ONCE again the amateur football fixtures were disrupted by the seemingly incessant rain – but some games did survive to keep fortunate souls away from last-minute Christmas shopping.

The once reliable Training Pitch has seen a few postponements this season, but it was up to the task on Saturday.

Furness Rovers were able to take full advantage with a superb second-half performance against Millom in the West Lancashire League Division Two.

The first half was an evenly-contested affair and the game was goalless at half-time, but Jack Cooksey broke the deadlock in the 50th minute to set the tone for the second half.

Reece Carlisle made it 2-0 midway through the half and Cooksey added his second with 70 minutes played.

Liam Shields then wrapped up the points with an 85th-minute penalty to give the Rovers management team an early Christmas present.

Millom will be very disappointed with their second-half display and the win for Rovers takes them above Millom in the league table on goal difference.

Dalton United’s Division One game at Turton followed a similar pattern, being goalless at half-time but ending up 4-0 to the home side at full-time.

All the other West Lancs games involving local sides were postponed, as was Holker Old Boys’ North West Counties Division One match with Ashton Town at Rakesmoor Lane.

With other leagues taking a break over the holiday period, Holker will be in action with a trip to Bacup Borough on Boxing Day before hosting Daisy Hill on January 2.

In the Furness Premier League, only four of the 13 scheduled games were played, taking the total postponements for the season to 90.

There was a game played in each division, plus a Paul Wilson Memorial Trophy tie.

That latter fixture saw Askam United reserves come from behind to win 2-1 and progress to the next round at the expense of Furness Cavaliers reserves.

Tom Heap put Cavaliers ahead, but Kailym Shepherd equalised before a poor back pass allowed Brad Jackson to net the winner.

Bootle’s pitch was fit again and they beat local rivals Haverigg United for the second time this season.

The cup tie in November finished 3-2, but on Saturday a solitary Joe Capstick goal was enough to secure three vital Riflemans Garage Premier Division points.

The loss was only Haverigg’s second in the league and meant they failed to make up ground on the top five.

Haverigg’s reserves were also in action as their Wilson Park pitch continued to beat the weather and they moved out of the bottom two in Premier Tiles Division One with a 2-1 victory over GSK Ulverston Rangers A, who are rooted to the foot of the table.

Haverigg’s goals came from Craig Robinson and an own goal, while Rangers replied through Josh Cronin, with a goal direct from a corner.

A single goal was also enough to win the Division Two clash between Coniston reserves and Kirkby United reserves, with Lee Tracey’s effort earning Kirkby a 1-0 win.

Cartmel’s inactive spell ended, but after six postponements they were not at the races, going down 3-1 to Mayfield United and slipping to second place in the North Lancs Premier Division.