After a four month hiatus, the SportsReach Football League has returned for another season with seven teams competing for supremacy.
Two matches took place on Week One of the campaign and with 19 goals scored, it was very much a case of being back with a bang.
In Preston’s driving rain, Great Eccleston produced some silky attacking play to record a 10-2 opening day victory at Fulwood. Daniel Ball, top scorer in the league in the 2012-13 season, could be in the reckoning for the Golden Boot once again after bagging a superb five-goal haul. Eccy’s midfield two of Tom Shields and Sam Hogarth were particularly impressive giving the side the platform to play. Fulwood battled hard and scored a breath-taking goal through player-manager Danny Garratt, smashing a half-volley over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net from fully 45 yards.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Lancaster recorded a 6-1 win at home to Loko to begin the defence of their title in style. Loko stalwart Graeme Beaumont leveled the scores in the first half following Jonny Sudell’s opener, but Lancaster’s second half display gave them clear daylight – helped by a hat-trick from Michael White.
League Results – 3rd September
Fulwood 2-10 Great Ecc
Danny Garratt 49, Eliot Catterson 63 // Daniel Ball 7, 23, 45, 72, 80 Jack Sharples 24, Sam Hogarth 40, Sam Kelsall 57, Tom Shields 64, Toby Parker 89
Lancaster 6-1 Loko
Jonny Sudell 15, 87 Martin Lewis 41, Michael White 47, 51, 65 // Graeme Beaumont 19
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Update – Tuesday 6th Septemberr
Longton 2-1 Fulwood
Danny Stephenson 70, Tom Cobham 82 // Calum Alexander 33
