HAWCOAT Park kept up their hopes of a top-two finish in West Lancashire League Division One with a 5-1 victory over Askam United that leaves the Villagers still deep in a relegation battle.

Hawcoat went ahead in the 10th minute through Nathan Reid and two goals in two minutes from Elliott Moore gave Scott Ellis’ side a comfortable lead at half-time.

Mike Melia increased the advantage midway through the second half before an own goal got Askam on the scoresheet and Patrick Allington completed the scoring for Hawcoat.

Park are up to fourth place and face a big game on Saturday at second-placed Burscough Richmond. Askam have five games left and will need to get points from home and away games with Hurst Green and against fellow strugglers Dalton United.

Dalton made an abortive trip to Lytham Town, where they were drawing 1-1 when the game had to be abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.

GSK Ulverston Rangers are not out of danger but picked up a valuable point from a 1-1 draw against Wyre Villa. Danny Leech scored Rangers’ goal from the penalty spot.

In the Premier Division, Crooklands Casuals hosted a very good Blackpool Wren Rovers side who are still in the title hunt and the visitors did not have to be at their best to beat a below-par Cassies 7-0.

Mike Hargreaves, Chris Low and Steve Caskie battled valiantly, but Cassies were second-best all over the pitch.

Vickerstown travelled to Hesketh Bank and were beaten 2-1, with all the goals coming in the first half.

The home side took the lead before Danny Keenan equalised, however, a goal just before the break ensured the long trip was without reward.

In Division Two, Furness Rovers had to thank visitors Leyland United for their help as a late own goal earned them a 1-0 win.

Millom put up a good fight at CMB but went down to a 1-0 defeat. The results mean Rovers move above Millom in the table.

Furness Cavaliers won 2-1 at fifth-placed Bolton County thanks to goals from Ryan Rodgers and Kyle Delves.

Swarthmoor Social are still rooted to the foot of the table after losing 5-1 at home to Stoneclough. It was 1-1 at half-time, with Sean Nicholson on target for Swarthmoor but the visitors took control in the second half.

Holker Old Boys’ hopes of finishing in the automatic promotion places in the North West Counties Division One took another dent as they lost 3-1 at home to Cheadle Town.

The visitors were 3-0 ahead before Mike Rushton pulled a goal back just after the hour-mark.

The top of the table is so tight that Cheadle moved above and the Stags are down to sixth place and in danger of not even making the play-offs if their poor run of form continues.

Cartmel on the other hand are in great form, with eight wins from eight matches in 2016.

They reached the semi-final of the North Lancs Eric Wilson Challenge Cup as a brace from Carl Airey gave them a 2-0 win over Caton United.

Hawcoat Park reserves are the latest side to top the Furness Premier League Riflemans Garage Premier Division after they beat Barrow Celtic 6-3 at Newby Terrace.

Jake Rees scored a hat-trick, Ryan Magtoto netted twice and Craig Salton was also on target. Rob Johnson scored a hat-trick for Celtic, but ended up on the losing side.

Holker Old Boys kept up their challenge with a 5-3 win at Bootle.

Scorers were Basil Olabi (2), Connor Erdis, James Curtis and Josh Haney. Bootle’s goals came from Joe Capstick, Harry Cowley and Kevin Hartley.

Britannia have now gone five games unbeaten under the new management team of Mick Woods and Ian McPherson and the run continued with a 5-3 win at Askam United.

Ross Walker put them ahead, but goals from Lee Norman, Kier Shepherd and Joe Kavanagh gave Askam a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Ross Walker scored his and the team’s second then Connor Treen equalised. Martin Clarke made it 4-3 before debutant Mark Heseltine completed the scoring.

Four second-round ties in the Paul Wilson Memorial Trophy took place, with the game at Rampside Road being settled by a penalty shootout.

Haverigg United scored a 94th-minute equaliser against Furness Cavaliers reserves and keeper Russell Lowe saved two spot-kicks as they won 4-3 on penalties.

James McGoldrick and Kris Brumbley had put Cavaliers 2-0 up at half-time, but a brace from John Chmiel made it 2-2 at the end of normal time.

Premier Tiles Division One side Dalton United reserves beat Premier Division Barrow Wanderers 6-2 at Railway Meadow.

Scorers for Dalton were Mark Jones (2), Ben Thompson, Brodie Kerr, Tom Park and Scott McCabe. Wanderers replied through Matt Hargreaves and Ryan Docherty.

Vickerstown reserves’ 4-0 win over Swarthmoor Social reserves was marred by a bad head injury to Ian Rogers that required stitches. Scorers were Scott McDonald (2), Jackson Round and Danny Douglas.

Kirkby United missed a host of chances at Millom but finally won 4-1. They went ahead through Matty Bruce in the first half and Paul Cleasby made it 2-0 on the hour-mark.

Millom pulled one back through Josh Keen, but late goals from Cleasby and Huw Barton ensured Kirkby progressed.

The Easter weekend meant several teams were struggling for numbers and two games were forfeited.

Crooklands Casuals reserves were unable to fulfil their Paul Wilson Memorial first round tie against GSK Ulverston Rangers reserves and Coniston reserves suffered the same fate against Walney Island reserves in the Horne Cup second round.

Two matches were played in the Travis Perkins Furness Junior Cup, with penalties playing a key role.

The tie between Cartmel A and Holker Old Boys A was settled by a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.

Kev Hodgson scored Holker’s goal from the spot during normal time but they missed three times in the shootout and lost it 3-0.

All three goals in the game between Kirkby United reserves and Croftlands Park were penalties, with Matt Dean’s brace putting Croftlands through. Tom Harrison scored from the spot for Kirkby.

In Premier Tiles Division One, Vickerstown A could only send 10 men to face Haverigg United reserves but a Dan Bewley goal was enough to earn them a 1-0 win.

Hawcoat Park A beat GSK Ulverston Rangers A 2-1 through goals from Mike Wilkes and Jack Stilling. Peter Spence replied for Rangers.

Carl Pearson scored a hat-trick as Barrow Celtic reserves beat Barrow Wanderers reserves 5-3 at Lesh Lane. The other goals came from Jordan Chapman and an own goal. Wanderers’ scorers were Chris Treen, Sean Balfour and Jed Wilkinson.

Ormsgill moved closer to the Division Two title without even playing as their nearest challengers dropped points.

Millom A were held to a 2-2 draw by Britannia reserves. Scorers for Millom were Owen Gilchrist and Steve Bradley, with 53-year-old Brian Moore making a comeback. Brit’s scorers were Joe Gedling and Danny Logan.

FC Barrow Island moved above Dalton United A in the table by beating them 8-3 at Cavendish Park. Scorers were Jonny O’Halloran (3), Danny O’Halloran (2), Chris Comish, Dean McCleary and Laurence Corran. Dalton’s goals came from Lee Harkin, Aaron Quayle and Paul Wren.