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A thunderbolt from midfielder Marcus Bray in the 69th minute of this clash of the titans secured the points for Acregate Lane LC and maintained their 100% record in a game which lived up to expectations for the crowd of over 150 who witnessed it.

This much awaited clash between league leaders Hunters and second placed Acregate Lane had all the makings of a classic, after all both clubs went into the game with perfect records having won all of their league and cup games to date.

These two long established clubs are the very essence of this league and Sunday football. Acregate Lane have been members of the league for over 40 years, they get excellent support from the Labour Club and they have a hard working group of officials in secretary Alex Ross and the management team of Shaun Cromie, Ritchie Allen, Gary Duboulay and Paul Paynter. They have secured a new ground at BAE Samlesbury to match their ambitions to secure one of the league’s top prizes which so far have eluded them.

Hunters, who play at London Road running track, are also a long established club who changed their name from Unicorn at the end of last season. They have an experienced club secretary in Andy Walsh and an ambitious management team lead by David ‘Dixie’ Dawson and Charlie Sanderson and they have assembled a squad of top players.

The game started under driving rain with both sides keen to make their mark but it was Acregate who stuck first when Liam Allen scored with an excellent strike after 17 minutes. Acregate had more of the possession in the first half but Hunters looked dangerous on the break and their efforts were rewarded on the stroke of half time when Daz Green netted with one of his specials.

Hunters hit the ground running in the early stages of the second half but the Acregate defence held firm. Daz Green looked to have put Hunters ahead on 62 minutes with an exquisite chip which beat Nathan Worrell in the Acregate goal but defender Mark Sandham read the situation and cleared the ball with a spectacular bicycle kick before it crossed the line.

Acregate took the lead on 69 minutes when Marcus Bray, who has been a loyal servant for Acregate Lane for many years, surged forward and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner which was worthy of winning any game. Liam Allen who must have had one of his best games for the club hit the post on 76 minutes.

Hunters manager Dixie Dawson was magnanimous after the game saying, “I have no complaints about the result and all credit to Acregate. We will learn a lot from this game which will motivate my players to go on another unbeaten run”, he also added, “The match officials were excellent and they never put a foot wrong”.

Acregate boss Shaun Cromie said, “Hunters are the best side we have played, they are a really good team but we were excellent today and we will enjoy this result”.

A word of praise for the match officials, referee Mark Hughes and his Assistants Mark Otto and Sam Almond. Much depended on their performance in this top of the table clash and they rose to the occasion by their superb handling of the game which earned plaudits from both teams.

Elsewhere in the premier division a James Morley hat trick helped AFC Ingol to a 4-1 win over New Farington House, Ingol Rangers got their mojo back with a 5-1 win at Ashton Villa, Marc Mullan scored 11 as Grange beat Walton Athletic 14-4 and Tanterton made it7 points from the last 9 with a 2-1 home win against Springfields.

Ashton on Ribble head division 1 after their 3-0 win at Theatre Boys and they replace Preston Victoria who lost 1-0 at Wyresdale, Vernon Sports won 4-1 at Frenchwood, Gregson Lane Wanderers beat Warton 5-2 and Worden Rangers won 3-2 at St Theresas.

Walton beat AFC Longridge 5-2 in their delayed Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup first round game.

Whittle Wanderers excellent season continues with a 3-2 win at Gregson Lane which puts them on top of division 2, Tulketh United in second place beat Ribbleton Wanderers 7-1, Westhoughton are off the mark with a 4-2 win at Fulwood Park Rangers, Bolton Lads & Girls Club beat Chorley Saints 4-1 whilst the Penwortham Town v Leyland Orient clash ended 4-4.

Earnshaw Bridge beat Kingsfold 2-0 to keep up the pace in division 3, Arkwrights who are also unbeaten beat Bamber Bridge Town 7-1, Sir Tom Finney won 3-0 at Parkside, BAE Warton won 4-2 at Tarleton and Wilbraham beat Adlington 6-2.

A truncated youth programme due to the LFA Youth Cup saw Charley Wanderers beat Astley & Buckshaw 2-1 in youth red, Burscough Dynamo beat Walmer Bridge 4-1 in youth white where Eccleston & Heskin beat Appley Bridge 3-1 and in youth blue Mellor beat Penwortham St Teresa’s 5-2, Poulton beat Lancon and Wyre Villa & Springfields drew 4-4.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

The draw for the 2nd round of the Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup, games to be played on Sunday 2 October 2016;

Arkwrights	v	Vernon Sports
New Longton Rovers	v	Penwortham Town
Preston Victoria	v	Walton Athletic
Theatre Boys	v	Walton or AFC Longridge

BYES

Acregate Lane LC, AFC Ingol, Ashton Villa, Bolton Lads & Girls Club

Grange, Gregson Lane Wanderers, Hunters, Ingol Rangers

New Farington House, Springfields, Tanterton, Wyresdale Rangers

The draw for the 1st round of the Syndicate Trust Presidents Cup, games to be played on Sunday 2 October 2016;

