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After last weeks successes in the LFA Sunday Trophy we experienced the other side of the coin this morning in the games postponed last Sunday. Hunters & Ingol Rangers (HIR) hosted Eleven Sports Media (ESM) from the top division of the Blackpool Sunday League and lost a penalty shootout 6-5 after the scores were level 2-2 at full time. ESM took the lead in the first minute, but Damien Green got an equaliser for HIR with a wicked free kick on 15 minutes. ESM, who looked a good strong team retook the lead on 52 minutes and it took another bit of magic from Damien whose precise cross on 76 minutes was headed in by Troy Carsley. Some excellent penalties from both sides until the fatal 6th kick from HIR which was saved by the ESM keeper and that prompted the usual wild celebrations … and why not.

Blackpool Town (Division 2) were away to Highfield Social who currently head the Blackpool top division and our lads gave a good account of themselves, holding their prestigious opponents at 1-1 for a good period before some astute substitutions by Highfield added the fire power to see the home team through 4-1.

Theatre Boys (premier division) hosted division 1 outfit Gregson Lane Wanderers (GLW) who are certainly no mugs as the Boys found out this morning in a game that ended 2-2 before Theatre progressed into the last 16 of the competition by winning 5-4 on penalties.

Which brings me to Bamber Bridge United (premier division) against Wythenshawe Amateurs from the Manchester League in a game which started with Wythenshawe taking the lead though Lewis Taylor after five minutes thanks in no small part to some abysmal defending by Bamber Bridge. After that, Bamber Bridge United settled down and took the game to their opponents and they had their chances to draw level.

However, the game was abandoned after 28 minutes by referee Keith Martin after he had dismissed no less than seven players following an incident on the far touchline to where I was standing. It all started with a foul tackle by a Wythenshawe player, which was identified by the referee, who was close at hand and it would possibly have resulted in a yellow card.

The referee Keith Martin is an experienced official who handled a difficult situation well. He identified the offenders from both sides and he issued 4 red cards to Wythenshawe players and 2 red cards to Bamber Bridge players. Before the referee could restart the game, he was confronted by another Wythenshawe player whom he dismissed for abusive and offensive language, which meant that Wythenshawe were now down to six players and the game had to be abandoned.

It is now in the hands of the Lancashire Football Association to decide the outcome.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

There’s no place like home for premier division outfit Tanterton FC who will play their first home game of the season at their Village Green, Tanterton pitch this Sunday 21st October when they entertain in form Ribbleton FC who have won their last five games.

The summer heatwave caused the pitch drains to drop and this in turn made the playing surface uneven. It was a case of sleeves being rolled up and all hands to the pump to get the pitch back into pristine condition.

Club secretary Carl Longshaw said, “It’s been hard work getting the pitch sorted, talk about blood, toil, sweat and tears and a fair amount of money as well, but we got there in the end thanks in no small part to Rick Hutchinson, Mark Bamber and Gary Longshaw from the club. We would also like to thank Paul Eastwood of Fulwood Amateurs for his help and advice, John Carrig and his lads from Building Supplies West Coast and Pete Marquis of Pete Marquis Groundworks".

Supporters and spectators visiting the Village Green can get anything from toast and bacon butties to a full English breakfast with drinks and snacks from the Community Café, which is adjacent to the pitch and is open from 8.30am-12noon on match days. The café will be open from Sunday 28th October when Tanterton are at home to league leaders Acregate Lane Labour Club.

Eamonn McNamara.

The draw for the fourth round of this season’s LFA Sunday Trophy has kept our remaining clubs apart with many of them having the benefit of a home tie. That said, there are no easy games at this stage of the competition with some of the County’s top Sunday sides featured.

The games are scheduled to be played on Sunday 18 November 2018 and the full draw is as follows;

Acregate Lane LC	v	Bolton Town
Bolton Lads & Girls Club	v	Bamber Bridge Utd or Wythenshawe Amateurs
Highfield Social or Blackpool Town	v	Top Club
Hunters & Ingol Rangers or Eleven Sports Media	v	The Hares
Middleton Town	v	Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs
Ribbleton	v	New Albert
Theatre Boys or Gregson Lane W	v	Crown Paints
West View	v	Wigan Wanderers

Eamonn McNamara.

Preston North End Community Trust are providing a fantastic opportunity to all 15-17yr olds to join the National Citizen Service (NCS) summer programme. With jobs and academic courses becoming ever more competitive it is important for young people to showcase their efforts and accomplishments undertaken outside of the classroom. Sam Livesey, PNE’s NCS Co-ordinator spoke to clubs at our October League meeting and he outlined the benefits of the scheme for young people.

NCS is a great way in which young people can show their desire to develop and all whilst having an experience of a lifetime. A few benefits of NCS can be found below.

Great for team building and try some new experiences as a team

Gain grassroots funding for equipment

Gain a UCAS recognised certificate signed by the Prime Minister

Can be used as a celebratory end of season trip

Opportunities for managers to work and be paid to attend the residential’s

For more details and to find out how to get involved contact either sam@pne.com, 07769 643405 or laurajoyce@pne.com, 07919 302750 or visit the club’s website at PNE FC and select the community tab and go down to national citizen service.

Eamonn McNamara.

