Haslingden St Mary's v Garstang: There is no warmer welcome in the West Lancs than the one offered by Joe Harrison, Secretary of Haslingden, and his wing commander Martin Molloy. Since I took over as Secretary, they are possibly the two nicest guys I have come across in the league and I was honoured to be at Bloomfield Road for last season's League Presentation Dinner to see Joe Harrison rightly collecting The Harold Ashworth Rosebowl as Secretary of the Season. OK, enough crawling! Now down to the real business.

Somerside's Heroes travel to St Mary's in buoyant mood following six out of six points over the Easter period. Although St Mary's have little left to play for this season, we all know that any East Lancs side will always give you a game, and if they can’t give you a game, they’ll give you a fight! I don’t expect tommorrow's game to be any different.

Last season's fixture saw three red cards, although a weak refereeing display didn't help. St Mary's no longer have 'Big Crusher' in the nets and I’m informed that big, daft, Danny Wade is currently banging in the goals for the Reserves. I'm sure that the experienced Clark will play down the right hand side, however, supported with a couple of big centre halves. In the previous fixture this season, Garstang had a noticeable height advantage but Joe informs me that St Mary's have replaced Big Danny with somebody equally big, but dafter!

Somerside has the returning Cummins back from his overseas travels. However, there are still doubts on Cropper’s fitness, although Ireland is fit and available, but he may have to wait his chance, following the recent excellent form of Bardsley. Hunt will again be asked to work tirelessly up front and if the defence, whether it be a three or a four, stand tall once again, I'm sure we can come away from Haslingden with a decent result.

Third placed Freckleton don't play their last outstanding fixture until the 25th, coincidentally also at Haslingden, so maybe St Mary's will have a say in things after all!

One face missing tomorrow will be former player, committee man, and now loyal supporter, Malcolm Hoyles. Unfortunately Malcolm is currently unwell in The Royal Lancaster Infirmary and all at the club hope he gets well soon .

Match Report | Les Taylor

With a 100% return over the Easter period, Manager Somerside stuck with the same starting eleven, but restored the fit and available Ireland, Cummins and Cox to the bench.

Garstang put Haslingden under pressure from the kick off and, after only three minutes, took the lead. The ball had been cleared out of the box only for Richard Wilson to hook it right back into the mix, Horton was the quickest to react finding the top corner with a great finish.

It was two within nine minutes when 'assist expert', Richard Wilson, hit a long ball into the heart of the Haslingden defence. Smart didn't deal with it and Hunt nipped in to slot the ball past Cogger for his debut First Team goal.

Things just got worse for the hosts. Philibin received a yellow card for a dangerous elbow on Fawcett and then Saunders was sent off for the use of foul and abusive language against referee Mr. Parkinson. And as if that wasnt enough, Siddle limped off to be replaced by Richmond, and all that in the first 22 minutes. It was no wonder that Haslingden looked a dispirited bunch at this stage.

Half time came and Manager Somerside, taking advantage of the weather and the wide open spaces at St Mary's, gathered the team around the dugout for the half time talk. It was the home team, however, who started the half more forcefully and, with Garstang giving them more space in the middle of the park, their ten men began to pose a threat. Garstang were still creating chances, with Somerside pepping up the attack by introducing Cummins for an injured Geoff Wilson, and Cox, returning from several weeks of injury, for Bamba. Fit again Ireland came on for the admirable Kelvin Bardsley, to add a bit more muscle down the flank.

Haslingden finally 'got among the pigeons' when Smart found himself unmarked in the Garstang box and beat Brindle. This gave the home some self belief and they looked hard for the equaliser which, in turn, gave the Garstang forwards ample opportunity to break out and make the game safe. In the event, it was Kilifin who got the goal, picking up a lose ball in midfield he advanced to the corner of the box before curling an untouchable shot just inside the far post.

To their credit, Haslingden wouldn't lie down and, with only injury time to play, they hit back again when Rispin heading home a cross from Grimshaw. Fortunately, this wasn't enough to dent Garstang's end of season run, which sees them with only one defeat in the last nine games.

Garstang: Brindle, Kilifin, Bardsley, Baker, McEvoy, R.Wilson, Horton, Fawcett, Hunt, G. Wilson and Bamba
Substitutes: Ireland (Bardsley), Cummins (Wilson G.), Cox (Bamba)

Haslingden St Mary's: Cogger, M. Richmond, Taylor, A.Smart, Rispin, Clark, Pearson, Siddle, Saunders and E.Smart
Substitutes: Navan (Pearson), D Richmond (Siddle), Grimshaw (E Smart)