Press Report 12/3/16

Premier Division

Congleton Vale returned to winning form as they beat Garswood United 2-0 away from home. Jordan Erdmann hit home from the spot in the 47th minute after a Garswood defender handled the ball in the area.

At the other end, Garswood were awarded a penalty when Mike Furlong was fouled in the box but stand in keeper Aaron Calvert pulled off a wonder save when faced with a well hit penalty from Chris Francis.

Congleton were awarded a second penalty in the 66th minute when Ryan Reid was fouled inside the area. Erdmann stepped up again to make it 2-0.

Goals from Louis Johnson and Nathan Southern helped Crewe to a 2-1 victory at home against Rudheath Social. The win moves Crewe up into eighth as they leap-frogged their opponents who have two games in hand.

Eagle Sports took a step away from the drop zone as they beat Denton Town 6-0 at home, while Gamesley shared the points in a 2-2 draw at home against Styal. Tom Meachin and Ben Mellor scored in the first half for Styal to cancel out Mike Dewhurst’s goal but Thomas Burns came off the bench in the second half to score and earn Gamesley a point.

Malpas moved back up into fourth place after coming back from 3-0 down to beat Poynton 4-3 at home. Poynton started the game well and controlled the midfield as Malpas struggled to get into the game. It was no surprise when Poynton took the lead in the 20th minute, Harding saved well but the clearance fell to Poynton who tapped home from close range for 1-0. Six minutes later the home team were in trouble when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, only for Matt Toole to hit a half volley into the top corner and leave the home side with a mountain to climb after only 26 minutes.

Malpas started the second half much stronger but Poynton still looked in total control and the game looked to be theirs when they were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute which they duly converted for 3-0.

The breakthrough came for Malpas in the 70th minute when a poor pass back split the Poynton defence for Alex Hughes to slot home with a quality finish. Poynton were rattled it was clear to see and five minutes later a corner was cleared only as far as Kieron O’conner who smashed home an unstoppable twenty five yard strike to make it 3-2.

Poynton still had chances to close the game but good defending and Malpas keeper Harding making a few good saves kept them in the game. With ten minutes remaining, a good move down the left saw the ball moved across the pitch with Andy Morris firing at the Poynton keeper. He saved well only for Danny Lloyd to be on hand to slot home to bring Malpas onto level terms.

Alex Hughes secured the points for Malpas in the dying stages of the game when he finished in style after receiving the ball on the edge of the box. Poynton pushed to the end were unable to react in time to recover anything from the game.

JB Parker Cup Semi-Finals

First half goals from Jack Gregory and Ray Dwolitka ensured that Whaley Bridge booked their place in the final of the JB Parker Cup as they beat Rylands 2-1 away. Kris Bell scored before the break for Rylands but Whaley held strong in the second half to secure the victory.

Mark Evans opened the scoring in the 9th minute to put Knutsford ahead in their semi-final visit to Greenalls PSO. Liam Myers added a second in the 20th minute to give the away side breathing space at half time. The second half saw Evans bag his second before David Owens put the game to bed in the 88th minute to see Knutsford finish 4-0 winners.

The final will be held at Trafford FC on Thursday 24th March with a 19.30 kick off time.

League One

Billinge retained their five point lead at the top after they beat Golborne Sports 6-1 away in a convincing victory. Billinge started the game well and soon had the Golborne defence on the back foot as Chris Fairhurst forced Golborne keeper Darbyshire into making two fine saves. It was third time lucky for Billinge as Fairhurst’s third effort fell to Kyle Ross who slotted home from close range to put the away side in front.

Billinge’s lead was short lived though as minutes later they failed to clear a cross from the right and the ball dropped to Keiron Eaves who finished well.

In the 36th minute a great through ball from Anderson found Fairhurst, who beat the off-side trap and fired home to make it 2-1 to Billinge.

