N Lancs Football - Parrington double earns draw (From The Westmorland Gazette)

N Lancs Football - Parrington double earns draw

11:25am Saturday 29th November 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

MID-table Cartmel restricted title-chasing TIC Dynamos to a point in a 2-2 draw in the Premier Division of the Lancaster Honda North Lancashire Football League, on Saturday.

Although the draw still took TIC to the top of the table, Cartmel were rewarded for their shoot-on-sight tactics against opponents who played some exciting football but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Cartmel took a first-half lead from a free kick when Martin Parrington scored. Eventually TIC got the Cartmel goal in their sights and went level through Stuart Rushworth and the same player put them ahead after 70 minutes.

Never-say-die Cartmel forced an equaliser with Parrington bagging his second, and his keeper pushed a last-minute Craig Holmes shot on to the bar to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

In Division 1 Bentham kept alive their promotion hopes with a 4-0 defeat of Highgrove Reserves.

Despite the scoreline, Highgrove were tenacious rivals but Bentham always looked dangerous and sustained attacking brought them goals from Graham Cowgill, Gary Louth (2) and Stuart Ralph to stay in touch with the top three.

Ingleton Reserves and Torrisholme observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the late Martin Wilkinson, co-founder of Torrisholme, formerly West End Athletic.

A Mark Loughlin strike gave Ingleton a 1-0 victory although they missed a host of chances before the goal arrived.

Second Division Arnside kept their promotion bid on track when two goals from young James Kirkham secured a 2-1 win over Overton, who sportingly agreed to a hurriedly rearranged game.

Substitute Sam Braid had put Overton ahead, but the defeat saw Arnside leapfrog them into third place.

New signing Phil Oliver obliged with a decisive penalty in the third minute of added-on time to send Kirkby Lonsdale Reseves down to a 1-0 defeat after a battling defensive display.

Two goals from Mark Smith in a 2-1 win for Bolton-le-Sands sent Westgate Wanderers sliding towards the relegation places.

Smith looped a shot over the keeper early in the second half and a Sean Bryan header equalised for Westgate.

Smith restored Sands’ lead almost immediately as they went seven points clear at the top.

Bentham Reserves were comfortable 3-0 winners over Arnside Reserves, who remain without a league win this season, with goals from Danny Ellershaw, Tom Beanland and Darren Thompson.

Burton Thistle produced probably the best performance of the day. They not only knocked Halton Rangers Reserves off top spot but did so in style in a one-sided 4-0 away win.

Burton played well to stop the division’s top goalscorers from getting on the sheet and put four past the second-best defence in the table.

On target for Thistle were Mark Plevey, who sealed an immaculate solo display with a hat-trick, while Matthew White also continued his scoring exploits.

Allithwaite Rangers just overcame Carnforth Rangers Reserves in a six-pointer with goals by David Addison and Trevor Rowlandson, with Jamie Wakeman replying for Carnforth.

Veteran Mark Johnson, who has played for Grange from aged 14 to 37, was outstanding in goal, saving them from a trashing as they went down 3-1 to Boys Club Reserves, with player-manager Barry Saunders putting them ahead before the tide turned.

Elsewhere, Ingleton A felt the full force of promotion-seeking Millhead Reserves in an 8-1 trouncing in Division 4, but John Connaghton earned a consolation effort for the Dales side.