IN THE closest premier division for many years leaders Squires kept top spot, but only just, with an 88th minute penalty to defeat Millhead.

Behind them Storeys knocked in four against Bolton-le-Sands to keep up the pressure while Morecambe Royals moved into third by beating old rivals Ingleton 5-2.

Ingleton, much depleted by injuries and holidays made a superb start, scoring on their second attack.

Terry Joel broke away down the left wing and, spotting that Paul Williams was off his line curled a 25-yard ball away from him into the empty net.

Playing into a stiff breeze, Ingleton could only hold the lead for four minutes.

From a corner Andy Bolton headed an equaliser with pinpoint accuracy.

With Ian Kellett in superb form Royals were kept at bay until the 30th minute when even he could not keep out a Darren Leeming shot to give Morecambe a 2-1 half time lead.

At the start of the second half Ingleton's attempts to take advantage of the wind were foiled by the experienced Royals defence, despite problems caused by the tall and gangly Chris Bibby.

In the 60th minute David Riley was put clear and he raced 40 yards before slotting home the Royals third.

While Ingleton were reorganising Royals hit them again when Ashley Cross hit his side's fourth.

Keeper Kellett got his name on the score sheet fro Ingleton when a high and long clearance was misjudged by Taylor who allowed the ball to go through his hands into the net.

Royals final goal came from Lee Bradbury.

Power Station dropped to fourth in a 2-2 draw with Kirkby Lonsdale which was arguably the best game of the day.

With the return of Foster Kirkby have been steadily improving and they took the lead in the 25th minute when Foster set up leading scorer Chris Vincent.

Power Station fought back and Vernon Middleton equalised in the 40th minute.

In the 65th minute Power Station took the lead when John Ireland received the ball midway in his own half and beat the entire Kirkby defence before slotting the ball into the empty net.

The introduction of substitute Chris Brown spurred Kirkby and his first touch put Vincent clear for his second goal, a richly-deserved Kirkby equaliser.

Cartmel ground out another win, their fourth in six games.

At times they were under immense pressure from a keen Arnside team who are still trying to find their feet in the premier division, but by half time Cartmel had the lead through a goal by the evergreen Paul Airey.

In the second half, the experience of Cartmel told as they added further goals by Airey and Dean Richards for a comfortable 3-0 win.

Slyne-Hest are also struggling to adjust to the Premier Division and, in their return game with Burton Thistle just could not get going.

Burton took advantage of the inept performance to record their first win courtesy of Ben Shields who scored both goals.

A penalty by Andy Morgan was Slyne-Hest's only consolation.

In Division One, Phoenix Celtic are seven points ahead of Allithwaite Rangers, but Rangers maintained their challenge with a good 4-1 win over Bentham.

Allithwaite got off to the worst possible start when Darren Hargen put through his own goal after two minutes, but they soon equalised through Oliver Crowe.

Tony Wilson added a second and further goals by Roly Dean and Neil Rowlinson wrapped it up.

Carnforth Rangers remain without a win after crashing 3-0 to Caton United, it would have been more but for a brilliant performance by Andrew Potter in the Carnforth goal.

Grange remain pointless in the division after a 3-0 defeat by last season's champion's Storey's Reserves, while newly-promoted Galgate had an excellent 4-2 win at Ingleton Reserves, Steve Pickup and Michael Horn getting the Ingleton goals.

Unlucky Grange Reserves thought they had equalised from a corner near the end of their Division Two match with division leaders City Contract Services, but it was disallowed and they, like their senior side remain without a point.

On the other hand, second placed Westgate Wanders ere hardly ever out of the net as they thrashed hapless Bolton-le-Sands Reserves 12-0.

Division favourites Cartmel Reserves played well below their capabilities, but still ran out 3-1 winners over Slyne-Hest Reserves, to go fourth in the table with games in hand.

Cartmel scorers were Barry Bridden, Paul Satterthwaite and Brian Lowry.

The game was excellently refereed by first-team player Terry Cowperthwaite who is recovering from a broken leg.

Relegated to the Third Division last season, Holme Athletic are making a big effort to bounce back and it was helped by a 3-2 victory over a good Arnside Reserves side.

Stuart Lord, Kevin Willan and Keith Taylor got the Holme goals and Paul Fallowes made two brilliant strikes for Arnside.

Burton Thistle Reserves crashed 5-1 to Torrisholme Reserves, Andrew Markham hitting four, while Bentham Reserves and Allithwaite Reserves were involved in a high-scoring match which ended 8-4 to Bentham.

Dave Baren (3), Mark Rogerson (2), Andy Tyson (2) and Paul Towler found the net for Bentham, while Andy Paisley (3) and Gary Sharp scored for Allithwaite.

The league was short of nine referees this week.

Results

Premier Division: Arnside 1, Cartmel 3; Bolton-le-Sands 0, Storeys 4; Kirkby Lonsdale 2, Power Station 2; Morecambe Royals 5, Ingleton 2; Squires 1, Millhead 0; Slyne-Hest 1, Burton Thistle 2.

Division One: Allithwaite Rangers 4, Bentham 1; Caton Utd 3, Carnforth Rangers 0; CCM Dynamos 2, Morecambe Royals Res 4; Ingleton Res 2, Galgate 4; Marsh Utd Res 3, Halton Rangers 4; Phoenix Celtic 1, Boys Club 0; Storeys Res 3, Grange 0.

Division Two: Cartmel Res 3, Slyne-Hest Res 1; Freehold 2, Hala 0; Grange Res 0, City Contract Services 1; Torrisholme 6, Boys Club Res 0; Westgate Wanderers 12, Bolton-le-Sands Res 0.

Division Three: Bentham Res 8, Allithwaite Res 4; Burton Thistle Res 1, Torrisholme Res 5; Galgate Res 6, Swarthmoor SC 3; Holme Athletic 3, Arnside Res 3; Halton Rangers Res 2, Ridge Utd 7.