Cheshire League Round Up

Premier Division

Whaley Bridge climbed into second place as they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Knutsford. Whaley Bridge were up for it and started well with Joe Burgess going close on 4 minutes. Both teams were working hard but Whaley had an edge with the pace and tempo of their passing and challenges, posing a big threat from set pieces and corners and were dangerous down Knutsford’s left side.

On ten minutes, Whaley took the lead after a fast break from Sutton down the right, who fired in an excellent cross for the oncoming Burgess to head home past Stanway to make it 1-0. Whaley’s Rob Newton then hit over the bar from thirty yards as Whaley were first to the ball and the more determined of the two teams. Knutsford had good possession in their half but too often hit straight balls that starved Owens and Rutter of good service and ended up in Whaley goalkeeper Tattersall’s hands.

Beattie twice made saving headers over his bar to deny Whaley as the away side dominated the aerial game, attacking every high ball with purpose. Burgess made it 2-0 on 38 minutes after Knutsford’s midfield gave the ball away and left their defence exposed. Knutsford’s first real effort came on 40 minutes after Rutter hit a weak shot into the keeper’s hands as Whaley continued to boss the game with their high work rate. Whaley deserved their lead, seeming to want the victory more whilst Knutsford were off the pace and second best in most areas of the game.

Knutsford started the better side in the second half after a number of changes by manager Scott Dignan and took the game to Whaley and Rezayan went close early on. On 52 minutes, the industrious Jenyons went inches wide from a left-foot drive, then Pickford blazed over the bar as Dignan, in the heart of Knutsford’s defence, dictated the tempo of the home side’s game, with effort and urgency the order of play.

Owens, who had enjoyed a quiet game, turned up the heat with several driving runs and crosses that found Sean Lynch at the far post, but on his 100th appearance for the club he could only head over. Whilst Knutsford were having a real go at getting back into the game in an effort to preserve their unbeaten record, Whaley remained solid in defence with their two big centre-halves always strong and determined. Lynch fired over the bar from twenty yards as Knutsford pressed but with more huff and puff than quality.

An Owens drive and dribble forced the keeper into a fine save low down, leaving Owens to then take the ball centrally and play a clever 1-2 with Jenyons, before taking the return pass in his stride to slot home, making the score 1-2 on 85 minutes. It was now game on with all to play for and Knutsford pressing hard. A fine Lynch cross into the six yard area nearly found the oncoming Jenyons, with an Owens free kick then saved by the Whaley goalkeeper at foot of the post as the referee played ten minutes injury time.
With a free kick awarded wide right, Owens again took the ball, with all Knutsford’s players, barring goalkeeper Stanway, looking for the cross, but fired into the side netting.

Styal climbed up to twelfth spot after securing a 2-1 win at home against Rudheath Social thanks to goals from Dom Kinsella, while Poynton sneaked a 1-0 home win over Garswood United.

George Blackwell and Kayle Power scored for Linotype CHN as they won 2-1 at home against Crewe, while Carl McCurrie scored in the 73rd minute to earn Congleton Vale a point in their 1-1 draw with Sandbach United.

Malpas dropped down to fifth as they shared the points with Denton Town in an end to end 2-2 draw. The game started at a good pace with Malpas working the channels to get around the back of the home team. Denton looked for the straight ball and caught Malpas flat footed after 17 minutes when Jordan McCann struck to send them 1-0 up. A good ball in saw Joe Sumner head wide and this was followed up minutes later when Conner Tinsley’s free kick picked out Sumner who showed quality to control the ball in the air and slot home for 1-1.

Malpas took the lead on 41 minutes when Alex Hughes was brought down by the Denton keeper, Hughes got up and slotted home to make it 2-1.

The second half was played at a good pace although Malpas continued from the first not playing well and giving the ball away in bad positions, allowing Denton time on the ball. Tinsley pulled off a good save as he continued his form.

On 82 minutes a through ball was marshalled back by Richard Sadler but he was overpowered by McCann who got his second of the game to earn Denton a point.

League One

Middlewich Town earned an historic point as they became the first Cheshire League side to take a point off last season’s invincibles Wythenshawe Town. Middlewich started well and nearly took the lead as early as the second minute when Dan Holdsworth beat the full back out on the right and pulled the ball back for James Dean, but he was unable to convert from 6 yards out. Middlewich were enjoying plenty of possession in the opening half with Dean, Whitehead, Rowlands and O’Sullivan all getting forward to link up effectively with Holdsworth and cause Wythenshawe problems. Luty was forced into a save when Whitehead beat his man on the right and delivered a perfect cross in to the box but Sam O’Sullivan could only direct his header straight at the keeper.

