Champions past and present met in the West Cumberland Sunday League at the weekend.
After a close-fought contest it was the 2023/24 League winners Northside who came out on top 3-2 against the reigning Premier Division champions Deer Orchard.
Chris Grisdale, Logan Bosward and Jamie Glover earned Northside the points while Oscar Pickering and Luke Graham replied for the Orchard.
Moresby Rangers have emerged as the main dangers to Northside at this early stage and they continued their unbeaten run with a 6-1 win over Dearham Commercial.
James Bell (2), Sam Stones (2), Jamie Martin and Dane Richardson scored the goals with James Langstaff netting for Dearham.
Rangers and Northside are both still unbeaten in the League.
Lowca Pirates were comfortable 8-2 winners at the Sun.
Travis Fyfe led the charge with a hat-trick and was joined on the sheet by Callum Wilson (2), Nicky McAllister, Rhys Broatch and McCauley Woodburn.
Owen Fearon scored both goals for The Sun.
There were two games in the President’s Cup and a bit of a giant-killing act by King’s Arms.
The Egremont side have only won once in Division One but they went to Thornhill, without a win in the Premier Division, and drew 2-2.
That sent the tie to penalties and the King’s Arms came out on top 5-4.
In the game itself Owen Bell scored both for Thornhill while Bobby Fitzpatrick and Luke Eliot ensured King’s Arms got to a penalty shoot-out.
The other President’s Cup game saw Mirehouse win 2-0 at Workington Falcons through goal by Braydon Walmsley and Callum Fleming.
There were also two games in Division One. In a tight affair at the Swan a single second-half goal from Brandon Birks won it for the Workington visitors, Zebras.
Not so tight at the Royal Oak where the home side were beaten 8-1 by Senhouse Street.
Gary O’Driscoll, who can’t stop scoring, helped himself to another hat-trick with Charlie Shaw (2), Leon Wharrier and Jack White also netting. They also had the assistance of an own goal. Carl Lofthose scored the Oak’s consolation.
