Alty close the gap!

By Rob Goodwin-Davey

Windle run amok and there’s goals galore in League Two (again).

After a weekend of weather that would have caused even the staunchest climate change denier to question his logic, Altrincham moved to within striking distance of the top two after they hosted Daten in Saturday’s only Premier Division fixture.
Fresh from their 4-1 Memorial Cup victory over Whaley Bridge the previous week Alty made it eight goals in two games as they beat Daten 4-3.
A brace from Max Pouncy plus goals from Billy Matthews and Rhain Davis moved Alty up to third, just two points behind Crewe and Congleton, who have games in hand, in first and second respectively.
Crewe remain clear at the summit despite not playing, they entertained Alsager in the Crewe District Cup but lost 3-1 to AFC Alsager.
Also in cup action were Middlewich and Egerton who faced off in the JB Parker Cup. Middlewich trailed at the break but second half goals from Jack Baker and Jamie Garner turned the tie in the favour in the second half.
Windle Labour consolidated their position at the top of League One when they faced bottom-side Orford on Saturday.
In a meeting between the division’s second-best attack and worst defence it could have been argued that this encounter was only ever going to end one way, and so it transpired.
Six goals without reply, including a hat-trick from substitute Stephen Taylor, moved Windle three points clear of Winstanley Warriors who did not play this weekend.
Cheadle Heath Nomads and Maine Road Reserves played out a six-goal thriller as they shared the points. Merizel Santos (2) and Samuel Prince scored for the hosts while Layton Smith, Joel Green and Anthony Thomas grabbed one apiece for Maine Road.
Vulcan, playing only their seventh league game of the season, climbed to third after they dispatched visitors Cuddington 4-3 thanks to a double from Brad Woods plus strikes from Thomas Darkes and Scott Walker.
Elsewhere Cheadle Town Reserves and Moore United met in the JA Walton Challenge cup with the former running out 3-1 winners at Moore’s Grange Sports ground; Kieran Alley, Marcello Arhin and Shaquille Lewys on the scoresheet.
In League Two Winnington remain top but had their lead cut to four points after they were held to a draw by Sandbach United Reserves.
Parklands are in second with three games in hand over the leaders after they ran out 4-2 winners on their trip to Pilkington Reserves; Mike Corrigan scored one in either half and Anthony Wynne and Dan King also notched.
One place below Parklands are Newton who also moved onto fifteen points for the season thanks to a comfortable 5-1 victory at home to Rylands Reserves. Five different scorers each inflicted one fifth of the misery with Sam Morgan bagging the first after ten minutes.
Nathan Evans got Newton’s second just before the break before Ben Woodman, Dan Christian and Danny Eaton wrapped up the points after the interval.
Hartford’s difficult season continued apace as they found themselves on the end of a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of an enigmatic Holmes Chapel Hurricanes side who have won three and lost three of their opening six games.
Two each for Sam Hatcher and Joe Clark set them on their way while Tom Fagan-Hall and Oliver Hewitt put the icing on the cake.
There was only one fixture across the two reserve divisions but no shortage of goals as Winstanley Warriors Reserves and Lostock Gralam reserves played out an eight-goal thriller.
Visitors Lostock took a 3-2 lead into half-time and managed to keep their hosts at arms-length going on to win the game 5-3 with goals coming from Danny Martin (2), Jordan Johnson, Adam Rathbone and Matt Davies.

Where next?

Vulcan close in on their rivals Winnington open up a six-point gap at the top of League Two
Inter League side lose out on chance for silverware in West Cheshire derby Nick Dunn says there are lessons to be learned from his CFL Inter-League side’s Cooper Smith Cup defeat but that it is not time to panic.

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