THE race for the Furness Premier League title is proving to have more twists than in previous years gone by and after the results at the weekend anyone from the top six or seven teams will be thinking if they can mount a charge towards the end of the season the silverware could be theirs!

On Saturday, Croftlands, who seemed to be out of the picture six weeks ago, played themselves back into the title shake up by beating third placed Barrow Celtic 5-3.

After a slow start from Croftlands, Celtic took the initiative and went 1-0 up through Rob Johnson with only five minutes played. Close to half time Matt Dean equalised with a diving header to make the half-time score 1-1.

Croftlands came out much improved in the second half and started to play some neat football.

They were soon 2-1 up as Mike Webster latched onto a pass to beat the Celtic keeper. Shortly after the goal Matt Dean was fouled in the box and he scored the resulting penalty to make the score line 3-1.

Midway through the second half Andrew Currie scored with a delicate chip over the keeper to put Croftlands firmly in the driving seat at 4-1.

Celtic replied to make it 4-2 with Rob Johnson adding to his seasons tally. Matt Dean then completed his hat trick when he finished off smartly. Celtic never gave up and Craig Woodburn finished off the scoring for Celtic.

At the top of the table, an impressive young Hawcoat Res side stayed in pole position by beating Furness Cavaliers Res 4-0, Lewis Turner (2) Carl McKay and Elliot Moore all got on the scoresheet.

Hawcoat’s post-match orange juice will have tasted that little bit sweeter as news will have filtered through to them that Kirkby lost 1-0 to GSK Ulverston Rangers Res thanks to a 95th minute own goal.

Kirkby are still handily placed in second, five points behind and with four games in hand.

Vickerstown beat Furness Rovers Res 8-0 at Park Vale, birthday boys Mike Imison and Sean Paterson (2) both scored, as did Brad Palfreyman, Mikey Adams, Jackson Round and veteran Tony Gooding (2). Millom Res beat Swarthmoor Res 3-1 thanks to goals from Jamie Cairns (2) and Chris Wood. Walney Res had a win which lifted them out of the relegation places after beating Bootle 2-1. Seth Storey and Jon Harding scored for the islanders.

In the First Division, Coniston took a huge step towards the title after a 6-2 win at home against second placed Hawcoat Park A.

Paul Walker and Phil Edmondson scored a hat trick a piece for Coniston. Ryan Muncaster grabbed both Hawcoats goals.

Dalton United Res can still have a say in the title and they are by no means out of the race, they beat Barrow Celtic Res 9-2 at Railway Meadow with goals from Park, Frazer Shand (2), Josh Gay, Joe Fidler, Mark Jones (2), Ben Thompson and Callan Lee. Jordan Wallace and Scott Burgess replied for Celtic.

Barrow Wanderers drew 2-2 with Crooklands Res. Crooklands were 2-0 up at half time but Wanderers fought their way back into the game when Sam Johnson scored and then Ryan Docherty fired home a penalty, but after hitting both posts and the crossbar the points were shared.

Ormsgill made the trip up to Haverigg and came away empty handed after being on the wrong end of 2-1 score line.

A Danny Cunningham penalty put Ormsgill ahead but the evergreen Wink Birkett and Anthony Foster both scored for Haverigg.

Vickerstown A also lost 2-1, they played Holker Old Boys A, scorers for Holker were Greg Galloway and Mark Conlin. Player-manager Phil Athersmith scored for Vickerstown.

Bridge United stay top of Division 2 after a 6-3 win away at Britannia Res. Ryan Barker (2), Josh Greenwood, Reece Craig, Sam Davies and Kyle North all scored for Bridge. Ryan Jackson helped himself to all three goals for the Brit.

Bridge have one league fixture remaining and are now two points clear of Millom A who have two games in hand and were without a fixture at the weekend.

In the final Furness League game of the weekend Bootle Res beat Walney A team 3-0, Thomas Millard, Andrew Knowles and David Varley all scored for Bootle who picked up their third league win of the season.

In the West Lancs Premier League Vickerstown picked up three valuable points after visiting Lostock St Gerards and beating them 3-2. Danny Keenan added another goal to his impressive seasons tally, Danny Cummings got the second with a trade mark header and Dave Jepson scored the winner. Vickerstown now sit seventh in the table.

Crooklands Casuals lost by a solitary goal away at Hesketh Bank.

In Division One, Hawcoat were beaten 4-1 away at CMB, Jake Ree’s scored for Hawcoat who are in the Presidents Cup Final on Tuesday night – good luck to everyone at the club.

GSK Ulverston Rangers picked up another three points after a 4-3 win at home to Wyre Villa which sees them lifted from the bottom of the table for the first time this season. Andy Whiteford (2) Sean Darby and Tyler Spence got the goals for GSK.

Elsewhere in the league Askam defeated Stoneclough 2-1.

In Division Two, Furness Rovers were beaten 2-0 by Croston Sports and Walney suffered a 4-1 defeat at Garstang Reserves, James Bailey scored Walney’s goal.

Millom beat Hurst Green Res 3-0 thanks to goals from Ben McDonald, Jordan Williams and the ever reliable Carl Waters. Swarthmoor lost 3-1 at home to Euxton Villa Res.

Holker Old Boys indifferent form continued as they lost 2-1 at home to Alsager Town, JP Stanway scored for Holker.