NORTH Lancashire Premier Division Cartmel and District are finding top form after a slow but unbeaten start to the season. They outplayed a strong Marsh United side with their superior football. Manager Paul Airey said this was the best his side have played for the last two season’s with Marsh United feeling the backlash. Starting to scoring was Cameron Young who went on to score a brilliant hat trick, Carl Airey, Adam Harding, Graham Rhodes and Joel Drinkall. This win moves Cartmel up to a challenging third place.

Trimpell and Bare Rangers kept up with the leaders after beating bottom club Arnside by 4-0 with Mark Pike scoring a good hat trick, Miles Manley scored the fourth. The result could have been much more emphatic but for some excellent Arnside defending.

It was a depleted weekend of West Lancashire League fixtures with the majority of teams occupied with cup action.

In the Premier Division however, Crooklands Casuals registered a 2-1 home win over Turton. Tom Heywood levelled the score from the penalty spot in the first half before Dave Mansergh added the winner 12 minutes from time.

In the West Lancashire Football League Presidents Cup, Milnthorpe Corinthians ran out 5-1 winners at home to Division One strugglers GSK Ulverston Rangers. Elliot Bousfield and Jamie Parkinson strikes added to a Leon Gierke hattrick to put them in the second round. Jack Gardner provided the late consolation for Rangers.

Elsewhere, goals from Ryan Brown and Callum Rayner could not prevent Askam United falling to a 4-2 loss to Wyre Villa, while Dalton United lost 3-0 at Poulton.

In the first round of the Challenge Cup, Kendal County drew 2-2 at Euxton Villa Reserves thanks to Cameron Stewart and Danny Ferguson efforts, and Swarthmoor suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Leyland United.