Middlewich broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a straightforward set piece. Dean Burgess hit a free kick into the box which was flicked on by James Dean in to the path of Dan Holdsworth who beat the defender to the ball and fire past Luty in to the back of the net for 1-0.

In the 57th minute Middlewich got a free kick 25 yards out when Holdsworth was fouled. James Horne curled the ball over the wall and with Luty beaten, it hit the cross bar and went over the top to safety and a lucky escape for Wythenshawe.

Minutes later though Wythenshawe were back on level terms when the ball dropped to Remi Williams on the right hand side of the 6 yard box and he lashed the ball past Masters to equalise. This gave them a little bit of impotus and shortly after Masters was forced into a brilliant double save as he parried one shot away and reacted instantly to save the rebound with his legs. He was then forced into another save to his right as Green hit a shot across him from the edge of the box and he did well to smother the ball as a forward came in for the rebound.

At the other end Luty was forced into a smart save as the returning Mark Rebbeck smashed a volley from outside the box but he did well to take it in his hands.

As the game neared its conclusion neither side were content with settling for the draw and in a dramatic last few minutes Middlewich twice nearly scored a winner. In the 86th minute Sam O’Sullivan cut inside from the left and hit a shot from the edge of the box and with Luty beaten the ball came back off the near post. Then in injury time Middlewich broke on the counter attack from a Wythenshawe corner. The ball was headed away to O’Sullivan who played to Holdsworth on the half way line. With Wythenshawe having committed men up for the corner Holdsworth played the ball into the path of substitute Jack Johnson, making his debut, who suddenly found himself with a clear run on goal. He took one touch before shooting but Luty had narrowed the angle and saved well to deny Middlewich the winner.

Egerton got their first three points of the season as they won 4-1 at home against Pilkington, while Altrincham Reserves beat Daten 3-1 away.

Golborne Sports sit in third place after they beat Maine Road Reserves 2-0 away from home, despite a valiant effort from the young Manchester side. Golborne took the lead in the 53rd minute when a free kick by Josh Taffe was cleared straight back to him, he crossed the ball back into the box to find Kieron Eaves unmarked at the far post, who slotted home for 1-0.

Golborne secured the points with nine minutes remaining when Taffe rode a tackle well and crossed the ball into Anthony Smith who had the time to chest the ball down before volleying it home for 2-0. Maine Road will feel unlucky not to have got something from a game that saw them dominate possession but were unable to make it count.

League Two

Lostock Gralam are sitting pretty at the top of the table as their unbeaten run continued with a 1-0 win over a challenging West Didsbury and Chorlton Reserve side. The game was an end to end battle with Lostock sneaking the points when Alex Russell scored the only goal at the start of the second half as he slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

AFC Macclesfield sit four points behind with two games in hand after a convincing 6-1 win at home against Unicorn Athletic. Greg Mathers continued to impress as he added a hat trick to his already impressive haul, while Jack Banister (2) and Chris Allen also scored for the home side. Unicorn’s goal was scored by Tom Woodier.

Cheadle Town Reserves finished on the front foot as they beat Litherland Remyca Reserves 3-2 at home, while two goals each from Callum Laird and Liam Houghton saw FC St Helens beat Cuddington 4-2 at home.

It was a bad day at the office for Moore United as Mersey Valley ran riot and finished 10-1 winners away from home to move up into third place, after taking a 6-0 lead into the break.

Reserve League One

Whaley Bridge continued their winning streak as they finished 3-2 winners at home against Knutsford A. Alex Airey bagged a brace either side of a goal from Tom Scorer. The win puts Whaley five points clear at the top, having taken maximum points from all seven games so far.

Poynton moved up to second after beating Sandbach United 4-2 away through goals from John Thornton, Alex Jones, Josh Stafford and Joe Swindells.

Last season’s champions Linotype CHN returned to winning form as they finished 5-2 up at Greenalls PSO. Sam Hood scored twice, as did Jordan Thompson with Leon Grandison also hitting home.

Daten got their first win of the season as they beat Grappenhall Sports 4-0 away, while Garswood United moved up to fifth with a 4-2 win at home against Styal who are yet to get off the mark this season.

Reserve League Two

Denton Town made it three league wins in a row as they won 4-3 away at Cuddington in a close game that saw Gage Rothwell bag all four goals for the winners. Denton now sit in pole position, two points clear of West Didsbury and Chorlton A who have a game in hand.

West Didsbury kept up the pressure at the top as they stormed to a 5-1 win away at Moore United, while Rylands suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 3-1 away at Malpas. Ally Hughes, Chris Ingall and Rob Martin all made the score sheet for Rylands.

Wythenshawe Town moved up to fourth with a 3-0 win at home against Middlewich Town, while a Ciaran Vesey hat trick helped Golborne Sports to a 3-3 draw at home against Mersey Valley Development Squad.