Burnley top as Central League resumes

Six goals in three games for Wes Fletcher

With only seven teams in the league, meaning 12 games per club, there aren't many games to report over the season. The last games played were over six weeks ago with the significant one being Preston's 3-0 win at Oldham that ensured they were top of the league over the Christmas and New Year period.

Oldham it was who got 2012 started when they travelled to Moss Rose to face Macclesfield Town yesterday afternoon, and 2012 began for them as 2011 had ended with a 3-0 defeat.

Macc were on top during the first half but it took them half an hour to make it count when Waide Fairhurst was played in. He took the ball past a defender before rifling home into the roof of the net.

It proved to be Fairhurst's afternoon. In the second half he placed a free kick into the top corner for his second and then, almost immediate, completed his hat trick, this time taking the ball on the edge of the box, turning and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.

Whilst Wes Fletcher and Danny Ings were scoring our goals in the 2-1 win at Chorley against, to take us above leaders Preston on goal difference, there was an eye on things at Prenton Park where Tranmere were playing host to Morecambe.

Morecambe were right behind us on goal difference but it looked as though it might not be their night when French trialist Yannick Boli, the former PSG striker, gave Tranmere the lead in the first minute.

However, it didn't set the pattern for the game. Another trialist, Jack Redshaw from Altrincham, equalised for Morecambe midway through the half, just after their goalkeeper had prevented Boli doubling Tranmere's lead with a brilliant save.

Soon after Ryan Winder's low shot from the edge of the box gave Morecambe the lead and in the second half Redshaw got his second from the penalty spot and Sean Breen completed the scoring to give Morecambe a 4-1 win.

Those results leave Burnley, Preston and Morecambe tied at the top with 13 points each although the Clarets, who lead with the better goal difference, have a game in hand.

That's it for a few weeks again now with no more fixtures until Burnley play Oldham at Turf Moor on Tuesday 7th February.

This week's results are below, with all the February fixtures, the league's leading goalscorers and Burnley's goalscorers.

THIS WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday 18th January
Macclesfield 3 Oldham 0
Preston 1 Burnley 2
Tranmere 1 Morecambe 4

NEXT FIXTURES

Tuesday 7th February
Burnley v Oldham

Wednesday 8th February
Wrexham v Macclesfield

Wednesday 15th February
Preston v Tranmere

Tuesday 21st February
Oldham v Morecambe

Wednesday 22nd February
Macclesfield v Preston
Tranmere v Wrexham

Tuesday 28th February
Burnley v Wrexham
Oldham v Tranmere

Wednesday 29th February
Macclesfield v Morecambe

LEADING GOALSCORERS

8: Lewis Alessandra (Morecambe)
6: Wes Fletcher (Burnley)
4: Obi Anoruo (Wrexham), Dominic Knowles (Burnley), Cole Stockton (Tranmere), Mustafa Tiryaki (Tranmere)

BURNLEY'S GOALSCORERS

6: Wes Fletcher
4: Dominic Knowles
1: Adam Evans, Steven Hewitt, Danny Ings, Mehdi Lazaar, Joe Jackson, Archie Love, Dave Lynch, Shay McCartan, Ross Wilson

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE