Press Report 15/08/15

Premier Division

Two goals a piece from Dave Owens and Lee Manion helped Knutsford edge a tight 4-3 victory over Gamesley. Adam Oakes, Thomas Burns and Mike Dewhurst hit home for the Derbyshire side.

A single goal from Craig Hall saw Eagle Sports win 1-0 at home against Rudheath Social, while Congleton Vale beat Styal by the same score line when Lamb-Wilson played a long ball down the line for Tom Jackson to run on to. Jackson pulled it back for Billy Buckley to drive home from 30 yards.

Stuart Ball and Phil Yuille scored in the second half for Linotype CHN as they won 2-0 away at Garswood United, while Jordan Cann scored an impressive four goals in Denton Town’s 6-2 win over Greenalls PSO with Adam Kay scoring both of the other goals for Denton.

Crewe got their second victory of the season as they won 3-2 against Whaley Bridge. Nathan Southern (2) and Mike Carr gave Crewe a 3-0 half time lead and despite a strong Whaley come back in the second half, Crewe held on strong for the win.

Sandbach United got their first win of the season as they beat Poynton 2-1 at home in a closely contested game. Matty Toole scored for Poynton.

Rylands sit in second place only on goal difference as they continued their run of form with a 2-0 win at home against Malpas who had won all their opening games prior to today.

Rylands started brightly and were rewarded early on when Odi won a penalty after being fouled by the Malpas keeper. Connor Anderson stepped up to calmly place it low in to the corner with the keeper having no chance.

Malpas were battling for everything but Rylands matched that appetite and were dominating possession. With 25 minutes on the clock it was 2-0 when Odi turned on the edge of a crowded box to smash a superb drive in to the corner.

League One

Wythenshawe Town continued their unbeaten run since joining the Cheshire League last August, by beating Penlake 11-0 away from home. Dean McGregor and James Green were both in fine form as they both scored a hat trick. Murray scored twice for the away side, while Fitzmaurice, Walley and Gillings also hit home on a very successful day for Wythenshawe.

A single goal from Harry Cain secured a 1-0 for Altrincham Reserves at Golborne Sports, while Egerton and Billinge shared the points in a 3-3 thriller. Andy Brown (2) and Aaron Best scored for Egerton, while Elliott Bradshaw, Jamie Anderson and Liam Roughley hit home for Billinge.

Danny Ball and Joe Marley scored for Tarporley Victoria as they got their first win of the season away at Daten, while Pilkington finished 1-0 winners at home against Maine Road Reserves. The away side had the first chance of note when Joel Senior crossed to Martin Owen in space but his shot went over the bar.

Pilkington got their first opportunity as they intercepted and played the ball in behind for the No.7 to get one on one with the keeper but Fielding came out quickly and closed him down with a good save.

The 55th minute saw a good attack allow the Pilkington striker to go close but he was denied by another excellent save from Fielding. Ten minutes later, at the other end, a good ball splitting the defence from Sam Barnett found Adam Savill one on one but he hit the ball straight at the keeper, making it an easy save.

With 20 minutes remaining Rio Wilson-Heyes picked up the ball on the half way line for Maine Road and a good run saw him beat two defenders and do well to get in the box but his effort drifted past the far post.

Pilkington scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute when Pilkington’s striker received the ball from a throw and without any pressure he whipped in a low ball curling across the box, Jack Shiels does well to get in front of the attacker but the ball deflected off his leg and into the net, sending Fielding the wrong way.

Grappenhall had the first chance of the game with four minutes on the clock when their winger’s cross into the box deceived everyone when it came back off the bar but the Middlewich defence managed to clear the danger. Middlewich took the lead four minutes later, after a succession of neat passes, Joe O’Sullivan played a wall pass with Evans before firing hard and low past the keeper.

Their lead was doubled three minutes later when centre half Leon Robinson played a ball over the top of Grappenhall’s high defensive line to the perfectly timed run of Dean, who made no mistake when finishing well with just the keeper to beat for 2-0

Middlewich began to dominate proceedings and create further chances. Evans had a good turn and shot from outside the box well saved by the keeper. Joe O’Sullivan’s in swinging free kick evaded everyone and the keeper did well to push it away at the last second, and a terrific team move resulted in Dean cross into the middle but Evans could only smash his volley over the bar.

