Press Report 10/10/15

Premier Division

Knutsford retained their three point lead at the top as they defeated Congleton Vale 2-0 away from home.

Knutsford started brightly and went close in the first 2 minutes as a Liam Myers effort was well saved. The early part of the game looked to be going well for Knutsford as Evans pushed the ball through to David Owens on 10 minutes but his control let him down. Congleton then countered when a busy Dan Buehler broke free but fired over Stanway’s bar.

Knutsford’s breakthrough came on 17 minutes when Beattie sprayed a fine pass out wide right to Owens who looked up and delivered to strike partner Myers 15 yards out. Myers cleverly curled the ball over the keeper into the top right corner for 1-0.

At the other end, Knutsford keeper Stanway made a great double save from close range to deny Carl McCurrie.

The second half started with Congleton’s striker through on goal in the 46th minute missing an open net. This big wake up call for the Knutsford defence very early in the second half should have been heeded but another attack saw a Congleton header slip wide. Knutsford were clearly second best in the opening period of the second half.

Knutsford improved slightly seeing a Lynch cross to Myers cutting inside but was again denied by a fantastic save from Rob Cook. Congleton were on top as under pressure Knutsford struggled to put three passes together and were guilty of defensive mistakes to gift their opponent’s opportunities.

Richard Smart’s first touch after coming on saw him caught in possession 20 yards out from his goal and Congleton went close again. With Congleton looking the more likely to score starting well in the second half and against the run of play Knutsford went 2-0 up on 81 minutes. A corner that fell to Torbitt was steered into the path of Owens, he cut inside to slide under Cook, giving Knutsford some breathing space.

At the other end of the table, Denton Town won their game at home against Sandbach United 1-0 through a goal from Daniel Hewitt. The win closes the gap at the bottom of the table and puts Denton level on points with both Crewe and Poynton who both have a superior goal difference.

A last minute winner saw Malpas take all the points as they beat Crewe 1-0 away in a very close game. On a good quality playing surface both teams probed for an early break through with the ball zipped around the pitch with good movement from both sides.

Alex Hughes saw a few snapshots saved by Andrew Shallcross in the home goal and at the other end Conner Tinsley was back to top form pulling off a double save to keep the scores level This was followed up with a top drawer, one handed save as he pushed the ball onto the bar and over for a corner. The half continued at a good pace with some quality football being played by both teams and with both keepers in fine form it was no surprise the half ended goal-less.

The second half opened at a good pace as both teams looked for the breakthrough but the defences worked hard to cover any movement. Both keepers were determined to keep a clean sheet as Shallcross pulled off a point blank save when covering a header from Joe Sumner and was quick off his line to force Alex Hughes to lob over. Tinsley was quick off his line to cover a one on one and handled well under pressure for a number of corners.

The game entered added time when Malpas played a passing move that saw Alex Hughes fed a ball just outside the box, he ran to the line looking for space only to be taken down and a free kick awarded. Hughes got up to smash the free kick into the top left corner of the net to secure all three points for Malpas.

League One

Daten moved up to seventh places as they beat Egerton 1-0 away which saw their opponents slip into the bottom two, while Tarporley Victoria shared the points with Golborne Sports in an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Billinge leap-frogged their opponents Altrincham Reserves into top spot as they extended their unbeaten run to seven league games by beating them 4-2 at home.

In the 15th minute, a quick throw taken by Billinge keeper Jamie Scott found Elliott Bradshaw in acres of space on the left. He picked out Chris Fairhurst who carried the ball forward before passing it back to the over-lapping Bradshaw, his first time cross was met by Jon Redmond who headed home to give Billinge the lead.

However, within five minutes, Altrincham were back on level terms as the Billinge defence failed to deal with a high cross allowing Harry Cain space to slot home the equaliser.

In the 38th minute, Joel Swift was brought down in the box by Scott and scored the resulting penalty to put Altrincham ahead but Billinge applied pressure from the restart and were rewarded just before the break when a great move down the right wing involving Fairhurst, Redmond and Wolhuter. Fairhurst continued his move forward and Steve Wolhuter's defence splitting pass found him in space to finish well for 2-2.

The 64th minute saw Billinge take the lead as Wolhuter found striker Sam Denton who struck the ball first time to make it 3-2. Then seven minutes from time Redmond slotted home a corner from close range that the Altrincham defence failed to clear to see the game finish 4-2.

