HOLKER Old Boys had to wait a while to get going in 2016 - having not completed a league game since November 14 when they won 2-1 at Widnes – but they made up for lost time at Rakesmoor on Saturday.

The Stags overpowered Whitchurch Alport 8-0 in North West Counties Division One to take their unbeaten run in the league to eight matches.

It was 3-0 at half-time and the visitors’ spirit was broken in a 10-minute spell in the second half when Holker scored four times.

A player who has been very impressive in the reserves this season, Ben Rebello, stepped up and had a fantastic impact, netting a hat-trick.

The other scorers were Brad Hubbold, Danny Sawyer, John Paul Stanway, Joel Barker and James Bonner.

Holker are seventh in the table, one place off the play-offs but with several games in hand on some of the sides above them.

The weather improved enough for a large proportion of the games to go ahead, but some pitches were still too wet – with the West Lancashire League suffering more than the Furness Premier League.

Both West Lancs Premier Division sides, Crooklands Casuals and Vickerstown saw their matches postponed, as did Dalton United and GSK Ulverston Rangers in Division One.

Hawcoat Park played for the second week running and suffered another loss as they disappointingly went down 2-1 at home to mid-table opposition in Poulton.

The visitors took the lead before Nathan Reid equalised, however Poulton made it 2-1 before half-time and that was the way it finished.

Askam United finally gained a home win and it was a big one in context of the table as it was against Mill Hill St Peters, who are just above them in the lower reaches of Division One.

Goals from Kyle Jefferson, Warren Smithson and Callum Rayner earned a 3-1 victory that keeps Askam clear of the relegation places.

In Division Two, the two local sides who met last week continued in the same form with Walney Island winning again and Furness Rovers losing.

Walney scored three times in the first half to beat bottom-of-the-table Swarthmoor Social 3-0.

Keiron Solloway was on target again, but the other two goals came from an unusual source in Simon Bassett, son of Walney legend Steve.

Furness Rovers travelled to Stoneclough and took the lead after 15 minutes through Tom Clynch, but the home side levelled before half-time and netted the winner with 20 minutes left as it ended 2-1.

The games at Furness Cavaliers and Millom were postponed.

Kirkby United suffered a cup defeat on penalties for the second week running as they were beaten in the Terry Clinton Memorial Trophy by Hawcoat Park reserves.

Again Paul Cleasby scored twice for Kirkby, as he did last week at Walmer Bridge, with Zach Walker and Jake Stockdale on target for Hawcoat as it finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

The shootout finished 4-2 to Hawcoat, who join Barrow Celtic in the semi-finals.

The two remaining quarter-finals are planned for February.

In the Riflemans Garage Furness Premier Division, it was a good day for Vickerstown reserves who won 3-1 at Bootle to move three points clear at the top of the table.

All three goals were long-range strikes, from Mike Adams, Mike Imison and Scott McDonald, while Steven Pritt replied for Bootle.

GSK Ulverston Rangers reserves lost ground by losing 2-1 at home to Barrow Celtic. Shaun Gardner scored for Rangers with Zak Parker and Jack Dulgnan earning Celtic’s victory.

Haverigg United moved up to third in the table with a 5-0 win over Barrow Wanderers. John Chmiel and Bradley Mayne both scored twice, with Luke Chmiel also on target.

Brian White might have stepped down as their manager, but Britannia put a dent in Holker Old Boys reserves’ title hopes with a 3-2 win at Redwaters.

They raced into a 3-0 lead but were hanging on in the second half as Holker staged a comeback.

Ross Walker scored headers from crosses by Kev Baharmanesh and Sean Darby, with Jonny Moore adding a third for the home side before half-time.

Holker replied with goals from Jake Carter and Callum Fawcett but Brit held on to take the points.

The games at Swarthmoor Social and Furness Rovers were both postponed.

In Premier Tiles Division One, it was a good day for leaders Croftlands Park, even though they did not play, as Holker Old Boys A and Hawcoat Park A drew 1-1.

That result mean Croftlands are still 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Spencer Erdis scored for Holker, with Sam Fell finding the net for Hawcoat.

Dalton United A are up to fourth after an 8-2 win over Barrow Celtic reserves at Newby Terrace.

Scott McCabe scored a hat-trick, with the other goals coming from Jack Hurst, Mark Jones, Frazer Shand, Shaun Fisher and Ben Thompson. Alec Coskin and Ryan Barker netted for Celtic.

Crooklands Casuals reserves lost 3-1 at home to Walney Island reserves and had to play most of the game with 10 men after having their keeper sent off early in the game. Will Hinde scored the resulting penalty, with Zak Quayle and Jon Harding adding further goals. Jake Richards replied for Crooklands.

While Vickerstown have suffered more than most clubs with injuries this season, there is a sign that the worst is over for them as Sean Paterson and Dave Round Junior (2) were both on target for their A-team against Haverigg United reserves.

The game finished 7-0, with new signing Garry Dadd scoring four goals on his debut for the club.

Dave Jepson also played for the first time since September and Danny Keenan and Steve Jones made comebacks in the reserves.

The game at Lesh Lane between Barrow Wanderers reserves and GSK Ulverston Rangers A was another that fell victim to the weather.

It is as you were at the top of Division Two, with the top three sides all winning.

Mark O’Brien scored a hat-trick to take his total for the season to 24 in nine games as Millom A beat Bootle reserves 4-1 to stay three points clear at the top. One of his goals was direct from a corner and Jon Patton added the fourth. Aaron Bradley scored for a young Bootle side.

Ormsgill North End were comfortable 5-0 winners over Kirkby United reserves, with goals from Nathan Cloudsdale (2), Mike Crampton, Brandon Haughin and a Danny Cunningham penalty.

Third-placed Dalton United A beat Walney Island A 4-0, with goals from Joe Fidler, Ben Pullin, Jordan Fisher and a Jack Trelore penalty.

Britannia reserves had the player-of-the-day as 17-year-old Kennan Crossman scored all five in a 5-2 victory over FC Barrow Island at Cavendish Park.

Jonny O’Halloran scored both for Barrow Island in a game that was 2-2 at half-time, with the Brit youngsters putting in a great performance for managers Adam Carswell and Tony Wright.

Cartmel’s defence of the Sam Price Cup finally got underway after being postponed last week and they had no trouble beating Marsh United 4-1. The reward is a trip to Ingleton or Arnside in the next round.