Hunters & Ingol Rangers FC have secured a new sponsorship deal with AK Stainless Ltd, the Bamber Bridge based laser cutting specialists whose support has enabled the club to purchase a brand new kit and training wear.

AK Stainless MD Tony Baron and his wife Karen said, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support this top local club and we wish them every success for the season”. Team manager Dave “Dixie” Dawson added, It is very difficult to run a football club at this level and we are grateful to AK Stainless Ltd, who are huge supporters of grass roots football at this level, for their help and generosity”.

For more information about A K Stainless Ltd visit AK Stainless Ltd

Eamonn McNamara.

Acregate Lane recovered from 2-0 down at half time to draw level with Ma Kellys over 90 minutes and then win the penalty shoot out 4-2 to book their place in the last 16 of this season’s LFA Sunday Trophy.

This was always going to be the tie of the round between two top Sunday sides plus the added frisson of Preston versus Blackpool. Acregate Lane have started the season well and they sit on top of the premier division, however they were without four of their players who were on a function in Benidorm which was arranged months ago.

Ma Kellys Showboat. managed by Paul Cobb is a new team in the top division of the Blackpool & Fylde Sunday Alliance. They were formed from a number of lads who played for Blackhurst Budd last season plus other players from the Fylde coast, many of whom play for Wren Rovers and it was clear from the early exchanges that Acregate had a game on their hands.

That said, Acregate could have gone ahead as early as the 6th minute when they had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be ruled offside in somewhat contentious circumstances as many of the Acregate players felt that it was an own goal. To make matters worse, Kellys stormed into the lead five minutes later when Brett Dawson, who proved to be a handful for the Acregate defence, scored a superb goal. Kellys are a well organised side to like to play football and they laid siege to the Acregate goal for long periods. It was no real surprise when they went 2-0 up in the 28th minute from a speculative shot from Danny Morris to give them a 2-0 half time lead.

Acregate manager Gary Duboulay rallied his troops during the interval and his words of encouragement clearly had an effect. They had a golden chance to pull one back after 51 minutes but shot wide and it was left to their talisman Paul Turner to get them back into the game with a terrific shot on 67 minutes. Now it was Acregate in the ascendancy, their back four of Luke Smith, Ryan Broomhead, Ged Morris and Lewis Bell had the measure of Kelly’s forwards and youngsters Jack Anderton, Andy Lockhart and Paul Turner were full of running.

The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Paul Turner broke into the penalty area and was upended by a Kellys defender. Referee Marlon Gupta from Accrington, who handled a difficult game well, was well positioned to award a penalty and to the Kellys defenders’ credit, there were no complaints as Turner confidently beat the keeper to make it 2-2. At this point there looked to be only one winner and in spite of Acregate throwing the kitchen sink at it they couldn’t find a winner in normal time.

And so to penalties as there is no extra time in any LFA Cup Competitions. Kellys went first and the kick was saved by Acregate’s keeper Lewis Weher. Paul Turner scored to give them the lead for the first time, Kellys scored their second pen (1-1), Andrew Lockhart made it 2-1 to Acregate, Kellys missed their third pen, Owen Thompson scored to give Acregate a 3-1 lead, Kellys then scored their second (of four) so it was left to the 17 year old Jack Anderton to score the decisive kick and put Acregate into the last 16 of the competition.

At the final whistle the Ma Kellys Manager Paul Cobb made a point of shaking hands with and congratulating the Acregate players and wishing them well in the competition. Paul said, “It really was a classic game of two halves, we were on top in the first half and they had the better of the second half. I enjoyed the game which was a good advert for Sunday football”. His opposite number Gary Duboulay was full of praise for his lads and said, “That was a tough one, they were a good strong side, but I felt that we deserved to win and we can now wait and see what the draw brings”.

Elsewhere in the Trophy Arkwrights went down 5-1 to New Albert, Ribbleton travelled to Rochdale to beat Avenue 9-0 with Richie Allen bagging a double hat trick, Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs beat Kingsfold 13-1 and Worden Rangers were beaten 13-0 by Top Club. The second round of the Syndicate Trust Youth Cup saw Winstanley Warriors Reds win 7-1 at Cadley, Euxton Villa beat Penwortham St Teresas 3-2 and Padiham beat Poulton 5-1

Hats off to Midgery Court from division 3 who joined the league this season and won their first point this morning with a 3-3 home draw against Tarleton White, who sit third in the table, with goals from Andreas Tsimboykas, Craig Newby and Will Thom. Well done guys.

Round up and photos by Eamonn McNamara.

Physical Training: The Society provides physical training for its members at UCLan Sports Arena Training every Monday evening between 6.30-7.30pm except on Society Monthly Meeting nights when it will be brought forward to 6.00-7.00pm.

For further details about the physical training sessions please contact Paul Marsden here.

Lancashire Sunday Football League is always happy to accept new referees to its list of officials. If you have any enquiries about refereeing on the League or would like to be added to the list of officials, please contact the League’s Referee Manager David McNamara here.

Mid Lancashire Football League operates on Saturday afternoons for Open Age clubs and they are also happy to accept new referees to its list of officials. If you have any enquiries about refereeing on the League or would like to be added to the list of officials, please contact the League’s Referee Secretary Tony Hawkes here.