Ashton on Ribble	v	St Theresas
Bamber Bridge Town	v	Tulketh United
Earnshaw Bridge	v	Tarleton Corinthians
Gregson Lane	v	Whittle Wanderers
Ribbleton Wanderers	v	Leyland Orient
Walton or AFC Longridge	v	Sir Tom Finney
Westhoughton	v	Frenchwood
Wilbraham	v	Worden Rangers

BYES

Adlington, Chorley Saints, BAE Warton, Fulwood Park Rangers

Kingsfold, Parkside, Tarleton, Warton

The draw for the 2nd round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup, games to be played on Sunday 9 October 2016;

AFC Darwen	v	Lammack
Walshaw Sports	v	Penwortham St Teresa’s

BYES

AFC Fylde, Astley & Tyldesley, Clitheroe, Coppull United Blues, Croston

Garstang, Horwich St Marys, Ladybridge, Lostock St Gerards, Padiham

Poulton, Ribbleton, Southport, Walmer Bridge, Wyre Villa

Eamonn McNamara.

The League will have 9 clubs playing in the 3rd Round (last 32) of the LFA Sunday Trophy and no less than 8 of them have been drawn at home. Tanterton have to hit the road once again when they meet Intack FC from Blackburn:

Ties to be played on Sunday 09 October 2016

Acregate Lane LC	v	Littleborough
AFC Ingol	v	Heywood St James
Arkwrights	v	Wythenshawe Amateurs
Ashton Villa	v	Catholic Club (Rochdale)
Grange	v	Rochdalians
Hunters	v	A&P Autos (Blackpool)
Intack (Blackburn)	v	Tanterton
New Farington House	v	Real Haydock
Theatre Boys	v	The Hares (Skelmersdale)

Eamonn McNamara.

Today saw 16 of our clubs appearing in the 2nd round of the LFA Sunday Trophy with two all Lancashire Sunday League ties, and no less than 11 of our clubs having to travel.

Acregate Lane LC were not at their best but they were too good for Royal Oak beating them 5-2 , Grange had a big away win at AFC Swan and AFC Ingol won 3-1 at D Havilland. Ashton Villa won 2-1 at Ewood Blues, New Farington House returned to their old ground to beat new tenants Kingsfold 5-1, Hunters had a comfortable 8-2 win at Trawden Tree and Tanterton won 8-1 at Olympic AFC.

Arkwrights made it to round 3 in their first season with a 6-1 win at Parkside and Theatre Boys who like this competition beat The Bridgewater 6-0 at Ashton College. We had some casualties, Walton from division 3 went down 3-1 at top Blackpool side Blackhurst Budd, New Longton Rovers were beaten 7-3 by Mill Hill from Blackburn who can never be written off and Vernon Sports lost 3-1 at Rochdalians. So with 2 results still to come we have at least 9 teams into the third round of this important competition.

Today was also the 1st round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup and Springfields welcomed Walshaw Sports to the UCLan Arena but went down 3-0 to goals from Ole Barnes (2) and Callum Burchett. This is Walshaw Sports first season in the league, they are based at Tottington, Bury and there has been a club at Walshaw since 1890. They have their own clubhouse opened by our own Sir Tom Finney in 1968 and their all-weather floodlit 5 a side facility was opened in 2003. They are managed by Mark Dalton and they have an enthusiastic group of parents supporting them.

Coppull United Blues made progress winning 6-3 at Broughton Amateurs, Wyre Villa won 7-5 at Burscough Dynamos and Ladybridge won 3-1 Charnock Richard. Chorley Wanderers went down 3-0 at home to Ribbleton, Croston beat Chipping 3-2: there were big wins for AFC Fylde against Lancon and Lostock St Gerards at Appley Bridge, Lammack won 3-1 at Eccleston & Heskin and Euxton Villa lost 3-2 at home to Astley & Tyldesley.

Jordan O’Mahoney’s goals could not prevent Lostock Hall SC losing 3-1 to AFC Darwen and Padiham beat Haslingden St Mary’s 2-0. Poulton were too strong for Mellor winning 8-0, Southport won 5-3 at Tarleton Corinthians, Garstang won 5-1 at Thornton Cleveleys and Walmer Bridge bagged a 3-2 win at Leyland BTR.

Springfields and Walton Athletic drew 3-3 in a cracking premier division clash at the Arena, Danny Chauhan put Springfields ahead after 1 minute and an own goal a minute later made it 2-0, Adam Hoyle netted the third after 33 minutes and the game looked over. Not so, the half time team talk by Walton management duo Mark Brown and Mark Parkinson clearly hit home as Mark Jemmett pulled one back on 51 minutes and he scored from the spot on 58 minutes to make it 3-2 before Anthony Ashton levelled the scores two minutes later. The game was well handled by referee Matt Coles and his Assistants David Shaw and Mark Otto.

