THE 2015-16 football season began with glorious weather but the results for local clubs were a bit of a mixed bag, writes PAUL WRIGHT .

In the Bay FM West Lancashire League Premier Division Vickerstown got off to a good start with a 3-1 win at home to Southport Hesketh thanks to goals from Danny Cummings, Rob Bruce and Dean Crossman but Crooklands Casuals lost 5-1 to reigning Champions Charnock Richard.

The match was delayed for more than an hour due to the Charnock bus breaking down.

But it gave a great opportunity for the founder members to enjoy a rare sunny day at Longlands Park which helped to create a good atmosphere.

The game started brightly and Crooklands took the lead on 13 minutes when Dave Mansergh was brought down by a clumsy challenge while cutting across the penalty area and Chris Wraighte stepped up to score the penalty.

Within five minutes Charnock pulled level when a pinpoint cross from the left hand side was headed home by Carl Grimshaw.

Play was relatively even throughout the first half but Cassies keeper Ibukan Bamigboye pulled off a brilliant save to keep the scores level.

A tremendous Mike Hargreaves header from a corner was somehow cleared off the line by a Charnock defender.

Cassies came close to taking the lead when Jordan Chubb drove a powerful shot just over the bar.

The score remained 1-1 after a well fought and entertaining first half.

Charnock lifted the game to another level in the second half and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 49th minute through Grimshaw.

Charnock skipper Mark Woods and Alex Randell were starting to dominate the game, putting some great balls through for Grimshaw, who demonstrated his class finishing by completing his hat-trick in the 64th minute.

Jack Bennett put Charnock further ahead on 69th minute and Carl Grimshaw rubbed salt in the wounds by getting his fourth goal one minute from time.

Crooklands will be disappointed with the second half performance but Charnock played some great football during this period with a potent mixture of skill and power looked better than ever.

Cassies – celebrating their 45th anniversary this season – fared much better off the field as many of the 250 spectators retired to the clubhouse for refreshments, to recount old tales and provide their own brand of after-match entertainment.

Roy Twiname was given the honour of vice president by Crooklands Casuals in recognition of the tremendous contribution he has made over many years from the very beginning back in 1970.

In Division One Askam United had a superb away win at a side who just missed out on promotion last season, Poulton.

Askam won 5-2 with goals from Kyle Jefferson, 2, Callum Rayner, Ryan Brown and Jon France.

GSK Ulverston Rangers also won away from home, as a late Dan Lee goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Mill Hill St. Peters.

Dalton United travelled to a likely promotion contenders, Hurst Green, and were unlucky to go down 1-0.

Hawcoat Park also faced a side who expect to push for promotion in Burscough Richmond and despite a Carl Pearson goal they lost 2-1.

Results in Division Two were disappointing for local sides with only Furness Cavaliers avoiding defeat.

Cavaliers had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Kendal County having looked the better side until being reduced to 10 men close to the hour mark when Brandon Haughin was sent off on his Cavaliers’ debut.

Furness Rovers faced my favourites for the Division Two title CMB, who took all three points away from the Training Pitch through a goal scored with 15 minutes left.

New boys Swarthmoor Social learned the size of the task ahead of them this season as they were beaten 8-1 by a very impressive Milnthorpe Corinthians.

Graham Wilcox had the honour of scoring Swarthmoor’s first West Lancashire League goal.

Millom were under strength at home to Croston Sports and crashed to a 3-0 defeat while two Connor Carson penalties couldn’t stop Walney Island from going down 3-2 at home to Leyland United.

Holker Old Boys opened their North West Counties Division One campaign with a long trip to Eccleshall where second half goals from Dave Swarbrick and Jamie Pattinson earned the Stags a 2-1 win.

Holker welcome Bacup Borough – who drew 5-5 on Saturday with Cheadle Town – for their first home game of the season at Rakesmoor Lane tomorrow.