News & Star

August wash-out gives county league schedule its worst start for years

Last updated 19:50, Thursday, 21 August 2008

THE TESCO Cumberland County League has had its worst start to a season for several years.

In the first two weeks of the new season, the league has lost a third of the fixtures to the weather.

League official Herbert Briggs said: “Although we have lost a few fixtures early on, some clubs were trying their best to switch the games but with the heavy rain we have had it meant that a lot more pitches were out of use. But it’s good to see some clubs trying to keep games on.”

The first mid-week fixtures saw Netherhall pick up their second win with a four-star showing over newly-promoted Frizington Whitestar.

Will Heaney and Dean Scholey fired the champions into a 2-0 lead but a double from Alan Blair pegged them back.

Carl Fillingham has returned to Netherhall after a few seasons up at Cleator Moor Celtic and he fired the home side back in front from a corner and Mark Smith sealed it from the spot as it ended Netherhall 4 Frizington Whitestar 2.

Aspatria got their season up and running with a 3-1 win at Silloth.

Paul Hayton scored for the home side but replies from Darrel Creighton, Richard Hudson and Kenneth Bowes saw the visitors off to a winning start Silloth 1 Aspatria 3.

Wigton Harriers were also on their travels and they, too, got off to a winning start as they proved too strong for Longtown.

Lee Graham hit the home side’s consolation as they were no match for the Harriers. Gavin Brough, Rob Hunter, Paul Rudd and Johnathan Studholme scored as it finished Longtown 1 Wigton Harriers 4.

Salterbeck's poor start to the new league campaign continued as newly-promoted Whitehaven Miners made it two from two as they followed their victory at Silloth with a fine 3-1 win at Walker Road as they defeated Salterbeck in their own back yard. Salterbeck 1 Whitehaven Miners 3.

Division one saw a host of goals as St Margaret Mary’s and Wigton Athletic shared the goals and the points in a 1-1 draw.

St Bees and Bransty Rangers fought out a cracker at Adams Park as Bransty clinched it by the odd goal in nine. Dan Tyer (2), Damien King and Ben Snowden scored for the Saints but Carl Doran, Ryan Cornish (2) and Gavin Bainbridge (2) sealed the victory as it ended St Bees 4 Bransty Rangers 5.

Parton United played hosts to Windscale and it was the home side who came out on top as Derek Calvin, Robert Ennis and Karl Jenkin Young all found the net.

Lee Stainton netted for Windscale making the final result Parton United 3 Windscale 1.

Carlisle City v Hearts of Liddlesdale was postponed.

Saturday saw games at Mirehouse and Whitehaven Miners called off but Frizington Whitestar bounced back from defeat at Netherhall with a 6-1 victory over Cleator Moor Celtic.

Neil Close hit the solitary strike for the green and whites as Frizington turned on the style.

Alan Blair and Barry Armfield hit two each while Graham Close and Dean Rodger also chipped in with one each.

Aspatria and Cockermouth shared the points with a draw, Darrel Creighton and Keith Skillen, two targets for Workington Reserves in preseason, finding the net to earn their team a point as it ended Aspatria 1 Cockermouth 1.

Division one saw four games and a staggering 25 goals.

Carlisle City went down at home to Whitehaven AFC.

Tom McGarry scored for City but Stephen Priestley led the way with four, while a brace from Darren Donald and Wayne Collins sealed the score at Carlisle City 1 Whitehaven AFC 8.

Wigton Athletic and Parton United shared the points as it ended 4-4.

Alex Crawford, Lee Coulthard, Michael Clarke and McNeil scored for the home side but Parton’s new lease of life saw replies from Derek Calvin (2), Robert Ennis and Callum Circuit score to make the honours even.

It was the same story at Hearts of Liddlesdale v St Bees. Dean Thompson and two from Daniel Brough for the maroons, with Neil French, Dan Tyler and Damien King for the Saints, meant it also ended with a point each.

Fixtures for Saturday, August 23:

ISS Waterers Peter Dawson Benevolent Cup Round 1

Aspatria v St Margaret Mary’s

Bransty Rangers v Wigton Harriers

Mirehouse v Wigton Athletic

Salterbeck v Cockermouth

Tesco Premier League

Frizington Whitestar v Whitehaven Miners

Netherhall v Longtown

Silloth v Cleator Moor Celtic

Tesco Division One

Hearts of Liddlesdale v Parton United