Two of the main contenders for the West Cumberland Sunday League title met in the President’s Cup at the weekend.
Dearham Commercial and Deer Orchard have both had great starts to the season but on this occasion it was the Cockermouth side who came out on top 2-0.
After a scoreless first-half goals from Luke Harrison and Luke Ivison saw Orchard through to the next round.
Their main rivals in the Premier Division, reigning champions Northside had to go to penalties to beat Lowca Pirates in their game after it finished 1-1. Northside won through on spot-kicks 5-4.
Callum Wilson had given Lowca a first-half lead before Max Litt levelled for Northside and the game went to penalties.
Another tie that went to penalties was the 4-4 draw between The Sun and Sun Inn Athletic.
It had been 2-2 at half-time and after another shared half it was The Sun who got through 4-3 on the spot-kicks.
In the game itself Dylan Hudson (2), Brandon O’Fee and Dylan Penn were the scorers for the Sun. Matty Hornsby grabbed a hat-trick for Matty Hornsby grabbed a hat-trick for King’s Arms with Jamie Hanley also netting he Athletic with Jamie Hanley also netting
Thornhill got through 5-2 against Salterbeck, building on a 1-0 half-time lead. Luke Youdale (2), Reece Bewley, Ryan Byrne and Lewis Selkirk scored for Thornhill.
For Salterbeck the goals came from Leon Wharrier and Arley Fennasy.
There was a significant game at Bluebell where Sunday County champions Parkside won 9-2, indicating they may be on the way back after a wretched start to the season.
Kieran Maguire led the way with a hat-trick and he was joined on the sheet by Ryan Maguire, Jay Weatherill, Ryan Hall, Ryan Gray, Darryl Fearon and Josh Atkinson. McAulay Sharp and Carl Denver netted for Bluebell.
The other three games were in the First Division where Zebras went back on top after a 5-1 win at Senhouse Street.
The evergreen Karl Fillingham (2), Daniel Little, Declan Moore and Owen Lucas scored the goals for the leaders with Oliver Dunn replying for Senhouse Street.
King’s Arms and Swan fought out an eight-goal thriller with honours even in the end.
For King’s Arms there were goals from Chris Moore, Coady Scott, Lennox Hunter and Kyle Newberry while on target for the Swan were Will Alderson, Jack Parker, Jay Dempsey and Chance Mitchell.
Borough Miners earned their first point with a very creditable 2-2 draw with title-chasing Whitehaven Development.
Guy Richardson and Mitchell Wood were on the scoresheet for Borough with Carter Tervet and Jake Davidson replying for the Development side.
Fixtures for Sunday are dominated by the Sunday County Cup with the ties as follows:
Borough Miners v Whitehaven Development; Northside v Swan; Salterbeck v Sun Inn Athletic; Senhouse Street v Bluebell; Royal Oak v King’s Arms; The Sun v Parkside; Dearham Commercial v Moresby Rangers; Lowca Pirates v Deer Orchard.
Division One – Whitehaven Development v Royal Oak.
