Askam United marked their return to the Barrow & District Junior Football League after a 19-year absence in spectacular fashion last Saturday as their under-13s thrashed Barrow Island under-14s 10-2 at the Duddon Sports Club.

The newly-formed team have been placed in the Under-14 Championship for their first campaign back in the BDJFL and they have clearly taken no time at all to gel, based on their opening day performance.

Their first goal back at this level was scored by Jack Ponter before both teams were reduced to ten men midway through the first half after the referee sent a player from either side to the sin bin for ten minutes for dissent.

The rest of the first half belonged to Askam as they ran up a 5-0 half-time lead through goals by Tyler Chester, Harley Hunter, Max Pucknell and Rhys Butcher.

The second half saw Askam make a number of changes, but the team set about continuing their passing style of football, with the Barrow Island goal subjected to pressure early from the restart.

Askam were able to net twice in second half before Barrow Island succeeded in breaking down the Askam defence to score a well-earned goal.

At the opposite end the pressure was maintained with Askam awarded a penalty, in a scene reminiscent of the recent Man Utd penalty taker debate the Askam boys finally settled on a penalty taker but the resulting spot kick was scuffed wide of the post.

Barrow Island then pulled another goal back for 7-2 following some direction from the Askam coaching staff, the Askam team refocused to build more pressure on the Island goal.

A further three goals were scored in the remaining few minutes with one of them a wonderful free kick form Hunter that dipped under the bar from 25 yards.

Two further Askam players would finish the day with a brace of goals in Chester and Pucknell, whose second goal of the day was a great individual effort.

It wasn’t the only big score of the day in the division, as Millom were massive 14-0 winners against Hawcoat Park under-13s, with Hawcoat Park Hawks running out 9-1 victors away at Dalton United’s under-13s.

In the under-16 Premiership, Vickerstown under-15s were making their step up after a campaign that saw them sweep all before them at under-14 level and they handled it with a 2-1 win at home to Millom.

The biggest winners of the day, however, were Holker Old Boys under-14 Eagles, who blew away Swarthmoor under-13s 16-2.