Kirkby United back on top after Barrow Celtic win

While Celtic are not in the hunt this season, they showed great character to equalise on three occasions before losing to a Kirkby side who seem to have discovered the knack of winning tight games.

Kirkby opened the scoring in the second minute through Paul Cleasby, but Celtic equalised from the penalty spot through Craig Woodburn after Mike Code handled the ball.

Matty Bruce restored Kirkby’s lead as Kirkby got on top, but there was no more scoring before half-time.

Soon after the break, Woodburn scored his second from a free-kick to get Celtic level again, but Kirkby went 3-2 up with Cleasby cutting in from the left and firing home.

Midway through the half, it was all-square again as Rob Johnson headed in from a corner, however, Kirkby kept pressing and, with 10 minutes left, Bruce bundled in Lee Tracey’s cross for what proved to be the winner.

Rob Fugler missed a penalty for Kirkby in injury time, but it did not matter as they ran out 4-3 victors.

The result moved them back top following Vickerstown reserves’ 2-0 win at Millom reserves on Friday night courtesy of goals from Danny Douglas and Steve Brennan.

Three of the chasing pack won, but Holker Old Boys reserves dropped two points after being held to a 1-1 draw at Askam United reserves, with Warren Smithson scoring for Holker.

Third-placed GSK Ulverston Rangers reserves beat Bootle 2-0 thanks to goals from Craig Bowd and Ronan Simpson.

Haverigg United are fourth after a John Chmiel hat-trick earned them a 3-1 win over Furness Rovers reserves. Christian Callister was on target for Rovers.

Hawcoat Park reserves also triumphed 3-1 as goals from Lee Upton, Brandon Collins and Stuart Walker were enough to see off Swarthmoor Social reserves, who scored through a Gavin Dixon free-kick.

Barrow Wanderers showed more desire than Furness Cavaliers reserves at Rampside Road, with Matt Hargreaves (2) and Nathan Collett scoring in a 3-1 win, while James Watts got Cavaliers’ reply.

In Premier Tiles Division One, Barrow Celtic reserves hit double figures at Newby Terrace as they beat Haverigg United reserves 10-1.

Carl Pearson scored five, with Andrew Hainey bagging a brace. Shaun Hunt, Josh Greenwood and Dan Littlewood also found the net, with Adam Jordan responding for Haverigg.

GSK Ulverston Rangers A are consigned to finishing bottom of the table, but picked up their third victory of the season with a 6-2 win at struggling Barrow Wanderers reserves.

Rangers’ scorers were Lewis Parker (2), Charlie Segger (2), Josh Harrison and Henry Armer. Graham Clarke and Chris Bell replied for Wanderers.

Jordan Hughes scored twice as Walney Island reserves drew 2-2 with Vickerstown A, whose goals came from Andy Hill and Iain McDonald.

Crooklands Casuals reserves beat Holker Old Boys A 3-0 on Friday night with goals from Tony Butler, Jake Allonby and Daniel Sharpe.

Division Two champions Ormsgill North End started their holidays early, losing a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 against Britannia reserves. Tom Dodd and Darren Mitchell put Ormsgill ahead, but Britannia responded well in the second half and won the game with goals from Charlie Shaw, Jonny Moore and Jordan Wallace.

Kirkby United reserves kept their winning run going with a 2-0 victory at Bootle reserves through goals from Tom Harrison and Cameron Cooper.

In the North Lancs Premier Division, Cartmel had a comfortable 5-0 win over Galgate through goals from Glenn Sargent, Joel Drinkall, Jamie Chick, Matt Burrows and Sam Taylor.

Holker Old Boys are still in the play-off places in North West Counties Division One after taking one win from two games in three days.

On Thursday, Chris Wraighte scored as they lost 4-1 at Barnton, but the Stags responded well to hammer Northwich Manchester Villa 6-0 at Rakesmoor on Saturday.

Wraighte and Mike Rushton both scored twice, with Jon Paul Stanway and Phil Coombe also on target.

They have three tough games remaining, away to Bacup Borough tonight, at Litherland REMYCA on Saturday, before finishing off at home to Hanley Town.

Crooklands Casuals bounced back from last week’s West Lancs Premier Division mauling at Fulwood to beat Southport Hesketh 3-1.

Dave Mansergh, Dave Goude and Steve Caskie were the scorers, but news that Burnley United are dropping out of the league, along with Charnock Richard moving up to the North West Counties, means there is no longer a threat of relegation.

Vickerstown hosted Eagley and drew 1-1, with Steve Jones scoring for Dave Round’s side.

In Division One, Hawcoat Park’s hopes of finishing as runners-up virtually ended as they lost 3-1 at Burscough Richmond. Pat Allington was again on target for Hawcoat, with his fourth goal in the last four games.

GSK Ulverston Rangers lost 4-0 at home to Tempest United, who are a point behind Hawcoat with four games in hand.

Dalton United played with pride at Railway Meadow and a single Gareth Jones goal was enough to secure all three points against Hurst Green.

In Division Two, Walney Island came out on top in the local derby with Furness Cavaliers. Despite having Reece Fleming sent off, a Dan Turner goal gave Walney a 1-0 win.

Furness Rovers lost 6-1 at Milnthorpe Corinthians with Josh Jones on target, while a Rikki Gallagher double could not stop Swarthmoor Social from going down 3-2 at home to Croston Sports.

Millom’s game at home to Leyland United was postponed after the visitors failed to raise a side.

There are plenty of midweek games to enjoy this week, with Furness Junior Cup semi-finals tonight at Cavendish Park and Redwaters, then the Senior Cup semis at Glaxo and Rampside Road tomorrow.

Also tomorrow night, there is a West Lancs Division Two Cup semi-final at the Training Pitch between Millom and Walney Island, a local derby between Dalton United and Hawcoat Park in Division One and Crooklands Casuals welcome Garstang to Longlands Park in the Premier Division.