The Cumberland County League’s first set of mid-week matches produced a key game in the race for the Premier Division title.
Pirelli hosted Aspatria in a cracker which produced nine goals with the home side winning by the odd goal, 5-4.
Aspatria opened the scoring as early as the second minute, before Pirelli levelled the score after 15 minutes.
Aspatria re-took the lead with their keeper Shaun Haughen scoring with a wind assisted kick from his own area.
Pirelli then took command with two further goals giving them a 3-2 lead at the interval.
The ebb and flow of goals continued in the second period with Aspatria adding two further goals to move into a 4-3 lead.
With the game entering the final 20 minutes, Pirelli restored parity at 4-4.
The game was decided in the 83rd minute, with Pirelli notching their fifth and winning goal which was awarded despite a highly disputed offside decision.
Aspatria’s goals came from Lewis Little, Haughen, Darryl Creighton and Shaun Smith while Pirelli won through Ellis James, Kieron Blair, Jordan Atkinson, Marc Shiel and Craig McCue.
There’s also a third team in the mix as Workington Athletic kept up their challenge for the title with a 7-1 mauling of Wigton Harriers.
The victory reduced the points gap between Athletic and Aspatria to four.
Athletic scorers were Connor Hammel, Greg Quayle (2), Matthew Perry (2), Dan McDermott and Tom Pardini. Wigton’s Mike Hill registered their lone reply.
The Championship rests between Aspatria, Workington Athletic and Pirelli and the outcome could be decided on 16 April when Aspatria travel to Gosforth and Workington Athletic entertain Pirelli.
Whitehaven Miners ensured their passage into the knock-out phase of the Divisional Cup with a 3-2 win at Whitehaven Amateurs Reserves.
Goals from Lewis Park (2) and Jamie Thursby contributed to the victory. Ben Powell and Kai Savage took the result to the wire.
Mirehouse completed a 4-1 victory over Windscale Reserves in the same competition at the Falcon Complex.
Despite Windscale taking an early lead with a goal from Andrew Begbie, Mirehouse took the honours with goals from Cyran Corlett (2) and Brandon O’Fee (2).
