LEAGUE leaders Ingleton conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes in a match, which could cost them the North Lancashire League championship.

The encounter with reigning champions Storeys ended in a 4-4 draw.

It was a fine spectacle with Storeys having a slight edge in the first half only to find the path to goal blocked by an Ingleton defence on top form.

Despite that, Storeys took the lead when a defence-splitting pass fell to John Eccles, who controlled the bounce instantly, beat three defenders and shot past Ian Kellett's outstretched left hand.

Ingleton raised their game and in the 40th minute forced an equaliser, Gary Capstick's cross from the right wing being forced into the net by

Gary Louth.

The second half was just five minutes old when Ingleton took a 2-1 lead as Graham Atkinson scored direct from a left-wing corner.

Ingleton then piled pressure on Storeys' defence and in the 53rd minute Louth met a long throw by Capstick to head home and make it 3-1.

When Ingleton's elusive Lee Dodgson scored a fourth from close range on 75 minutes it looked black for Storeys, but they hit the bar with Kellett beaten and then Eccles slid a pass to Stuart Morgan who lashed in a second.

Hargreaves was now seeing more of the ball and in the 85th minute found Andy Sanderson unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. He set up Morgan for a pot at goal and a hard shot beat Kellett.

The dramatic comeback was complete when Mark Chambers headed a last-minute equaliser.

The draw allowed second-placed Squires to close within a point of Ingleton.

Relegated Burton Thistle had matched Squires for the first half, and were unlucky to trail to a Matty Craig goal at half-time.

It was too good to last for Thistle and in the second half Lee Fox, Tony Hoyle (2) and Darren McDermott (2) all found the net to give Squires a comfortable 6-0 victory.

Inconsistent Cartmel lost 3-1 to Marsh United putting paid to any faint hopes the village side may have had of finishing among the Premier Division leaders.

The young Marsh side were quicker to the ball and scored through Lewis Hunt (2) and Kevin Coulton. Ben Clarke netted for Cartmel.

Third-placed Slyne-Hest, with games in hand, are now championship favourites for the first time in their history after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Kirkby Lonsdale.

Vernon Middleton (2) and Michael Morrison scored to sink a spirited Kirkby side whose goal came from leading scorer Steve Chapman.

Six clubs are still in the running for the Division One title, but favourites Arnside stay top after a 2-2 draw with second-placed Boys Club. An own goal by Rob Tremble handed Arnside an early lead, but it was cancelled out by a 25-yard strike from Adam Rawlins.

Five minutes from the end Ben Lenton handed Arnside what looked like a winning lead, but Boys Club threw everyone forward and won a last-minute penalty from which Richard Chambers equalised.

Long-time favourites for promotion Allithwaite Rangers slipped again. Goals by Oliver Crowe and Lee Pounder gave them a 2-0 lead, but Morecambe Royals Reserves fought back through Stuart Mayor and Stuart Emmott for a 2-2 draw.

In Division Two, Cartmel Reserves' promotion hopes were damaged by a third defeat in a row. They lost 2-1 to Caton United Reserves. Paul Rushworth and Darren Green netting for Caton and Paul Garnett replying for the downcast Cartmel side.

In Division Three Holme Athletic Reserves recorded their second win of the season when goals by Joe Parsons (2), Barclay Bland, Lee Hargreaves and Stuart Berry gave them a 5-0 victory over Burton Thistle Reserves.

Results:

Saturday - Premier Division: Burton Thistle 0, Squires 6; Cartmel 1, Marsh Utd 3; Ingleton 4, Storeys 4; Kirkby Lonsdale 1, Slyne-Hest 3. Division One: Arnside 2, Boys Club 2; Morecambe Royals Res 2, Allithwaite Rangers 2; Storeys Res 3, Westgate Wanderers 0. Division Two: Caton Utd Res 2, Cartmel Res 1; Slyne-Hest Res 2, Torrisholme 0. Division Three: Burton Thistle Res 0, Holme Athletic Res 5; Torrisholme Res 11, Allithwaite Res 1; Westgate Rangers 4, Boys Club Res 0.

Wednesday - Squires SC/Fisher/Howson Remembrance Cup final - Slyne-w-Hest Res 2, Storeys Res 0. Premier Division: Cartmel 4, Power Station 0; Morecambe Royals 3, Phoenix Celtic 0; St Martins Coll 1, Kirkby Lonsdale 1. Division 1: Ingleton Res 1, CCS 0; Millhead 2, Vine FC 2; Westgate Wand 1, Arnside 3. Division 2: Cartmel Res 1, Bentham 0. Division 3: Burton Thistle R 4, Overton FC 1; Galgate Res 6, Allithwaite Res 1.

April 24, 2003 16:30