On 37 minutes Callum Priestley received the ball on the corner of the box, rolled his defender and was tugged back, and although Middlewich appealed for a foul, the referee played a good advantage allowing Priestley to smash an unstoppable shot in to the far top corner.

Shortly before the break it was 4-0 when Joe O’Sullivan played a sweet reverse ball over the top to Evans who smashed a left footed half volley past the keeper in to the roof of the net.

Grappenhall started the second half brightly and Middlewich keeper Charles Masters was forced into a decent save from distance, tipping the effort round the post for a corner. Grappenhall tried to use the wind to put diagonal balls into the box but the away defence dealt with any problems relatively comfortably.

In the 63rd minute, Jamie Garner was able to advance and play a through ball to Priestley, who evaded the offside trap before rounding the keeper and sliding the ball home for 5-0 and this soon turned to six when Grappenhall attempted to play out from the back off a goal kick, but the defender under pressure from Dean, was dispossessed before Dean hammered the ball home for his second goal of the game.

Grappenhall claimed a consolation from the penalty spot when the tricky Grappenhall winger Joe Sandbach wasn't stopped from advancing, and running at pace towards Robinson he had no option but to prevent him going further and giving the referee an easy decision to make. Cody Black scored from the spot to make it 6-1.

As the game petered out, Middlewich scored their final goal when a terrific run by Kyle Wilding in to the box allowed him to get to the ball before the keeper and slide a square pass to Evans for an easy tap in for 7-1.

League Two

Newcomers Halebank have settled nicely into Cheshire League life having won both of their opening games and finishing 3-1 winners away at Mersey Valley. The home side had the better of the opening chances as Kyle Denton looked for an opener but they were unable to make them count as Halebank pushed forward with a strong energy about them.

Halebank took the lead in the 9th minute when a mix up at the back resulted in Kev Dunning taking the ball into the box and coolly slotting it into the net unchallenged.

The Widnes side made it 2-0 shortly after the break when Joe Nolan capitalised on another defensive error before adding his second ten minutes later. James Liversedge scored just after the hour mark for Mersey Valley but it was no more than a consolation for the home side.

Cheadle Town Reserves got off the mark today with an impressive 5-1 win away at Litherland Remyca Reserves. Anthony Kelly hit home twice, with Danny Tolley, Niall Rhodes and Vladilen Simeonov also finding the net.

Cuddington came back from 2-0 down to beat Unicorn Athletic 6-2 at home to earn their first win of the season. Matt Aikenhead and Lee Hendley gave Unicorn an early lead but Cuddington came back through goals from Rob Simpson (2) Nathan Harwood, Ste Snape, Jake Glimond and Adam Bettley to win the tie comfortably.

AFC Macclesfield got their season off to a winning start as they finished 3-1 winners away at FC St Helens. . New signing James Wheeler showed promise when linking up with fellow midfielders Sam Williamson and Jordan Gregory, whilst Lee Malkin and Greg Mathers, playing in a slightly withdrawn role, carrying a threat up front. Malkin had the game’s first chance with a decent effort that was well saved by the St Helens keeper.

The home side struck first, taking the lead when the ball was given away high up the field, from there they produced a lightning-quick counter attack that led to a one-on-one opportunity finished coolly by Callum Laird, leaving Dom Chell in the Macclesfield goal with no chance.

Macclesfield recovered well from this early setback, and the midfield began to dominate proceedings, with some excellent movement and quick interchanges between the four players. Their equaliser came from a slightly more direct source. A perfectly judged cross-field ball by debutant centre-half Jordan Hitchen was brought under control by Williamson on the right flank. Despite being a long way away from goal, he was clumsily bundled over by the St Helens centre-back just inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with an easy decision to make. Greg Mathers’ penalty was struck hard and true, and flew past the home goalkeeper before he could move. Macclesfield turned the game around when Mathers seized the ball high up the pitch and carried it forward before smashing it into the corner of the net from outside the area.

The second half continued in a relatively similar vein to the first. AFC Macclesfield had most of the ball in dangerous areas yet struggled to create many clear cut chances. Attempts by Banister and Harry Wheetman were well saved, before good work by Sam Williamson on his favoured left side, played in Chris Allen, whose cultured right-footed finish was swept into the top corner of the home goal with aplomb making the score 3-1.

