Press Report 13/2/16

Premier Division

Whaley Bridge climbed into top spot as they secured a 1-0 win at home against Rylands. They now sit a point ahead of Congleton Vale having played the same number of games.

Knutsford were held to a 1-1 draw away at Garswood United despite a Scott Beattie goal and leaves them two points behind Whaley at the top, with two games in hand.

Malpas moved into fourth place as they beat last season’s champions Linotype CHN 2-0. Malpas settled well and took the lead after only four minutes when a header was flicked on by Joe Sumner to Alex Hughes who beat one player and rounded the keeper to make it 1-0.

Both teams looked for openings but the two defences held firm. Malpas kicked up the bank second half with Linotype looking to put the home line under pressure. It was even all over the park as some quality football was played on a difficult pitch. Ash Harrison saw red for the home team on seventy five minutes but five minutes later, a good move down the right picked out Alex Hughes who slotted across for Joe Sumner to make no mistake for 2-0.

Sandbach United came out on top in their local derby as they finished 2-1 winners away at Crewe. Strikes from Leeroy Chakanyuka and Jake Pogson cancelled out Nathan Southern’s goal to move Sandbach above their opponents on goal difference.

Poynton moved out of the bottom two after a convincing 5-2 win at home against Denton Town, while Styal drew 3-3 at home against Gamesley. Stuart Maylett (2) and Mark Reece scored for Styal, while Mike Dewhurst, Liam Redmond and Mitchell Salthouse hit home for Gamesley.

League One

Second place Altrincham Reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by Pilkington, leaving them three points behind top spot Billinge having played the same number of games.

Middlewich Town moved to within four points of top place following a 5-3 home win against Golborne Sports. Golborne opened the scoring after 6 minutes when Middlewich failed to defend a long throw into the box, the ball was pulled back to Scott Walker to place it low in to the bottom corner from 8 yards out.

Middlewich’s first effort of the game came after 15 minutes from centre half Dean Burgess, who broke up a Golborne attack and played a one two with Sam O’Sullivan, before finding himself clean through on goal. However, he couldn't hit the target and dragged his shot wide of the far post. At the other end, an in-swinging Golborne corner hit the outside of the near post before being cleared.

Middlewich equalised on 26 minutes with a terrific counter attacking team goal. Mike Whitehead broke up a Golborne attack with a header out to Dan Holdsworth, who broke quickly before switching a clever pass through to Sam O’Sullivan. He then played the ball into Callum Priestley on the edge of the box who found Dean's support run before Dean slid the ball past Golborne keeper Thomas Derbyshire for 1-1.

Middlewich came out for the second half firing on all cylinders and had the lead within two minutes of the restart. This time Golborne failed to defend the long throw and the ball dropped to substitute Sam Wakefield who drove the ball into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. Charles Masters was called into action at the other end as Golborne searched for the equaliser but turned away the effort from the left of the box.

Middlewich claimed a third on 64 minutes after another brilliantly driven corner from O’Sullivan was headed home powerfully by Evans, again leaving the keeper with no chance. Middlewich were well in the ascendancy now and scored a fourth a minute later when O’Sullivan played Wakefield through on goal to smash a low drive past Derbyshire from the right corner of the box and just inside the far post to make it 4-1. A fifth was added on 70 minutes when Dean's swerved effort with the outside of the boot was saved, but the ball dropped to the feet of Evans 6 yards out to tap home the rebound.

Golborne didn't give in though and pulled one back on 77 minutes when the ball was pulled back in the box and Scott Walker placed in the corner from close range. They scored again on 81 minutes when they broke quickly from a Middlewich attack and as Golborne broke, Scott Walker lobbed Masters from distance to complete his hat trick and see the game finish 5-3.

Maine Road Reserves shared the points with Tarporley Victoria as they drew 1-1 at Brantingham Road. The home side took the lead in the first half when Danny Hulme found Tom Keyworth with a delicate chip over the centre half, he found the run of Connor Bass whose first touch took him past the defender before being brought down in the box. Patrick Walsh stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way for 1-0.

Tarporley left it late but were rewarded for a strong second half performance in the 82 minute when their player cut inside and ran across the back four before hitting a good shot low into the near corner from just outside the box.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

Mersey Valley sit in second place in group C following their 4-0 win at home against Egerton, despite the sides being level at 0-0 at half time.

Billinge sit three points clear at the top of group D after a convincing 7-2 win away at Litherland Remyca Reserves. Litherland started the game well and soon had the visitors on the back foot. Jamie Scott in the Billinge goal pulled off two good saves before Litherland took the lead after 20 minutes.

It took half an hour for Billinge to settle down and looked to take control of the game. Chris Cottington found Eliott Bradshaw unmarked on the right who slotted home to make it 1-1. Minutes later it was Cottington's through ball that found Jon Redmond on the edge of the box, Redmond held off two challenges before firing past the keeper for 2-1.

The second half saw Redmond get his second after powering his way through the centre of the Litherland defence and completed his hat trick with a great header on the far post after a good cross from Bradshaw.

With 20 minutes to go, Billinge brought on Danny Large and it wasn't long before he out-paced the Litherland defence to fire home. Soon after, Large got his second with a great header from Doherty's cross. The home team replied with a well taken consolation goal before Redmond got his fourth late in the game to see it finish 7-2.

The other game in the group saw Daten share the points in a 0-0 draw at home against Moore United. Daten remain in second, three points ahead of Golborne and Moore.

League Two

FC St Helens returned to league action with a spring in their step as they beat Cheadle Town Reserves 6-1 at home. Byron o’Regan (2) Liam Houghton, Paul Sweeney, Daniel Hales and Adam Worthington all scored on a very successful day at the office. Cheadle now sit six points behind their opponents in seventh place but with a game in hand.

Reserve League One

Linotype CHN moved up to third place after their 5-0 home win over Daten. They now sit nine points behind leaders Whaley Bridge but with two games in hand and the sides will play each other in two weeks time.

Grappenhall Sports climbed to tenth spot as they beat Sandbach United 4-1 at home, while Eagle Sports beat Gamesley 5-2 away with Neil Wearing (2), Neil Muttock, Nathan Taylor and Paul Derbyshire all hitting home.

Anthony Bennett bagged a hat trick in Billinge’s 4-2 win over Styal. Ryan Sephton scored the other goal, while Matt Clarke scored both goals for Styal.

Reserve League Cup

Whaley Bridge moved to the top of group C as they took three points in a 5-2 win away at Golborne Sports. They sit at the top on goal difference, having taken maximum points from both of their opening group fixtures. Ben Smith opened the scoring for Golborne but Kieran Shuker drew Whaley back level before the break but before the half was up, Golborne were reduced to ten men. Tom Scorer bagged twice in the second half for Whaley, before Ciaran Heggerty headed home a free kick. Mark Woods pulled one back for Golborne but Ben Naden added a fifth to secure the win for Whaley Bridge.

Reserve League Two

Top side Rylands were held to a 1-1 draw at the hands of Malpas. The points edges Rylands three points clear at the top, with two games in hand, while Malpas move out of the bottom two also with games in hand over their closest opponents.