CFL Round Up 17/10/15

Premier Division

Congleton Vale returned to winning form as they beat Eagle Sports 3-2 away from home. Jordan Erdmann put Congleton ahead in the 41st minute as he sent a free kick crashing into the bottom corner from just outside the box. Half time substitute George Sutcliffe doubled Congleton’s lead shortly after the restart, before Carl McCurrie was denied from the spot after a being brought down in the box. Eagle fought back but another Sutcliffe goal in the 67th minute secured the points for Congleton moving them above their opponents and into sixth place.

Gamesley were in amongst the goals again as they played out a 3-3 draw at home against Garswood United, while Whaley Bridge moved up to second place following their 2-1 win away at Rylands.

League One

Wythenshawe Town suffered their second league defeat of the season as they lost 2-0 away at Pilkington, while goals from Tom Hampton and Luke Morgan saw Egerton finish 2-1 winners at Altrincham Reserves.

Billinge moved a point clear at the top of the table following a thrilling 4-4 draw at home against Golborne Sports. Golborne started the game well with Josh Taffe and Kenny Cooper both coming close in the first ten minutes. This shocked Billinge into action as they went down the other end and set loose Sam Denton but his shot was well saved by Tom Darbyshire in the Golborne net.

Billinge took the lead after 18 minutes when Jon Redmond linked up well with Steve Wolhuter, he passed it through to Chris Fairhurst on the edge of the box and his shot took a slight deflection before hitting the net for 1-0.

Fairhurst made it 2-0, five minutes later when Redmond again found Wolhuter, this time he took the ball passed two defenders before finding Fairhurst unmarked. Fairhurst had time to pick his spot and curl his shot past Darbyshire.

Billinge maintained the pressure and Denton forced Darbyshire into two great saves before he finally beat him to make it 3-0 just before the break.

A tactical change at half time saw Golborne bring on Anthony Smith who caused the Billinge defence no end of problems before pulling a goal back in the 52nd minute. Josh Taffe made it 3-2 on the hour mark as the Billinge defence failed to pick him up on the edge of the box.

A free kick wide on the left side of the pitch taken by Elliott Bradshaw was met perfectly placed to meet the head of Redmond at the far post as he rose like a salmon to nod it home for 4-2.

A Billinge free kick in their own half was played across the back four putting the defence under pressure. Alex Dunne charged down their attempted clearance and the ball deflected past Jamie Scott in the Billinge net to make it 4-3.

Golborne maintained the pressure and were rewarded when a good run down the left resulted in Smith bagging his second of the game to pull Golborne level. Billinge could have took the points in the last minute when Kyle Ross was put clean through only to see his effort sail past the post.

Maine Road Reserves climbed out of the bottom two as they secured a 3-1 win away at Daten.

In the 13th minute a Tommy Johnson throw released Josh Harper who waltzed past three Daten defenders before drawing a save out of their keeper. The keeper then launched the ball down the pitch as Medhi Fliss got the better of the Maine Road centre halves and one on one with keeper Lewis Fielding drew an excellent save.

Maine Road increased the pressure and took the lead in the 28th minute when Sam Barnett picked out Johnson who threaded the ball in behind the back four for Adam Savill who fired past the keeper for 1-0.

At the other end Daten got a chance in the 36th minute as at the other end as Leon Goulden went one on one with keeper Fielding but his shot went wide of the post. On the brink of half time Barnett split the back four for Savill who unselfishly layed the ball back for Harper to finish into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Maine Road started the second half brightly as a mistake at the back saw Josh Harper beat the on rushing keeper before tapping the ball into an empty net for 3-0.
Just before the hour mark, Daten pulled one back as corner wasn’t dealt with allowing Ian Morris to send his shot crashing into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

League Two

Halebank remain unbeaten as they beat Unicorn Athletic 3-1 at home. Obi Beevers headed home the opening goal to give Unicorn the lead after just 8 minutes, but two goals from captain Matty Perry turned the tables for Halebank before the half time whistle. Dan Whalley made it 3-1 in the 55th minute as he scored from the spot after being brought down by the Unicorn keeper in the box.

AFC Macclesfield closed the gap at the top to a single points as they won 3-0 away at West Didsbury & Chorlton Reserves. Macclesfield started brightly and dictated the midfield and it wasn't long before they made their dominance pay. On 15 minutes, Jack Banister beat two players on the left to pick out Greg Mathers who met the ball at the far post with a sublime diving header.

Banister continued to put increasing pressure on the home defence with West Didsbury changing their formation to try and cope with his pace. Banister soon got his rewards when he raced into the box and a lazy tackle brought him down in the box. Mathers made no mistake from the spot to double their lead.

Mathers completed his hat trick early in the second half to put the game to rest and despite a valiant effort, West Didsbury were not able to beat their ex goal keeper Jordan Hitchen on his first return to his old club.

Mersey Valley were in fine form as they stormed to a 7-1 home win against Cuddington, despite having a man sent off in the 21st minute. Tom Hopkins bagged a hat trick, while Steve Taylor scored two along with further goals from Aaron Minshall and Oliver Riley.

Another two goals from FC St Helens top scorer Callum Laird saw them finish 2-1 winners at Warrington Town Reserves as they now sit comfortably in sixth place.

Reserve League Cup

Mersey Valley Development Squad came from a goal down at half time to beat Grappenhall Sports 3-2 in an entertaining fixture. The win keeps Mersey Valley three points clear at the top of Group A following Garswood United’s 7-1 win at home against Cuddington.

In Group B Eagle Sports made it three wins in three as they beat West Didsbury & Chorlton A 3-1 away, while Denton Town sit just behind on six points after a 3-0 win at home against Daten. Anthony Arnold, Jack Worrall and Gage Rothwell all found the net for Denton.

The only game in group D saw Malpas and Styal share the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Darryl and Lee Parry scored for Malpas, while Harry Maylett and Jordan Eccleston were on the score sheet for Styal.

Reserve League Two

The only league game saw Moore United move up to sixth spot after beating Middlewich Town 3-1 at home. The win was Moore’s third of the season and sees them sit two points behind their opponents who have a game in hand.