FC St Helens pushed desperately for a way back into the game as they hit the woodwork twice with speculative attempts. The most spectacular moment of defending came from Macclesfield’s Chris Coppenhall who had to be alert in order to make a heroic goal-line clearance, after Chell had forced the home striker wide.

Warrington Town Reserves played host to local rivals Moore United and finished 4-1 winners in their first derby of the season. Dylan Glass gave Warrington a very early lead to put the game in the home team’s hands and Moore keeper Dave Balmer was called into action again to prevent Warrington doubling their lead.

At the other end, Warrington keeper Nathan Butler to keep Moore’s Boden shot out of the net. The home side doubled their lead after Balmer had taken down Chris Bandell outside the box. The striker stepped up to take the free kick and scored to make it 2-0.

In the 37th minute Reece Hearne ran from the Moore defence and fed Joe Holton the right. He drilled the ball into the box for Dave Willets to poke home at the back post for 2-1.

Bandell made it 3-1 straight after the restart as he sent another free kick crashing into the back of the net for Warrington and substitute Rhys made it 4-1 in the dying stages as he struck home from the penalty spot.

Lostock Gralam made it two wins in two as they finished 2-1 winners away at West Didsbury and Chorlton Reserves. The home side thought they had taken an early lead but Tommy Walsh’s impressive volley was ruled out for offside. At the other end Carl Harvey smashed the ball into the box with force, only to see his shot rattle the crossbar before being cleared by the West Didsbury defence.

Lostock took the lead in the 35th minute when some fine play down the right saw Max Linaker and Josh Perry link up brilliantly to play in Richardson, he sent a whipped cross across goal for Robbie Jones to poke home on the back post.

The away side doubled their lead shortly before the break when Jones turned provider for Linaker to tap in from a similar position to the first.

West Didsbury started the second half brightly as they looked for a way back into the game. Some good passing between Baldwin-Willis and Fraser Child saw the ball released to Walsh but his shot was pushed wide by Lostock keeper Arron Morrison.

Midway through the second half, Lostock were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box but goal keeper Lomas-Newton pulled off an impressive save to keep the score at 2-0.

Tommy Walsh pulled a goal back for the home side with ten minutes remaining but Lostock held on to secure the victory.

Reserve League One

Whaley Bridge top the table on goal difference after beating Billinge 3-1 at home through a Ben Nadin hat trick. Tom Rooney scored for Billinge.

Knutsford A have also taken maximum points from their first three games as they won 3-0 at home against Eagle Sports. Kallum McDonagh, James Davies and Henry Scutt were the scorers.

Poynton continued their strong start to the season as they beat Garswood United 3-0 at home. Jack Roberts opened the scoring in the 35th minute which was followed up with a second two minutes later from veteran John Thornton. Henry Roberts added the third goal with five minutes to go to complete the scoring for the home side.

Linotype CHN came back from 3-2 down at half time to beat Sandbach United 6-4 at home. Anthony Broadhurst, Ed Hilditch, Josh Wheeler and Ashley Worrall scored for Sandbach, while Jordan Thomson added four to his season’s tally for Linotype. Kayle Power and Adam McMahon also scored for the home side to steal all three points.

Greenalls PSO took no prisoners as they stormed to a 7-1 home win against Gamesley. Ricky Thompson and Matt Rigby both scored twice, while Mike Forrest, Liam Leicester and Paul Molloy also hit home on a successful day for the Warrington side. Perri Bethell scored Gamesley’s only goal.

Reserve League Two

Denton Town remain at the top of the table as they continued their successful start to the season by beating Malpas 3-1 away. Carl Walker scored twice and Jordan Tomlinson also hit home to secure three points.

Rylands sit just behind in second place having won both of their opening fixtures including a 4-3 win at Mersey Valley Development Squad. Rylands controlled the first half and took a 3-0 lead into the break but a spirited second half performance saw the young Mersey Valley side fight back. Goals from Finley Carroll (2) and Tom Bragg encouraged the home side as they pushed for a point but Rylands held on for the victory.

An 89th minute strike from Simon Robinson earned Middlewich Town three valuable points as they beat Moore United 1-0 at home, while goals from James Tootle and Danny Summers helped West Didsbury and Chorlton A to a 2-1 home win over Golborne Sports. Golborne’s goal came from James Wells.

Kat Davey

Press Media and Development Officer for the Cheshire League

07792 072 509

@MissKDavey