WHAT better way to kick off 2014 than a derby in the West Lancashire Football League Challenge Cup and local rivals CMB and Ladybridge did not disappoint.

It was a fiercely contested match by two sides playing some open football.

Visitors CMB took the lead in the first half through Jaren Baldwin when from a short corner he slotted home into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

In the second half, it looked as if it would only be a matter of time before Ladybridge scored because of the pressure they put on CMB.

They hit the crossbar and one effort was cleared off the line.

CMB's defence stood up well and broke the Ladybridge attacks down well with one counter-attack resulting in Jamie Boyd slotting in the the second goal to secure a place in the next round.

On the league front, Eagley's trip to Vickerstown, as well as Turton entertaining BAC/EE Preston were called off.

However, in the top flight, Tempest started the year as they left the last - with a victory by seeing off Norcross 3-2.

They started off brightly creating chances and their midfield bossed the game.

Stand-in skipper Chris Farnworth led by example by driving the team on.

After 20 minutes, a good ball by Farnworth sets up Ben Hyde to make it 1-0 and it stayed like that until the break.

Farnworth was rewarded for his endeavour when he scored two goals in five minutes after the interval.

However, Norcross bagged two goals in as many minutes to make it 3-2.

Tempest created five more clearcut chances but could not score but hung on for victory.

Assistant boss Gary Westhead said: "It was a good three points against a team down there with us. "It also makes it three wins out of four which is great form.

"Overall Chris Farnworth was tremendous, we scored three quality goals created plenty more.

"We have set the lads a target of five wins out of 10 and the lads performed excellent to get the first one."

Elsewhere, in Division One, newly promoted Bolton County moved up to fourth in the table after a 4-0 home win against Dalton United.

County started brightly having good possession and early chances fell to Liam Stewart but he could not find the net.

Then in the 35th minute, a strike by captain Gareth Markland put County 1-0 up.

In the second half, County put the pressure on the Dalton defence then Adam Farnworth brought a ball down from a pass and hit a low hard shoot passed the keeper.

Stewart scored from a header and County added fourth by Farnworth to round off a convincing win In Division Two, Stoneclough were unable to perform a late escape against Barrow Wanderers as they went down 2-1 with Carl Green scoring for the home side.