JUNIOR FOOTBALL ROUND-UP: Church FC Under 14s faced Belthorn and expected a close clash after their previous meetings over the year.

Earlier in the season it was a narrow 3-1 win to Church but Saturday was a completely different affair.

Church took the lead within the first couple of minutes and then just kept on scoring.

By half-time, it was 8-0 and regular goalkeeper Adam Worden had a stint as striker in the second half and scored his first ever goal in his sixth year at Church FC.

It finished 12-0 to Church and it shows how much they have improved over the last few months.

Not so long ago, Church were rooted at the foot of the table and its now five wins out of five, conceding just one goal.

This has seen them move up to sixth place and only three points short of fourth.

Jordan Howe scored five goals, Jordan Haworth grabbed a hat-trick as did James Clarkson while Adam Worden got the other. Referee’s and Manager MOTM was Jordan Howe.

The Under 12s drew 4-4 with Rishton United in a thrilling end to end game.

Church hit the post and crossbar in the first five minutes but it was Rishton who broke away and scored first.

Church equalised with a well taken goal by Luke Taylor.

The game was even with both sides having chances and after Rishton took a 2-1 lead.

Church had to hit back quickly and did so with a delightfully taken chip by Josh Graham.

In the second half, Rishton found an extra gear and scored two quick goals to lead 4-2 but the Church heads did not go down and Taylor and Graham scored their second goals to make a well deserved draw. Manager’s MOTM were Josh Graham and Danny Fitton.

St Josephs: The Under 13s continued their recent good form with victory against Darwen Rangers.

Jack Kerans opened the scoring for the Saints meeting a cross from Coby Fish.

Darwen hit back with an equaliser to make the scores level at the break.

In the second half, the Saints increased the tempo with George Gibson and Coby Fish outstanding and both scored in quick succession.

Liam Woodhead scored a brace and Dev Booth again added a stunner from the edge of the box to make it a 6-1 victory. MOTM was Coby Fish.

The Under 15s edged out Pendle Forest to take all the points after a tense encounter.

Liam Richmond scored the only goal of the game in which the Saints squandered a host of chances.

Ste Ashworth, Ben Brierley and Connor Southward kept things solid at the back with a good defensive display. Joe Leeming was MOTM.

The Under 11s turned in one of their best performances of the season to beat Huncoat United 1-0.

The goal was scored by Jamie Chadwick, taking the hitman’s tally to an impressive 29 goals so far this season.

Both teams enjoyed possession and played some good attacking football but came up against an inspired Matt Berry who marshalled the Saints backline well to keep Huncoat at bay. Jack Beech and Soloman Naveed were excellent again as the Saints held on for the win.

RISHTON: The Under nines Red won 4-2 against Brierfield Celtic Red.

Rishton conceded an early cheap goal but bounced back.

A Sam Steer corner led to a goalmouth scramble and Kyle Essery touched the ball over the line.

Rishton conceded a second due to a debatable handball decision that didn’t go United’s way and the Celtic’s capitalised.

Shortly after though, Evan O’Carroll got United back on level terms.

Rishton’s third goal came after the break following sub Ben Bleasdale’s throw which landed at Steer’s feet, and he found Declan Mercer who scored his first goal for the Blues.

The fourth came from a Steer corner which was chested down and belted home by Bleasdale

Keeper Callum Monahan made several good saves and the MOTM went to Ben Bleasdale.

The Under10 girls drew 2-2 at Bury. Keeper Sydnie Sanderson was outstanding and she kept the scoreline down to 1-0 until the last few minutes of the first half when Lauren Hall equalised and Bree O’Carroll burst through the put Rishton 2-1 up at the break.

Rishton were unable to take their chances after the interval and Bury levelled on a breakaway,

Special mentions for Charley Butler who made some great last gasp tackles and a solid performance by Abby Dearden who was made Player of the Match.

The Under 11s won 3-1 against Padiham Saints to make it six wins in seven games.

Mark Devine grabbed the headlines with a superb brace while Joel Davies adding the other.

Kieron Brinsmead-Williams set up Davies for the opener.

Matt Thornley played well while Sam Malone looked sharp and lively on the right wing but Rishton couldn’t take any more chances before half-time.

And it looked like they would pay when Padiham won a penalty for handball after the break and keeper Lewis Ainscough almost stopped it but the ball just beat him to make it 1-1.

Rishton kept going though and there were a few near misses.

But then a defensive clearance found Devine, he ran almost half the length of the pitch before side footing into the far corner.

Soon after Devine’s pace proved once again too much for Padiham and he grabbed his second with another great strike.

MOTM was awarded by the opposition to Sam Malone while Manager’s MOTM went to Mark Devine.

Elsewhere, the Under nines on Saturday lost 4-1 to Huncoat United in the cup.

Bad defending cost Rishton in a reasonably level contest.

Huncoat took the lead but a great move involving Adam Devine, Sam Steer and Simon Avison was neatly put away by new team captain Callum Monahan.

Rishton created a number of half chances, but then again Rishton were caught out on the counter attack to make it 2-1 to Huncoat at half-time.

In the second half, Steer hit the post, Kyle Essery also had a couple of half chances but once again they were caught out at the back as Huncoat raced into a 3-1 lead and then it was four.

Callum Monahan was deserved MOTM and he weighed in with a well taken seventh goal of the season.

The Under 12s took on Church in a 4-4 draw. Church started well and Rishton could have been two-nil down early on but they rode the storm.

And Rishton took the lead when Jamie Maxwell scored a cracker. Church hit straight back but Liam Clough put Rishton back in front just before the break.

Church came back after the break before Clough put them 3-2 ahead. Then, with just five minutes left, Maxwell made it 4-2 to United.

That should’ve been the points wrapped up but full credit to Church who just would not give it up and scored two more late on to take a deserved point. Referee’s MOTM was Liam Clough.

knuzden whites: The Under 10s won 1-0 against Lammack in the Cup quarter-finals.

Knuzden opened the scoring against third placed Lammack through Ryan Mclean.

Knuzden keeper Aiden Whitehead kept Lammack at bay after the break while a shot from Loui Rimmer went just wide of the post as they looked to make the game safe.

They will meet Mill Hill Red in the semi-finals.

HUNCOAT UNITED: The Under nines won 4-1 against Rishton United in the cup. It was a strong performance from Huncoat with captain Riley Armstrong scoring twice and Charlie Kirby and Kristian Holden added the others. MOTM was Connor Gilgunn.

The Under 10s on Saturday beat Greyhound Ford 6-1 while the Under 10 Allstars won 10-0 against Great Harwood Rovers. On target were Callum Thelwell (three), Jack Beech (three), Callum Savage (two) and Taylor Harris and Max Whitehead. MOTM was Oliver Hall.

The Under 11s lost 1-0 to St Josephs on Saturday and then won 5-1 against Haslingden on Sunday.

The Under 12s lost 10-0 to Clitheroe Wolves Blue while the Under 13s ran out 2-1 winners over Lammack in the cup. The Under 13 Allstars lost 4-0 to Clayton Park Rangers while the Under 16s lost 3-0 to Clitheroe Wolves.

AGSA: The Under 17s powered their way into the League Cup final with an emphatic win over Penwortham in the semi-final played at Lytham.

Sophie Jones opened the scoring and Chloe Roberts made it 2-0 before half-time.

Sam Bailey got a brace in the first five minutes of the second half, and further goals from Amy Sturgess and Jade Craig rounded off a fine performance. Player of the Match was midfielder Simone Hartshorn.