[I]n the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League Premier Division, the midweek fixtures had the two newly promoted teams, Frizington Whitestar and Cleator Moor Celtic, up against each other at Bishops Park in Frizington.
Whitestar lost their first game 5-1 to Aspatria, and Cleator Moor had won their first game 4-1 at home to Silloth, and the last time these two teams met was the very close final game last season, which was won Cleator along with the Division One title. This was easier for Cleator Moor, who won 0-2.
In other midweek fixtures, Netherhall drew 1-1 with Cockermouth in a fixture moved to Maryport, and Silloth lost 3-4 at home to Aspatria, with the visitors goals from Sean Law, Mally Graham, Jason Parnaby and Steven Rudd. The Seagull’s scorers were Adam Carr and two from Ellis Gardhouse. Carlisle City were disappointed to lose 2-1 to Wigton Harriers as Carlisle were up five mins in from a Matty Coombe goal, but Wigton scored twice in the last 10 minutes, and this game saw Kyle McClean put in the newly instituted sin bin on 84 mins by referee Steve McMahon,
On Saturday, there was a noticeable lack of fixtures, probably sensible given the Bank Holiday weekend clashes with the EDM chaos of Creamfields, and the rock and roll delights of the Leeds and Reading festivals. Netherhall had a home match against the in-form Wigton Harriers, and it was Harriers who grabbed all three points, winning 0-1. And in the match of the day, defending champions Workington Athletic took on Silloth at the Lakes College 3G Pitch.
It was a very bad day for the Seagulls, and the result was an unpleasant birthday present for manager Colin Baty with the result 9-1 to Workington, and it could have been worse! Workington were 4-0 up after twelve minutes, and dominated the match and could have scored more. The Workington goals were courtesy of braces for each of Tony Berwick, Ash Kelly and Ben Gregory, and a goal each for Tom Pardini, Luke Davidson and Marc Messenger. Silloth’s only goal came from Alan Sim, and the Seagulls now have nothing to show from their first three matches. Wigton go top of the table with three wins out of three.
In Division One there were three midweek fixtures. Borough had an excellent 5-1 win over Bransty Rangers, with Borough’s goals from a Ashley Dixon hat trick, Daniel McAdam and Liam McCullough. Bransty’s only reply was from a Ryan Cornish penalty. Elsewhere, Whitehaven Miners lost 2-4 at home to Gosforth, and in an ominous and depressingly one-sided scoreline, Pirelli won 10-1 over Unisun to go top of the table with two wins out of two, and a +13 goal difference. These ten came from an Aaron Roberts quartet (one was a penalty), a brace for Jordan Irving and goals for Jamie Boyce, Matty Story, Lee Oatway and Jordon Pritchard Farish.
There were two weekend fixtures in Division One and first off, Borough were up against Unisun. In a real reversal of form, Borough lost this 4-6 at home with an ‘awful performance’, The four Borough goals were from Ash Dixon, Andrew Marshalsea and two from Liam McCullough. Unisun’s six were from an Ash Tyson hat hat trick, a brace for Shane Dorwood and one for Lesley Sewell. Gosforth had a good 4-1 win at home over Bransty Rangers, with Gosforth’s goals from Kieren Fraser and a Jack Denwood hat trick. Bransty’s only goal was from Adam Smith.