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There was an understandable frisson of anticipation at UCLan Sports Arena this morning ahead of the premier division game between Ingol Rangers and Hunters, the top two clubs in the division. Hunters, the reigning league champions, arrived at Cottam with a 100% record and they expected this to be their sternest test to date and so it proved.

Some people are prone to taking a whimsical view of the league and harp back to the good old days when “the teams were much stronger and there were better players around”. Were they really? - OK we have had some top teams, The Piper, Lisieux Hall, the legendary Forrest Arms. Arkwrights, AFC Lostock Hall and most recently AFC Ingol who all won multiple competitions including the biggest prize of all, the LFA Sunday Trophy.

But that view shows scant respect for today’s teams and especially for these two clubs who are well organised and well-disciplined and both have first class managers in Dean Crossen at Ingol Rangers and Dave “Dixie” Dawson at Hunters plus their respective backroom teams.

The game started at a fast and furious pace, going from end to end and it was difficult decide who had the upper hand before Dee Edmonds pounced on some sloppy Ingol defensive work in the 26th minute to finish as he does so often in quite ruthless fashion. Did the Ingol heads drop, they did not and they were level less than a minute later when Seydou Bamba smashed a loose ball past keeper Danny Roccia.

Three minutes later Ingol Rangers were ahead through Zac Wilkes only for Reece Fishwick to level matters on 32 minutes and then Mr Reliable Lee Ashcroft popped up on 37 minutes to put Rangers ahead for a second time and give them an interval 3-2 lead.

The second half was just four minutes old when Dee Edmonds was on hand to net for Hunters and level matters at 3-3 and that was followed by a long period of intense pressure from both teams which was only broken by the award of an undisputed penalty by referee Barry Cropp to Hunters on 72 minutes which Edmonds converted to complete his hat trick. All that remained was for Hunters Andy Richards to complete the scoring with the goal of the game, a thunderous shot from outside the area to make the final score 5-3 to Hunters.

The crowd of over 200 were treated to a superb game by two excellent sides and the match was extremely well handled by top referee Barry Cropp and his Assistants Mark Moore and Phil Ryan.

Elsewhere in the premier division AFC Ingol beat Ashton Villa 5-2, Bamber Bridge United beat Springfields 3-1 and Acregate Lane LC got their first win of the season beating Ashton on Ribble 4-2. Warton won 4-2 at AFC Longridge in division 1 and Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs celebrated playing their first home game by beating Whittle Wanderers 5-1. The only game in division 2 saw Gregson Lane beat Leyland Orient 7-0 whilst in division 3 Sir Tom Finney beat BAE Warton, Waverley Park won 4-1 at Lostock Hall and Fishwick Rangers drew 4-4 with Tarleton Corinthians.

Tanterton completed their outstanding LFA Sunday Trophy 2nd round tie by winning 8-0 at Standish Park Rangers and they now have a trick home tie against Crown Paints (Blackburn) in round 3. Arkwrights won 5-0 at Leyland Athletic and they can now look forward to a 3rd round game away to Hunters.

AFC Fylde beat Highfield Grange 1-0 in their 1st round LFA U18s Cup match, in round 2 Appley Bridge Reds lost 4-2 at Atherton Town, BAE Warton beat Euxton Villa 2-0, Fleetwood Park Rangers won 6-2 at Broughton Amateurs, Lostock St Gerards won 5-1 at Midway, Padiham had an excellent 3-2 home win against AFC Darwen and Winstanley Warriors beat Coppull United 6-5 on penalties after the scores were level on 2-2 at full time.

The Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup 1st round ties saw wins for Bolton Lads & Girls Club against Kingsfold, Fulwood Park Rangers beat Westhoughton 4-2, Penwortham Town beat Walton Athletic 3-2, Vernon Sports won at Ribbleton Wanderers, Preston Victoria won 2-1 at Walton, Gregson Lane Wanderers won 4-1 at Worden Rangers and Tulketh United beat Wyresdale Rangers 7-2.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Twelve of our clubs feature in the draw for the 3rd Round (last 32) of the LFA Sunday Trophy but seven of them have to hit the road including the holders Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs who travel to Prestley who beat Lostock Hall (Div 3) in the last round.

If Tanterton beat Standish Park Rangers in their outstanding round 2 game they face a stern test against Blackburn outfit Crown Paints and Premier division leaders Hunters await the winners of the outstanding Leyland Athletic v Arkwrights tie. Premier division clubs Ashton on Ribble, Bamber Bridge United and Acregate Lane LC have away days whilst Ingol Rangers have another home tie against Craven Heifer United who beat Walton in the last round.

