Crewe and Winstanley close the gap at the top as Middlewich and Moore are left to languish

There was a full programme of midweek fixtures in the Premier Division this week as Crewe cut Congleton’s lead at the top to two points after another victory at fortress Cumberland.
Goals from Nathan Tickle and the in-form Matty Brichall earned the Blues all three points against Blacon Youth Club. In their three home games so far this season they have picked up nine points without conceding a goal.
Crewe’s success came the night after Congleton were held to their second successive draw, this time away at Poynton in an entertaining encounter at London Road.
The home side took a 1-0 lead into the break after Scott Wright opened the scoring but Congleton came flying out of the traps in the second half and pulled the game level through Oliver Griffiths.
Aaron Cook then put the visitors ahead from a free-kick before a late Andy Hurst equaliser rescued a point for the hosts.
After a difficult start to the season Egerton have found some form and made it two wins from two with a comfortable victory over Whaley Bridge.
A double from Tom Dally plus goals from Mauro Boaventura and Kofi Landon sealed and impressive 4-0 win.
Daten bounced back from Saturday’s defeat against Crewe and secured their second win of the campaign with a 5-3 victory over FC St Helens.
Andrew Gillespie, Brad Green and Joseph McKeegan saw FC race into a 3-1 half-time lead but Daten found their feet after the break winning the second half 4-0 and the match 5-3. Christian Lawlor, Jack Challinor, Sam Mottram and a double from captain Joe Barker enough to provoke a mildly amusing Twitter spat between representatives of the two clubs in the post-match aftermath.
Wins for both Daten and Egerton meant that Middlewich were under pressure to pick up three points in their local derby with Knutsford on Wednesday evening or else risk being cast adrift at the bottom of the table.
Alas their poor form continued with a 5-0 home defeat courtesy of goals from Liam Moran (2), Liam Myers, George Riley and Shane Davies.
It is worth noting that, of the side which beat Knutsford 1-0 in the same fixture last season and ultimately finished fourth, only Charles Masters and Jack Baker lined up on Wednesday; a sign of the rebuilding job currently underway at Middlewich.
Billinge moved up to fourth after a 3-1 victory over Greenalls Padgate; Chris Cottington, Nail Dawson and Robert Lamont with their goals whilst Altrincham sit one place below the Storks after they beat Lostock Gralam 2-1 on Tuesday night.
In League One Styal failed to take maximum points for the first time this season having been held to a 2-2 draw against Orford.
Orford had led 2-1 with ten minutes to go thanks to goals from Sean Pennington and Reiss Ashcroft but Styal’s Joe Knight scored his second of the match to ensure that his side remain unbeaten this season.
Styal’s stalemate allowed Winstanley Warriors to narrow the gap at the top to three points after they won against the previously unbeaten Garswood united.
A double from Elliot Morris, his 13th and 14th in the opening six games and another from Jamie Roberts sealed the points for the Warriors.
A further word on Morris who last season scored a total of 42 goals for the Warriors, 15 more than his closest challenger in the race for the golden boot; he will be hoping to break the magical 50 barrier this season.
Elsewhere Cheadle Town reserves won 3-1 when they hosted bottom side Moore United at Park Road Stadium.
Goals from Kieran Alley, Ethan Hennessey, Tokia Russell and Trevor Kyobe helped Cheadle climb to sixth with a comfortable win.
In the night’s other game Vulcan travelled to Ashton Town reserves and picked up an away point which consolidated their third place positon. The game ended 2-2, Scott Lawrence and Ross Trust scoring for the home side Robert Smith and Scott Walker for the visitors.

Dan Whelan
CFL Press Officer