CFL Round up 27/2/16

Premier Division

Denton Town earned an important point as they drew 0-0 away at Garswood United. They are now level on points with the two sides above them (Poynton and Eagle Sports) however they have played a number of games more and have a much poorer goal difference so will be hoping to go on a run of form to pull themselves out of the drop zone.

Gamesley moved up to fifth place as Mike Dewhurst and Adam Oakes scored in a 2-0 win at Congleton Vale, while Rylands won 3-0 away at Rudheath Social. Rylands sit five points behind Congleton in third spot with four games in hand.

JB Parker Cup

Whaley Bridge finished 2-0 winners at home against Sandbach United to book their place in the semi final against the winner of Denton Town v Rylands which will be played next week.

Greenalls PSO set up a semi final against Knutsford after they beat last year’s finalists Linotype CHN 1-0 at home. Gavin Horner found the breakthrough in the 21st minute when neat play on the right-hand side saw Josh Kavanagh break himself free from his defender. He slid the ball to Lee Vaughan whose quick feet left his marker and cut the ball back to Horner who showed excellent composure and rolled the ball into the bottom right corner of Aaron Tyrer’s goal.

The goal lifted Greenalls who pushed the visitors back, Jack Hynes burst through the defence and went through one on one only to be met by a great save by Tyrer. Two further golden chances followed; Lee Vaughan danced through five players his dummy shot put the keeper Tyrer on the floor, the ball fell onto his weaker foot and a bobble upon shooting led Vaughan to fire against the post with the goal at his mercy. Immediately after a Gaz Johns corner fell to Horner at the back post, he quickly shifted the ball onto his right foot but the resulting shot cannoned off the top of the bar.

Linotype came back into the game for the final ten of the half, the Greenalls midfield three of Hughes, Slater and Hynes were battling hard against their counterparts McKenzie and the influential Adam Stuart but it was Nehru McKenzie who came the closest for Linotype. An early cross found the midfielder free in the box but he was unable to direct the ball goal bound, Yuille followed this with a tame free kick which was gathered by Yarwood.

It was Yarwood who Greenalls had to thank for keeping them in the game. Leon Grandison whipped his free kick goal bound, the striker ran across the face of goal and a last minute reaction saw Yarwood palm the ball wide, an outstanding save from the shot stopper, he was again called into action a goal mouth scramble found Yarwood to pounce onto the free ball to prevent the striker getting a shot off.

Knutsford stormed into the semi finals as they won 3-0 at home against Poynton. David Owens opened the scoring in the 4th minute, which was doubled by a Scott Beattie effort in the 41st. Jonny Scott came off the bench to put the game to rest in the 79th minute to make it 3-0.

League One

Billinge moved five points clear at the top of the table as they beat Grappenhall Sports 6-1 away to boost their promotion hopes. Billinge took the lead after 12 minutes when Redmond was fouled inside the box and Chris Cottington scored from the spot. Minutes later Chris Fairhurst made it 2-0 after beating two Grappenhall defenders and slotting the ball past the advancing keeper.

Grappenhall were unlucky not to pull one back after 25 minutes when their striker saw his effort hit the post. The home team had more clear cut chances before the break but could not finish their efforts in front of goal.

Billinge got their third in the 50th minute when Platt and Redmond linked up well down the left. Platt’s final pass found Cottington unmarked on the edge of the box and the midfielder found the top corner of the net. Grappenhall responded well when Elliott Clayton-Priestly finished well with a great strike from the left hand side of the box, finding the roof of the net.

On the hour mark, a great ball played through by Anderson found Ryan Platt on the left, the winger cut inside beating two defenders and slotted the ball home to make it 4-1 to the visitors.

Billinge brought on Liam Roughley on the right and his pace soon had the tiring home defence on the back foot. His first effort was well saved by the keeper, but minutes later Anderson's pass found Roughley unmarked on the right-hand side of the six yard box and the youngster drilled his shot past the keeper.

Billinge made it 6-1 with five minutes left on the clock when Roughley again found the back of the net with a powerful drive from inside the box.

Wythenshawe Town slipped down to sixth spot as they were held 1-1 at home by second place Altrincham Reserves.

Middlewich Town had a day to forget as they slumped to a narrow defeat at rivals Golborne Sports, having surrendered a 2-1 lead and conceded two penalties in the process.

Golborne took the lead in the 6th minute when Middlewich tried to play offside but Josh Taffe timed his run well and then got to the ball before Town keeper Masters to knock it past him and then tap the ball in to an empty net.

After Middlewich got to grips with the pitch and the length of the grass they carved out some chances of their own. James Dean fired wired from inside the box, Mark Rebbeck hit an impressive volley from 25 yards that the keeper did well to claim, and then also took Mike Evans’ low drive in his hands.

The away side equalised on 29 minutes from the penalty spot after Dan Holdsworth was fouled from behind and Sam O’Sullivan scored from the spot hitting it to the keepers left. Two minutes later Middlewich took the lead when full back Mike Whitehead overlapped down the right and played the ball into Evans in the box, who did brilliantly to dig the ball from under his feet and hit an unstoppable drive with the outside of his foot into the far corner.