The ties are scheduled to be played on Sunday 8th October 2017 and the games involving our teams are;

Standish Park Rangers or Tanterton	v	Crown Paints
Bloomfield Brewhouse	v	Ashton on Ribble
Prestley	v	Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs
Broomheads Estate Agency	v	Bamber Bridge United
Shawdale	v	Walton Athletic
Gregson Lane Wanderers	v	West Park Wolves or Avenue
The Wellington	v	Acregate Lane LC or Kirkham
Ingol Rangers	v	Craven Heifer United
Preston Victoria	v	Brown Cow Olympic
Hunters	v	Leyland Athletic or Arkwrights

Eamonn McNamara.

Progressive division 2 club Walton FC is looking for an Assistant Manager to run training sessions, help on match days and cover for the manager. They play their home games at Brownedge St Mary’s High School, Bamber Bridge.

This would be an ideal opportunity for someone with a FA Level 1 coaching badge (or above) who is looking to build their CV or someone with previous Sunday League experience who wants to stay involved.

If interested, please contact Walton FC manager Andy Taylor on 07807 897067 for further details.

Eamonn McNamara.

Today was the LFA Sunday Trophy 2nd Round (last 64) and the holders Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs travelled to the UCLan Sports Arena to face the 2015 winners AFC Ingol. Southport & Ainsdale joined the league this summer with a substantial reputation having won the league and cup double in the Southport Sunday League, the league and cup double in the Mid Lancs League (Saturdays) as well as winning the Lancashire Amateur Cup (Saturdays) plus the LFA Sunday Trophy.

The club entered our league in division 1 and their first two games saw them lose to Vernon Sports (Div 2) in the Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup and they were held 1-1 at Bolton Lads & Girls Club in their first league outing. Today’s fixture against AFC Ingol was their chance to show us their pedigree against one of our premier division sides and they took it with both hands. They went a goal up after 9 minutes from Graeme Mulvoy’s header and looked to be well in control of the game until Dylan Kay caught them on the hop to level matters on one of AFC Ingol’s rare attacks.

The second half was just 12 minutes old when AFC’s keeper Aiden Whitehead spilled a shot and Ben Edwards was on hand to restore the Amateurs lead. Further goals came from Rob Lamont, Craig Taylor and Danny Boden to put the club back into their comfort zone and manager Gareth Jones was well pleased with the performance from his lads.

Ingol Rangers cruised to a 7-0 win against Newbury from the Bolton Sunday League with goals from Stu Parry (3), Jonty McDonald, Zac Wilkes, Ryan McKenna and Jamie Marvill. The Bolton lads were full of praise for the pristine conditions at the UCLan Sports Arena, something that we all take for granted and it is as well to be reminded occasionally just how lucky we are to have these excellent facilities.

Acregate Lane LC had a morale boosting 6-4 win against Wardle with Paul Turner bagging a hat trick, Ashton on Ribble advance after their 3-2 win at home to Wigan Lane, Gregson Lane Wanderers from division 2 beat Blackamoor 8-2 helped by hat tricks from Jack Mountain and Dale Wallace, Bamber Bridge United had an excellent 6-1 away win at Whinney Hill Colts and Walton Athletic will be happy with their 6-2 win at home to Real Haydock who are difficult opponents in more ways than one.

Sadly, we lost a number of our clubs, a depleted AFC Longridge went down 7-1 at Clifton Rangers, Walton lost 4-1 to Craven Heifer, Vernon Sports lost 4-0 at Middleton Town, Lostock Hall were beaten 6-2 by Prestley and Theatre Boys suffered a 4-3 home defeat to Brown Cow Olympic in spite of the efforts of Paul Day making his 150th appearance for the club. Warton suffered a 5-0 home defeat to Southport Colts and Preston Victoria beat Wyresdale Rangers 3-2 in an all Lancashire Sunday League affair.

A number of LFA U18s Youth Cup 1st Round games were played today featuring some of our clubs, Appley Bridge had mixed fortunes going down heavily at Coppull United but Appley Bridge Reds won 3-0 at home to Wigan Junior Latics, Padiham beat Haslingden St Marys 3-0 with much credit to both clubs for ensuring this game went ahead, Lost St Gerards beat Kirkham 3-0 but Penwortham St Teresas went down 3-1 at home to Daisy Hill.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Theatre Boys Paul Day is looking forward to Sunday’s LFA Sunday Trophy game against Brown Cow Olympic FC (Blackburn Sunday League) as it will mark his 150th game for the Boys (providing he is selected of course).

Paul has had four spells with the club, making his debut as a 17-year-old on 5th March 2006 against Unicorn and he netted his first goal for the club on 20th August 2006 against FC Leyland and both games were in the LFA Sunday Trophy.

A prolific goal scorer with 147 goals to his name in 149 games, Paul bagged his first hat trick for the club on 1st October 2006 against AFC Wigan and he netted 4 goals on 18th September 2016 against Bridgewater FC also in the LFA Sunday Trophy.

Club secretary Stephen Smith said, “Paul Day is the sort of player every club wants and needs, he isn’t just a good player and a great goal scorer but he’s also the ideal club man”. Let’s hope Sunday’s LFA game proves a lucky omen for both Paul and Theatre Boys.

Eamonn McNamara.