Just one fixture survived the wet and windy weekend weather as Longton travelled to face league champions Lancaster who were looking to close the gap on the leaders Great Eccleston.

Played on a 3G pitch in swirling wind, both teams defied the conditions to put on a great spectacle played at a ferocious pace. After a cagey opening 20 minutes, it was Lancaster who struck first when Tom Luxton latched onto a slide-rule pass and drilled the ball home at the near post. Ten minutes later, Longton were on level terms following some lovely footwork from Tom Cobham followed by a dipping, curling finish from the edge of the box. But Lancaster were back in front within 60 seconds; a fast counter saw the ball break to Phil Connerton who drove into the box, beat a Longton defender, and slotted the ball into the far corner. Lancaster took a 2-1 lead into the break and the second half continued in very much the same vein with chances at both ends and the game delicately poised. Just minutes after Lancaster’s goal-keeper had denied Cobham, the home side went up the other end and made it 3-1 as Michael White beat the offside trap and fired home. There was still plenty of time remaining and Longton refused to lie down; almost immediately they had pegged it back to 3-2 thanks to a 45-yard half-volley from Chris Chetwood which flew into the net (wind-assisted!). Longton pressed for an equaliser and it came with less than ten minutes remaining; an in-swinging set-piece was headed onto the crossbar and Stephen Farrington was first to react nodding the loose ball home. With momentum on their side, it seemed as though Longton could snatch the winner but Lancaster showed their mettle to re-group and grab the winner themselves through Tom Luxton again; latching onto a lofted pass and lifting the ball over the goalkeeper. In a seven-goal thriller that could have gone either way, Lancaster had pulled off an important victory.

Lancaster 4-3 Longton
Tom Luxton 21, 88 Phil Connerton 37, Michael White 62 // Tom Cobham 36, Chris Chetwood 64, Stephen Farrington 81

Loko P-P Fulwood

Great Eccleston P-P Quernmore