A HANDFUL of matches beat the wet weather on the worst Saturday of the season so far in the British Energy and District Football League.

In all, 23 games were lost to the elements, bringing the season's cancellations to 52.

Premier division match of the day - and probably match of the day on any other day - was at Cartmel Park, where Marsh United were the visitors.

Even though Cartmel are going through a transitional period and are introducing youngsters, the team is playing excellent football.

Marsh United's rebuilding phase began two seasons ago and their settled side sets a high standard.

A classic encounter was expected and it turned out to be the case.

Played at a fast pace, the action was end to end throughout. It always looked as if a single goal would be enough to take the three points and so it proved when young Matthew Bowe scored for Cartmel.

Both defences were superb throughout, limiting the scoring chances.

In the only other premier match to survive the weather, Squires emerged 2-0 winners over Kirkby Lonsdale to move above their opponents into sixth place in the table thanks to goals from Tim Speak and Tony Hoyle.

No games went ahead in the first division, but in the second division Grange shared a 10-goal thriller at home to Westgate Rangers.

Grange opened brilliantly by scoring twice inside the first 10 minutes against strong Rangers side with Liam Oliver and Peter Gadsten on target.

Rangers hit back to equalise with a John Boothroyd strike and a 20-yard free kick from Kieron Murphy.

Not to be outshone, Grange went back in front with Gadsten scoring his second following excellent build-up work in midfield for a 3-2 half-time lead.

Grange carried the game to Rangers in the second half and produced their best football this season.

Gadsten was proving a constant threat to Westgate and completed a hat-trick to put Grange 4-2 ahead only for his side to go off the boil and allow Rangers to pull a goal back through Stuart McClean before John Boothroyd struck twice for his hat-trick to take Rangers into an unlikely 5-4 lead.

Grange pulled themselves together and eventually scored a deserved equaliser through Paul Gadsten, who is Peter's father, to complete a ding-dong contest.

Holme Athletic were on top form and gave Carnforth Rangers the run-around in a 7-0 trouncing.

Before Carnforth had chance to settle they trailed to goal from Lee Waddington, Keith Taylor and Neil Lynch.

Althoough Carnforth stemmed the tide for a while, Holme's strength showed as they scored four times more through Waddington, Paul Hine with the goal of the game, Lee Illingworth and Ian Manderson.

The only third division game to go ahead saw Highgrove Reserves beat Burton Thistle Res 6-1. Burton started the brighter but it did not last long and a confident Highgrove side won comfortably with a brace apiece from Dean Sharkey and Scott Doherty, with brothers Dave and Sean Doherty (no relation to Scott) also on the scoresheet.

Results: Premier Division: Cartmel & District 1, Marsh United 0; Kirkby Lonsdale 0, Squires 2.Division 2: Grange 5, Westgate Rangers 5; Holme Athletic 7, Carnforth Rangers 0. Division 3: Highgrove Reserves 6, Burton Thistle Res 1.