SATURDAY MAY 3^rd 2008

On the last Saturday of the season only one issue was outstanding, could Storeys avoid defeat in its last game of the season against Ingleton. Storeys went into the game knowing anything but a defeat would give them the Premier Division Championship, a defeat would give the title to Marsh United. Storeys started better than Ingleton and went in front after just 10 minutes when Gareth Turner was brought down in the penalty area. Andy Sanderson stepped up to beat Kellett with ease to record his 24^th consecutive spot kick success.  Within 10 minutes Storeys went into a 2-0 lead and a deserved 2-0 lead when Andy Sanderson crept into the 6 yard box to turn the ball into the net, beating Kellett to the ball. Storeys kept going forward looking to kill the game off and missed two good chances to do so. Ingleton are renowned fighters who never give up no matter how the game is going. After a slow start they started to get into the game and reduced the arrears to 2-1 when Jack Bland got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble following a corner which Nuno Rosario Storeys keeper tried in vain to knock over the bar, after the ball hit the bar and dropped down it was Jack Bland who turned it into the net. This boosted the Ingleton side who raised its game and started to cause problems in Storeys defence, but the excellent pairing of Chris Parkes and Tony Hoyle ably assisted by captain Andy Sanderson held out only for another 10 minutes before the impressive Chris Bibby drew the sides level. Ingleton was the better team now and went looking for more goals but Storeys held out to half time. After a good half time team talk Storeys again started much better than Ingleton but Ingleton held firm and threaten to derail Storeys hopes whenever they moved forward with the versatile Bibby being a handful for Storeys defence.  Storeys made the vital breakthrough following a wonderful 40 yard diagonal pass from Andy Sanderson who found Tom Gammon who in turn beat the full back before crossing the ball to Steven Stirzaker who made amends for two earlier misses by slotting the ball under the diving Kellett to lead 3-2 but with still 20 minutes to play.  Play went from end to end with both sides looking dangerous. Storeys made the game safe when Steven Stirzaker scored from close in making it 4-2. The final whistle sounded much to the delight of the Storeys players, after a long hard season they have the title in the bag. The game was excellently controlled by the experienced Peter McDonnell. 

In Division One Champions Morecambe Hoops ended its season in a 15 goal thriller against Storeys Reserves. Morecambe Hoops led 5-0 at half time. Storeys Reserves who lost its unbeaten record midweek when they lost 2-0 against Division One runners up Halton Rangers fought back to put the Hoops defence under a lot of pressure and managed to score six second half goals. The game turned out to be a game of all out attack with both sides scoring almost at will with Morecambe Hoops finally winning by 9-6 with goal keeper John Boothroyd, Kevin Burns, Andy Charnley, Des Martinez (2), captain Robert Goldsborough, Dave Riley (2) and substitute James Stewart bringing the hoops its 100^th league goal of the season. Storeys Reserves replies being scored by young Joe Flynn, David Leslie (3) and veteran Paul Fraser with a double strike.

Ingleton Reserves and Vine served up a good game of attacking football as a follow up to the main game played before hand. Vine took its chances better than the Ingleton Reserves side and went into a 2-0 lead with a Robert Crump and then Sean Gordon. Ingleton Reserves pulled one goal back when Jonathon Boadle scored before Vine went into a 3-1 lead when Gareth Hammond scored. It looked all over for Ingleton Reserves but with just 10 minutes remaining they turned the game round to draw level when Alex Hartley scored and a first of the season for young William Kelly to salvage a point with the final result 3-3 which was probably a fair result overall.        

In the replayed Marsh United Reserves and Millhead game, a game which had to be replayed as Marsh United Reserves played an ineligible player in the original game. This game ended the same way as the original game only that Marsh United Reserves win was more emphatic as it won by 4-0 with goals by Scott Sparks, Jordan Sparks and two goals, his first of the season by James Cunniski. The original game ended 2-1.