Golborne started the second half brightly but were unable to penetrate the well organised Billinge defence. The 65th minute saw Billinge attack down the right with Bradshaw linking up well with Fletcher, his first time pass split the Golborne defence and put Fairhurst in the clear. Darbyshire was quick off his line but the tackle caught the man and not the ball and saw Golborne reduced to ten men. Chris Cottington stepped up to make it 3-1 from the spot.

With the home team now down to ten men Billinge increased the pressure and five minutes later Bradshaw made it 4-1 with a great solo effort.

Billinge were not finished there as in the 82nd minutes Anderson put Hewitt through with a great pass, his pace left the tiring Golborne defence and beat the keeper with a great shot, before Billinge made it 6-1 with the goal of the game. Liam Roughley's cross from the right ending up in the top corner after the Golborne keeper totally misjudged the cross.

Altrincham Reserves remain firmly in the race for promotion as they finished 2-1 winners at home against Wythenshawe Town. They sit five points behind leaders Billinge having played the same number of games.

Pilkington continued their run of form and climbed into third place as they won 5-2 away at Grappenhall Sports and are yet to be beaten in 2016. They now sit two points off second place Altrincham Reserves having played two games more than the sides above them.

Daten moved up to seventh place as they secured a 5-0 win at home against Egerton in a game that saw goals from Adam Campbell (2) Ryan Hall, Alex Maudsley and Chris Appleton.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

Lostock Gralam moved to the top of group B after they beat Maine Road Reserves 2-1 away in a hard fought victory. Alex Russell gave the visitors the lead following a cross which rebounded off the upright and past the keeper. After the break Maine Road drew level when a smartly worked set piece saw their attacker find space at the edge of the box to drill home.

Lostock found the winner after Charlie Fisher was fouled just outside the box. Fisher stepped up and hit home to secure the win for the Grey Lambs which puts them top of their group on goal difference with two games remaining.

League Two

Unicorn Athletic moved up to ninth after beating Moore United 4-3 at home thanks to goals from James Phillips, Chris Lunn and Edmond Walker (2)

Eighth place Cheadle Town were also in form as they finished 3-2 winners away at Mersey Valley, while FC St Helens climbed to fifth following a 3-1 win away at Litherland Remyca Reserves. Brad Woods opened the scoring for Litherland in the first half but second half goals from Paul Meadows, Adam Worthington and Morgan Deardon secured the points for the St Helens side.

Reserve League One

Whaley Bridge remain six points clear at the top of the table following a convincing 8-2 home win over Daten but Poynton remain hot on their heels following an equally impressive 8-0 home win over Gamesley. Connor Glass bagged a hat trick with Joe Swindells also scoring twice. Lee Broome, Rick Symonds and Ed Bailey also hit home for the home side.

Third place Linotype CHN were held to a 3-3 draw at Billinge as Ryan Sephton (2) and Karl Elias scored for the home team to keep them five points behind their opponents.

Styal continued their run of form to beat Eagle Sports 3-1 at home as goals from Matt West, Matt Clarke and Kieran McGuire moved the club out of the bottom two on goal difference.

Greenalls PSO moved up to fifth spot as they sneaked a 4-3 win at home against Sandbach United. Kenny Mather opened the scoring for the visitors in the 9th minute, but their lead was to be short lived as a quick free kick taken by Matt Burgess allowed Greenalls captain Mike Forest to smash a screamer from 30 yards into the back of Toby Rimmer’s net giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Shortly before the break Greenalls were awarded another free kick just outside the box on the left wing. Ben Warder sent a perfectly timed cross into the net as centre half Joe Woods rose like a salmon to head home and give Greenalls the lead.

Sandbach were back on level terms straight from the restart as substitute James Bettley knocked home the equaliser for 2-2. George Hynes responded for Greenalls and put them back in front on the hour mark, before Sandbach captain Aidan Cox scored a brilliant goal to put Sandbach back on level terms again.

Three minutes later George Hynes finished well to restore Greenalls’ lead as he scored from close range to finish off a crazy fifteen minutes.

Reserve League Two

Middlewich Town sit comfortably in fourth place following a 3-2 win away at West Didsbury & Chorlton A. The home side remain in second place, two points above their opponents.