HOLKER Old Boys kept their North West Counties play-off hopes alive with a fantastic 1-0 win against fifth-placed Sandbach.

Gareth Smith was the Holker hero as his 70th minute strike was the difference on the day.

Holker have a good run of home games to try and muscle their way into the end-of-season party and Guy Heffernan’s men will be a force to be reckoned with at Rakesmoor Lane.

Vickerstown lost 6-4 away at Euxton Villa in the West Lancs Premier Division. Danny Keenan, Danny Cummings, Sean Paterson and club stalwart Phil Athersmith were on target for Dave Round’s side.

Crooklands Casuals beat Stoneclough 3-0 at Longlands in Division One. Ex-Barrow AFC striker Dave Mansergh helped himself to two goals either side of a Steve Caskie strike.

Hawcoat lost 2-1 at home to promotion-chasing CMB. Joe Tindale was the Hawcoat scorer.

Askam did enough to earn a point away from home as they drew 3-3 with Lytham Town. Callum Rayner (2) and Brother Jordan scoring the goals. GSK Ulverston Rangers lost 2-0 away at Poulton.

Millom are now just four points away from promotion with four games remaining after they beat Tempest United Reserves 2-1 thanks to goals from their two main scoring protagonists Carl Waters and Phil Edmondson.

Furness Cavaliers also picked up three points after a 4-2 home win against Lostock St Gerards Reserves.

Ryan Rodgers (2), Kyles Delves and Jamie Hutton celebrated his first senior goal.

Dalton drew 1-1 at Croston Sports with Jordan Fisher on target for the visitors. Walney lost 4-3 at Charnock Richard Reserves. Josh Huitson, Steve Brennan (penalty) and James Bailey kept Walney in the game. They now face Millom at Holker Street in the Furness Senior Cup Final on Thursday night (7pm ko).

In the Furness Premier League, the Premier Division runners-up spot is still up for grabs and Haverigg, the current occupents, beat Vickerstown Res 3-2 thanks to goals from John Chmiel, Bradley Maine and Anthony Foster. Ian Rogers and Ben Wright replied for Vickerstown.

Last season’s Champions Croftlands are making a late surge and they beat Barrow Celtic 5-2.

Matt Dean bagged a hat-trick and Dan Craig a brace. Bootle continued their amazing run with a 1-0 win away at Holker Old Boys, Aaron Bradley with the goal.

Hawcoat Park A secured the runners-up spot in Division One with a 2-1 win at Askam Reserves. Tom Stanwix and Ryan Muncaster with the goals.

Furness Rovers Reserves beat Haverigg United Reserves 3-1.; Edgeley, Usher and Bradbury were the Rovers scorers. Haverigg’s goal came from Liam Hartley, and although it hasn’t been the best of seasons for them there have been big signs of improvement from the young squad in recent games. Ormsgill North End beat Barrow Wanderers 3-2.

Mike Crampton and Ross Taylor put Ormsgill 2-0 up but a Scott McDonald double brought the scores level only for a Wanderers own goal to give Ormsgill the points.

Swarthmoor Reserves beat Bridge United 2-0. Ronan Simpson opened the scoring with a well-struck shot and then Nath Tracey stepped up to plant a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Holker Old Boys A beat GSK Reserves 5-2 on Friday night. Connor Erdis found his shooting boots to bag four goals, Adam Bowes with the fifth.

Kirkby United Reserves lost 4-3 at home to Croftlands Reserves. Tom Harrison, Josh English and Huw Barton were on target for Kirkby but Gary Prosser, Lewis Jones, Jamie Howell and an own goal saw Croftlands take the points.

Last Thursday Millom saw off Furness Cavaliers 4-1 in the Furness Senior Cup semi-final.

Phil Edmondson (2) Carl Waters and Jamie Pattinson were the Millom’s goal-scorers Tom Harris replied for Cavaliers.

It could have been a closer score line but Millom keeper Lee Hanna produced a man of the match performance. Vickerstown Reserves also tasted cup defeat on Thursday as they lost on penalties to Hawcoat Park Reserves in the Terry Clinton Cup.

The scores were tied at 1-1 thanks to goals from Carl Mackay and Danny Keenan but it was Hawcoat keeper Ben Mills who was the hero on the night as he saved three of the five spot-kicks in the shoot-out.