ULTIMATELY it was disappointing, at times it was disheartening, but Stoneclough’s season at least ended with two displays deserving of victories.

The Brook Street side enjoyed a happy Easter weekend, with two home victories to secure fifth place as the Division One season came to an end.

Stoneclough mixed and matched their first and second teams’ players to cope with the rigours of two matches in three days after having played just once in almost seven weeks.

And it paid dividends as they won both, without conceding, to finish the league campaign on a high note.

Millom were Saturday’s beaten opponents, with Kyle Tomlinson hitting the only goal of the game midway through the first half.

Two days later Stoneclough closed the season with the visit of local rivals Eagley, and the hosts were 3-0 victors, with Mark Truffas netting two goals and Steve Ward the final strike of a season that they feel, but for a bleak winter, could have ended in promotion.

“We finished on a high note at the weekend,” said club secretary Peter Conroy.

“It was a bit awkward for us because we’d not played for three weeks and we had two games on Easter Saturday and Monday so our managers split our first and second-teams’ players and we had two virtually different teams for the games.

“It worked really well, a lot of our lads couldn’t play both games so it was a chance for some of the lads to show what they could do, they were ready to play and they did well.

“Against Millom we were quite comfortable throughout the game, we only got one goal but we could have had more, we were never really in trouble.

“In the game against Eagley we played very well and could have had more than just the two goals we scored.

“They came back in the second half, they were very strong and our goalkeeper Craig Lewis pulled off some tremendous saves.

“All in all, it was a good weekend.

“It was a sunny day, a big crowd was there and it was a good way to finish the league season.”

As Stoneclough – led by a three-man management team of Rob Rostron, Dean Walmsley and Kevin Leader – prepare for their final assault on some silverware, the Hospital Cup with a quarter-final against Horwich St Mary’s Victoria – promoted from Division Two this season – tomorrow night, Conroy was left to reflect on what this season could have brought them.

A torrid run, in which they took just one point from 18 on offer through December and January, put paid to any hopes of snatching a place in the Premier Division for next season but despite that extended blip they only missed out on a top-four place on goal difference.

It is, however, the outings against Millom, who finished sixth, and Eagley, a place further back, that gives their secretary hope for better fortunes next season.

“That run in winter cost us dearly, we never got back into it after that and you can’t go on a poor run of results like that and hope to be up near the top at the end of the season,” he added.

“Those last two games showed us what we already knew – that we should have been up there challenging alongside (top two) Lytham and CMB. Fair play to those teams, they could grind out results when they weren’t at their best. We weren’t able to do that, it’s something we have to aspire to and that’s something we’ll need to address over the summer.

“We’ll be looking to bring in a few who know what’s expected of them and are dedicated because this division, with the travelling up to Barrow and so on, it can be a real bind, especially in the winter, but we feel we’re catching up to the top teams in Division One and we’re feeling positive.

“We could still finish this year on a good note, we’ve got the Hospital Cup quarter-final against Horwich St Mary’s Victoria to come, and we may end up playing in the final at the University of Bolton Stadium yet.

“So there is still a bit of a buzz around the place and we’re already looking forward to next season.”

The winners of tomorrow’s semi-final will face Walshaw in the semis. The winners of Elton Vale v Hindsford will take on Daisy Hill in the other semi-final.

The Daisies enjoyed two 4-1 wins in the Hallmark Security League First Division North over Easter, beating Lower Breck on Saturday – Ashley Stott scoring two with Jack Iley and Jacob Ridings also on target – before beating Atherton LR by the same scoreline on Monday, Iley opening the scoring and Stott hitting a hat-trick in that one.

For LR it capped a miserable weekend, as it followed a 7-0 beating at the hands of AFC Liverpool two days earlier.

Turton, who were to play their West Lancashire League Richardson Cup final against Coppull last night, lost 3-0 at home to Slyne With Hest on Saturday.

Their fellow Premier Division team, Tempest United, were defeated 2-0 at Fulwood Amateurs.

In the Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division Thornleigh were beaten 7-0 by leaders Whitworth Valley and in Division One Horwich RMI lost 2-1 at AFC Darwen Reserves.

In the Manchester League Premier Division, Bolton County won 2-1 at home to Heyside, with Kieran Hennessey and Jordan McLoughlin scoring.