and possibly an early Christmas bonus.
Burscough FC Reserves 7-7 Cube FC (Pens 5-4)
Buckle up, folks, because Burscough FC Reserves vs Cube FC was a match so wild it could be mistaken for a video game. Cube struck first with Khalid Sheikh opening the scoring, but Burscough’s Lewis Bannister quickly equalized, making it 1-1 by the 7th minute. The goals came thick and fast after that, with Malakai Pharrelle Taylor McKenzie netting twice for Cube and Charlie Ellis answering back for Burscough to make it 3-3 by the hour mark. From there, it became a ping-pong game of goals, with McKenzie and Ellis both completing hat-tricks. Just when Cube thought they had it at 5-3, Burscough stormed back to tie it 5-5.
Cube’s McKenzie added another, and Sheikh made it 7-5, surely sealing the game—or so they thought. But Burscough weren’t done yet. With a late goal from Tom Wakefield in the 89th minute and a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time from Delial Brewster, Burscough sent the game to penalties in the most dramatic fashion possible.
The penalty shootout was just as chaotic, with Cube’s luck running out as they missed three crucial kicks. Burscough, cool as ice, slotted home five penalties to win the shootout 5-4. This game had more plot twists than a soap opera, and neither side will forget it anytime soon.
Cherrybrook 9-1 Ribchester Rovers
Cherrybrook turned Ribchester into a defensive disaster zone, with Jack Crowther and Tommy Harban treating the goal like it was an all-you-can-score buffet. Crowther opened the feast at 19 minutes and couldn’t stop, helping himself to four goals like he was at a Sunday roast. Harban, not to be outdone, chipped in with four of his own, making it a day of absolute carnage for the Ribchester defense. By the time Robbie Heaton joined the party at 4-0, Ribchester were already booking their therapy sessions.
Ribchester finally found the back of the net in the 88th minute thanks to Ben Bristo, but by then, it was like finding the last chip after everyone’s already left the party. Cherrybrook finished 9-1, leaving Ribchester licking their wounds and wondering how Crowther and Harban could still walk after scoring so much.
Fleetwood Hesketh 0-1 Wyre Villa Reserves
In a game tighter than a jar of pickles, Wyre Villa Reserves managed to pry open Fleetwood Hesketh’s defense just once, and that was all they needed. Toby Smith’s second-half strike wasn’t exactly a thunderbolt, but it was enough to send the Wyre fans home with something to celebrate. Fleetwood Hesketh, on the other hand, might want to start a petition to widen the goalposts – they couldn’t hit the target if it was the size of a barn door.
The match was otherwise a snoozefest for the neutrals, with the highlight being a pigeon that spent most of the second half perched on the crossbar, probably having a better view than the rest of us.
Hoole United 2-0 Wigan Rovers
Hoole United left it late but finally got things going after an hour of trying to remember where they left the goal. Enter Alfie Parker, who broke the deadlock in the 65th minute and then decided one wasn’t enough, adding another ten minutes later to secure a 2-0 win. Parker was basically playing his own game, while Wigan Rovers were still trying to figure out the instructions.
Wigan will feel hard done by, as their second-half substitutions didn’t quite spark the revolution they’d hoped for. Instead, it was all about Hoole and their Alfie – Parker by name, poacher by nature.
Sir Tom Finney 2-2 (Pens 4-3) Middleton & Overton Sports
Sir Tom Finney and Middleton & Overton Sports decided that a regular game just wasn’t exciting enough, so they threw in a penalty shootout for good measure. It all started off well for Sir Tom Finney, with Thomas Weatherill opening the scoring early. But Middleton & Overton had other plans, with Cameron Isherwood equalizing just 13 minutes later. The second half saw Jack Burba give Middleton a lead, but Kevton Foster wasn’t having any of that nonsense and leveled the score late on.
The penalty shootout was full of drama, tension, and probably a few chewed fingernails. In the end, it was Sir Tom Finney who held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties, leaving Middleton & Overton wishing they’d practiced a few more spot-kicks during the week.
Westgate Hawks 0-8 Marsh United
Westgate Hawks had barely blinked when Marsh United scored their first goal – 40 seconds into the match. From there, it was a brutal day at the office for the Hawks, who were left chasing shadows as Marsh piled on the goals like a team possessed. By halftime, it was already 4-0, and the Hawks’ morale had left the building.
The second half was more of the same, with Jamie Taylor finishing off his hat-trick and Marsh United continuing to score at will. When Christopher Davis scored the eighth goal, it was more of a mercy kill than a celebration. Marsh United walked away with an 8-0 win, while Westgate Hawks are probably still looking for where they left their defense.