Marsh dumped out of cup but Rangers march on

In the Lancashire Football Association Amateur Cup fourth round Marsh United took the trip to Blackburn to play Howe Bridge Mills and were beaten 3-1.
Lancaster Rovers v Carnforth Rangers on Ryelands Park on Saturday. The final score was 4-3 to Lancaster Rovers. Pictured is Matt Clapp of Carnforth Rangers heading the ball away.Lancaster Rovers v Carnforth Rangers on Ryelands Park on Saturday. The final score was 4-3 to Lancaster Rovers. Pictured is Matt Clapp of Carnforth Rangers heading the ball away.
Lancaster Rovers v Carnforth Rangers on Ryelands Park on Saturday. The final score was 4-3 to Lancaster Rovers. Pictured is Matt Clapp of Carnforth Rangers heading the ball away.

However, Marsh could easily have won with more luck in front of goal and a bit more confidence at the back, Dale Schurr scored what turned out to be a consolation for his side.

Carnforth Rangers took the trip to Rochdale to play a very good Rochdallians side on a pitch that was very wet but playable.

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The football played by Carnforth was their best of the season and were awesome in their approach work.

They definitely had the upperhand for most of the game and always looked dangerous when they attacked and their defence was solid when under pressure.

It came as no surprise when Damien Murphy put Carnforth into the lead with just 30 minutes of play gone.

In the 75th minute Carnforth got the breathing space they merited when young Cameron Holmes made it 2-0 with a great goal.

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The Rochdale side mounted wave after wave of attack looking for a way back but the Carnforth defence was too good for them until the 95th minute when Rochdale managed to sneak one in.

However, it turned out to be the last action of an absorbing game and a very good win for Carnforth who are now the lone representative from the league in the competition.

Morecambe Royals were rewarded with a home tie against a very good Preston Wanderers side that sit on top of the Preston league.

The opening minutes all belonged to the Preston team, they were much quicker to the ball and their football was excellent.

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It was no surprise when the Preston side took the lead when from another attack down the left wing the winger cut in and from 22 yards and let fly with a hard shot that beat Liam Wilkinson.

Although he got both hands to it he couldn’t stop the ball from going into the net.

Preston continued to control the game and at times were running the Royals ragged.

The second goal came again from some excellent football – a 20 yard pass from inside their own half found the centre forward who in turn stepped over the ball deceiving his marker.

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The ball then ran onto the right winger who from the edge of the area shot past a helpless keeper giving him no chance.

The Royals did sparkle briefly and had one decent chance cleared off the line.

Within minutes they lost another goal when from a needless free kick the Preston side made it 3-0 and effectively made sure it was game over.

The Royals did improve slightly in the second half and were rewarded with the goal of the game when Gareth Gates made it 1-3 when he superbly volleyed into the back of the net giving the keeper no chance.

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Dan Broadley also went close but the Preston side closed out the game with another well played goal to make it 4-1.

In the Baines Bagguley Penhale North Lancashire Football League Premier Division, an improving Highgrove side battled it out with Ingleton in a good entertaining game with the result in doubt until the final whistle.

Both sides had enough chances to win but the game was quite even throughout with the keepers playing well.

Liam Breslin put his side well on the way to victory after he scored two goals, Luke Bradley scored the other Aaron Woodhouse while Dan Tyrer replied for Ingleton and he just missed equaliser late in the game.

This win moves Highgrove above Ingleton into sixth position the highest it has been so far this season.