Middlewich Town recorded consecutive league victories for the first time this season as they beat Maine Road Reserves 2-1 at home. Middlewich missed an early opportunity to take the lead when James Dean blazed over from 6 yards out after a good delivery into the box from the right from Mike Whitehead. At the other end, Maine Road put their first set of passes together as Zach Gatward found Aeron Woodman who threaded a nice ball in behind the back four for the run of Josh Harper who got his shot away at a tight angle requiring a good save from Masters to deny the striker a goal before Woodman headed against the upright from a corner to give Middlewich a scare. Middlewich took the lead on 17 minutes though when an enticing through ball from Dean carved open the Maine Road back four and was latched onto by Priestley’s clever run inside from the right and finished emphatically first time with his left foot into the roof of the net from 18 yards.

Priestley then correctly had a goal disallowed after Dan Holdsworth collected a loose ball from the keeper and chipped the ball across for Priestley to head in. However with the keeper out of position and the position of the last defender the referee made the correct call.

Maine Road equalised with a well taken finish on 34 minutes when Woodman received the ball from Conor Kilcullen and went on a mazy run down the left, he danced through the Middlewich midfield before cutting inside and finished low past Masters.

Middlewich took the lead again soon after when Maine Road failed to sufficiently defend Jack Weedall’s long throw in to the box and the ball dropped to Evans who turned and drilled the ball past the keeper.

Middlewich created plenty of chances in the second half but couldn't find the third they were looking for to kill the game off. Holdsworth went closest when he ran into the box and prodded the ball past the keeper, who got a slight touch to divert the shot on to the post. Sam O’Sullivan went close after he made a late run in to the box to meet a cross from the left but again the keeper turned the ball round the post. Evans also had two similar glancing headers that narrowly went wide. The game threatened to boil over towards the end as tempers became frayed but Middlewich had done enough to get the three points and close the gap on the teams above.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

Midweek saw Warrington Town Reserves make it three wins in three in group C as they beat AFC Macclesfield 5-1 at home. Rhys Bowers was in fine form as he scored four, while Richard Allen also made the score sheet as Warrington top their group.

League Two

Warrington continued their run of form as they beat West Didsbury & Chorlton 7-3 away. They currently sit in fifth place, level on points with Mersey Valley but with four games in hand.

FC St Helens got their third win of the campaign, moving them up to sixth place following a 3-0 win away at Unicorn Athletic as Callum Laird continued his goal scoring run with a hat trick.

Two second half goals from Thomas Beech helped newcomers Hale Bank to a 2-1 victory away at Mersey Valley, while Alex Russell scored the only goal for Lostock in their 1-0 win at home against local rivals Cuddington.

Reserve League One

Sandbach United took the lead against Whaley Bridge but an 84th minute equaliser from player/manager Dan Turner saw the away side grab a late point to remain three points clear at the top of the table.

Poynton sit in second following a 4-2 win away at Daten, where Connor Glass, Matthew Tattler, Joe Swindells and Mark Faulkner scored for the away side.

Goals from Howard Clayton and Bradley Williams helped Knutsford A to a 2-1 win at home against Greenalls PSO, putting them three points behind Poynton with a game in hand and much better goal difference.

Current champions Linotype CHN moved up to fourth as they leap-frogged opponents Grappenhall Sports after beating them 4-1 away. Tom Cleary and Jordan Thomson both scored twice for Linotype, while Sam Bruce got the goal for Grappenhall.

Billinge made the long trip to Gamesley without a recognised keeper due to injury so Anthony Higgins took the gloves but was unable to prevent three great goals from the home side as they shared the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Leon Telford between the Gamesley posts was awarded man of the match for some outstanding saves that earned his side a point.

Liam Ratcliffe opened the scoring for Billinge and in the second half Ryan Sephton and Paul Doherty both found the net.

Reserve League Cup

Mersey Valley Development Squad moved up to second in group A as they beat Garswood United 2-0 away to make it two wins in three.

Reserve League Two

Rylands made it back to back victories as they won 3-1 away at Wythenshawe Town. Billy Anderson, Luke McCoy and Joe Thomas all hit home for the Warrington side as they continue to top the table.

Denton Town also impressed as they sit just behind Rylands on goal difference alone, although having played a game more. They successfully saw off Golborne Sports, winning 3-1 away through goals from Will Anderson, Cameron Hague and Gage Rothwell.

West Didsbury & Chorlton A shared the points with Moore United as the sides played out a 2-2 draw. West Didsbury took the lead after just four minutes when their striker rounded Dave Balmer in the Moore net for 1-0.

Moore pulled the scores back level in the 35th minute when a corner on the left from Bradbury found the head of Sam Chaddock to make it 1-1, Chaddock came close again minutes later when he headed goal bound but the keeper managed to palm it away for a corner.

Moore capitalised on a goal keeping error in the 55th minute as Reece Hearne latched onto a loose ball and scored from a tight angle to make it 2-1 to the away team but 15 minutes later West Didsbury were level again as they counter attacked and beat Balmer to make it 2-2.