A SHORTAGE of referees for the first week of the Chorley Nissan Sunday Football League meant only the clash between Roebuck and Fox and Grapes went ahead in the Premier Division.

Roebuck started off the better with goals from Paul Rourke and John Pearson giving their side a 2-0 half-time advantage.

A goal from Chris Turner brought Fox and Grapes back into the game, but they could not grab a crucial equaliser.

In the First Division, Red Lion started off the better against Adlington Engineers, going in 2-1 up at half-time with a brace from Andy Platt, against Kevin Marcroft's reply for the home team.

The second half livened up when Adlington swapped their formation around and grabbed a deserved equaliser when Steve McDonnell, pushed forward from centre-back, pulled his side back into the game.

Only moments after the re-start, however, Andy Platt made it a hat-trick. Despite this setback, Adlington's determination was rewarded with a share of the points when Cyril Sharrock scored a peach of a goal from 30 yards.

In division two, Duke of York found themselves up against it when they were reduced to ten men against Talbot Arms while already 3-1 down thanks to goal from Stephen Price (2) and Brian Mellotti and a reply from Carl Parker.

As so often happens with sides reduced to ten men, Duke of York played out of their skins in the second half but were unable to make an impact and Talbot took advantage by scoring four more goals (Including a third for price) against Hampson's consolation for Duke of York.

Results: Premier division:

Fox & Grapes 1, Roebuck 2

First division:

Adlington Engineers 3, Red Lion 3; Bay Horse Euxton 7, Punchbowl FC 1; Rose & Crown 2, Golden Lion 1;

Second division:

Duke of York 2, Talbot Arms 6; Coppull St Oswalds 3, Adlington Rovers 4; Withnell United 5, Chicago Town 0; Adlington Ceramics 3, Bay Horse 3

Fixtures, Sunday:

Premier division: Wheatsheaf v Fox & Grapes; Mitre FC v Eagle FC; Roebuck v Farmers Arms; Leo's FC v Duke of York.

Division one: Red Lion v Adlington Nomads; Brookes v Bay Horse (Euxton); Rose & Crown v Adlington Engineers; Golden Lion v Punchbowl FC

Division two: Adlington Rovers v Withnell United; Euxton Cosmos v Coppull St Oswalds; Bay Horse (Whittle) v Duke of York; Talbot Arms v Chicago Town.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.