North Lancashire Football round-up: Galgate through in Sam Price Memorial Cup

League leaders Galgate found things more difficult than expected at bottom side College AFC with Chris Gardner scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win.

College were in no mood to meekly exit the challenge cup and were on top for periods against the division’s top side.

The game was close throughout with chances at a premium with Gardner’s strike the difference between the two sides.

In round two Galgate will be at home to the winners of the postponed Carnforth Rangers and Storeys game which fell victim to a frozen pitch. 
Ingleton were 3-1 winners over lowly Trimpell and Bare Rangers.

Dan Tyrer scored twice for the hosts in an end-to-end game with the impressive Alex Hartley also on target for Ingleton.

Hartley was pivotal in Ingleton’s win, scoring a fine goal at an important time of the game before laying on Tyrer’s first.

His second then came out of nothing to kill off the Trimpell challenge.

Sam McKee got a consolation for the visitors who played their part in an entertaining contest.

In round two Ingleton will travel to Morecambe Royals.

The Royals sealed their date with Ingleton with a 1-0 win over Bentham, Daniel Edmonds getting the decisive goal in a game where both sides finished with 10 men.

Bentham had only lost once all season going into the game with eight draws to their name but the opening quarter was one-way traffic with the hosts playing some excellent football.

The breakthrough came just after the quarter hour with a crossfield ball finding Edmonds who took the ball well before moving into the area and beating the ‘keeper from a tight angle.

The visitors were restricted to rare attacks but in the 27th minute their star man Jordan Armstrong nearly levelled things up with a fine strike from distance hitting the angle of upright and crossbar.

At the other end the Royals should have doubled their lead shortly after but Johnny Durnan could only head am excellent opening wide.

The Morecambe side kept up the pressure for the remainder of the opening period but couldn’t add to the score.

Bentham were improved after the break and began to show some of the form that sees them sit fifth in the Premier Division.

The Royals stood firm however as the game descended into an ill tempered affair with referee Peter McDonnell brandishing two red and six yellow cards.

Caton United are also through to round two after gaining revenge for an early season league defeat with a 1-0 win against a depleted Moor Lane.

The hosts, although under-strength, gave as good as they got but it was Phil Eccleston who scored the only goal of the game.

Taking the ball with his back to goal, Eccleston chested the ball and turned before firing a stunning volley home from 30 yards.

Caton will now travel to Bowerham in round two.

Rangers all set for big county cup quarter-final

Last season’s Baines Bagguley Penhale North Lancashire and District Football League double winners Carnforth Rangers are in last eight action in the Lancashire FA Amateur Cup this Saturday.

They host Preston Wanderers in a 1.30pm kick-off.

Rangers, currently second in the Premier Division, are enjoying a fine run in the competition as the North Lancashire league’s sole remaining representative in the prestigious cup.