Middlewich continued to put the pressure on when Dean Burgess headed over from a free kick but then Golborne went up the other end and hit the post off a volley from just inside the box. The equaliser came in the 42nd minute when the ball was lofted into the box towards Taffe who took the ball down on his chest before being bundled over by Morana. Keiron Eaves scored the spot kick to make it 2-2.

The second half was relatively evenly contested with both sides threatening without mustering too many clear cut chances. The game turned in the 65th minute though when Mike Whitehead was adjudged to have fouled a Golborne player in the box and the ref awarded a penalty and Eaves scored again from the spot sending Masters the wrong way.

Middlewich then went all out attack in an attempt to get back in the game. On 70 minutes they missed a golden chance when a delightful cross from Evans on the left was volleyed over by Wakefield from 6 yards out. Minutes later Evans then had a volley saved.

Maine Road Reserves climbed off the bottom of the table as they finished 2-1 winners away at Tarporley Victoria. Maine Road took the lead with a well worked goal after 7 minutes as Danny Hulme passed to Ahmed Alali in space, he found Martin Owen and a good first time pass put Mike Burkein behind. Burke crossed the ball from the goal line as Owen continued his run into the box and headed past the keeper.

Two minutes later their lead was doubled when a well delivered free kick from Sam Barnett was well met by the head of Calum Broady, forcing a good reaction save from the keeper but the rebound went in off the knee of the Tarporley centre half.

Tarporley left it late to respond but a good move between two substitutes resulted in the ball crashing into the Maine Road net in the 88th minute to make it 2-1.

Pilkington continued their run of form to beat Daten 3-1 and move up into fifth spot, level on points with the two teams above them but having played more games.

Early in the first half Graham Boylan unleashed an unstoppable shot to give Pilkington the lead, which was doubled in the 35th minute by Davey Baines. He collected a Daten clearance approximately 35 yards from goal, looked up and saw the Daten keeper quite advanced, coolly passed the ball over his head into the net for 2-0.

Pilkington made it 3-0 in the 78th minute when Boylan, far advanced on the left side, toyed with the right back turning him inside out, before delivering a low hard ball across the goal where Callum Chisnall side footed the ball home with perfect poise.

Daten continued battle and were rewarded late in the game when David Wright smashed home a stunning finish to make it 3-1.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

Halebank moved up to second place in group A as they rolled out 3-1 winners away at Cheadle Town Reserves. Daniel Whalley put the away side 1-0 up after 13 minutes and Kevin Dunning doubled their lead just after the half hour mark. Cheadle Town pulled one back but Whalley added his second with ten minutes remaining to secure the win for Halebank.

AFC Macclesfield now sit in second spot in group C, above Mersey Valley on goal difference and three points behind Warrington Town Reserves after a hard fought 1-0 victory away at Egerton.

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half time when Harry Wheetman closed down the Egerton centre back and with no other option, the Egerton man played the ball back to the keeper. Greg Mathers anticipated the decision and made it 1-0, moving his personal tally to 39 for the season.

AFC Macclesfield must now wait for Tarporley Victoria to play their remaining two games before finding out if they have qualified for the quarter finals. Tarporley must win both games to go through in second place.

League Two

Warrington Town Reserves ran riot as they finished 8-3 winners away at Unicorn Athletic. The win moves them up into second, a point ahead of Lostock Gralam whom they face next week and six points behind leaders AFC Macclesfield who have a game in hand.

Cuddington won their third game of the season to move up into ninth place, after beating Litherland Remyca 3-1 at home. Jack Glimond bagged twice, while Richard Bettley also hit home with all goals coming in the second half.

West Didsbury & Chorlton Reserves returned to league action with a 1-0 win over Moore United as Jonathan Poizer hit home, while FC St Helens beat Mersey Valley 1-0 through a strike from Liam Houghton.

Reserve League One

A brace from both Troy Hayder and Tom Pryce added to a goal from Joppe Muelensteen saw Styal beat Knutsford A 5-2 at home to claim their second win of the season, while Poynton moved into second spot after a 3-2 win at home against Grappenhall. Jack Roberts (2) and Connor Glass were on the score sheet for Poynton, while Dan Kimber scored both for Grappenhall.

Anthony Bennett, Chris Duffy, Neil Hilton and Ryan Sephton all scored for Billinge as they beat Garswood United 4-2 at home, moving them up into fourth spot.

Linotype CHN slipped into third place after they lost 4-1 at home against league leaders Whaley Bridge. Jason Mellor opened the scoring for Whaley in the 13th minute which was followed up by a strike from Alex Airey on the half hour mark. Tom Scorer made it 3-0 shortly before the break to give Whaley a comfortable lead.

Tom Wildgoose scored directly from a free kick on the edge of the box in the 52nd minute to make it 4-0, before Jordan Thompson scored for Linotype from the spot in the 69th minute after being fouled in the area.

Reserve Division Cup

Denton Town and Wythenshawe Town shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw as the sides met in Group B, while Sandbach United moved up to second following a 3-0 home win over Daten thanks to goals from Ken Mather (2) and Oliver Marsden.

Rylands now sit three points clear at the top of group C after their 2-1 win at home over Golborne Sports made it three cup wins in three.