Preston Victoria won 3-0 at Ashton on Ribble in the only game in division 1, Gregson Lane and Tarleton Corinthians drew 2-2 in division 2 where Chorley Saints won 4-0 at Leyland Orient, Whittle Wanderers beat Ribbleton Wanderers, Tulketh United beat Westhoughton and Penwortham Town and Fulwood Park Rangers drew 1-1. Earnshaw Bridge press on in division 3 beating Bamber Bridge Town 4-1, BAE Warton beat Adlington 3-o and Wilbraham won 6-2 at Tarleton.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

A reunion to remember one of the best years in Preston’s local footballing history will take place later this year.

Former amateur players from exactly 50 years ago are set to gather at Bamber Bridge’s Sir Tom Finney Stadium on Friday, October 28. The ‘Boys of 66’ will commemorate the special occasion when they were crowned winners of the County Youth Cup.

Representing the Preston and District Football League, the youngsters emerged victorious over Wigan in the final. Aged around 17 or 18 back then, the players will now be in their late 60s. While that particular success will be commemorated, the reunion is open to all former players, referees and officials from that era and beyond.

It is being organised by well-known ex-local footballer and official Wilf Riley, who organised something similar last year to mark the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Junior Cup final in 1965 between English Martyrs Juniors and St Joseph’s Juniors.

As well as commemorating the County Cup victory, the former players will also be reminiscing about Preston North End’s famous 9-0 win over Cardiff during the same year along with the fifth round FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur. And of course, England’s World Cup success over West Germany is likely to drop into the conversation at some point.

“It should be a good night” said organiser Wilf Riley “The one we held last year was very well attended. There were more than 80 who came - lads who played from the 1960s and 1970s.”

Those attending the reunion are also likely to raise a glass to the Preston town team which won the English Schools’ Cup exactly 80 years ago. The schoolboys shared the trophy with West Ham after the final – which was played in front of several thousand fans – finished 1-1 at Upton Park. All proceeds from the reunion will be split between St Catherine’s Hospice and Preston Schools’ Football Association.

Tickets on the door cost only £5, which includes pie and peas supper and the event starts at 6-30pm.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the event or for further information on donations or attending the evening, please contact Wilf Riley on 01772 336257, write to him at 52 Moss Lane, Lostock Hall, PR5 5BT or you can e-mail him here.

Eamonn McNamara.

Only two weeks into the season for our youth teams and Clitheroe are already setting the pace in youth division red. They have won both their games and they beat Haslingden St Marys 4-1 today with goals from Simon Wharton, Adam Bolton (2) and Josh Tetley with Jamie Hart scoring for St Mary’s. AFC Darwen beat Chorley Wanderers 3-1, Walshaw Sports won 9-0 away at Astley & Tyldesley, Lammack beat Horwich St Marys 4-2 and Ladybridge won 7-0 at Padiham.

There is a three way tie at the top of youth division white with Coppull Utd Blues, Euxton Villa and Southport all on 6 points from their first two games. Coppull beat Leyland BTR 8-1, Southport won 8-1 at Lostock Hall SC whilst Euxton Villa beat Appley Bridge 5-1 at home though Alexander Ostridge, Mario Neophytou and Cameron Murphy with Simon Box netting for Appley Bridge. Croston had a useful 6-1 away win at Burscough Dynamo, Ribbleton beat Eccleston & Heskin 5-0 and Walmer Bridge drew 2-2 at home to Tarleton Corinthians.

Lostock St Gerards lead youth division white after winning their opening two fixtures and they beat Chipping 7-0 today, Broughton Amateurs won 3-2 at Garstang, Penwortham St Teresa’s beat Lancon, AFC Fylde won 4-3 at Poulton, Mellow won 5-0 at Springfields and Thornton Cleveleys beat Wyre Villa 3-1.

AFC Longridge bow out of the LFA Sunday Trophy after losing their postponed game with Highfield Grange 4-3. Preston Victoria won 9-2 at Frenchwood in their preliminary round Syndicate Trust Challenge Cup game whilst in the first round games played today new boys Arkwrights caught the eye with their convincing 9-1 win at division 1 side Ashton on Ribble. Gregson Lane Wanderers won 4-1 at Adlington, Wyresdale Rangers won 7-1 at Bamber Bridge Town, Vernon Sports travelled to Lancaster to beat Parkside 4-1, Penwortham Town beat Leyland Orient 5-1, Bolton Lads & Girls won 3-1 at Wilbraham and Theatre Boys beat Warton 5-3.

The premier division already has all the makings of a two horse race between Hunters and Acregate Lane LC who both won today to maintain their 100% start to the season. Hunters won 9-0 away at champions Ingol Rangers and Acregate Lane won 6-1 away at Challenge Cup winners New Farington House. Springfields collected their first win beating Ashton Villa 5-2 and Grange drew 4-4 with AFC Ingol.

Whittle Wanderers lead division 2 by one point after their 5-2 win at Westhoughton but they have Tulketh Utd who won 4-1 at Chorley Saints and Penwortham Town breathing down their neck. Fulwood park Rangers and Gregson Lane settled for a 2-2 draw at Station Lane. There seems to be no stopping Earnshaw Bridge in division 3, they beat Tarleton 5-1 today to make it five wins out of five and Kingsfold picked up their first win with a 1-0 win at home to BAE Warton.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.