Press Report 19/12/15

Premier Division

Denton Town returned to winning form as they beat Styal 4-2 away from home. Tony Arnold, Mike Bennett and Ryan Liddle (2) all hit home for Denton while Styal’s goals came from Will Abbots and Ben Mellor. The win puts Denton level on points with their opponents, behind only on goal difference, having played the same number of games.

Bottom side Poynton battled back from one goal down to beat Crewe 5-1 away from home. The three points now leaves them two points from safety.

Rudheath Social moved up to eighth place after beating title contenders Whaley Bridge 3-2 at home. Paul Alcock bagged a goal in each half, while the winner came from Sean Tierney in the 55th minute. Whaley Bridge remain level on points with league leaders Knutsford having played a game more.

League One

Billinge secured another victory in their attempt to bounce straight back up into the Premier Division as they beat Egerton at home 3-0 and the win means they will end the year unbeaten in the league since the season started.

Billinge adapted well to the wet and windy conditions and soon had the visitors on the back foot. The wide men Bradshaw and Platt were causing problems down each flank, but it was the skills of the midfield duo Steve Wolhuter and captain Jamie Anderson who Egerton were unable to contain.

Inside the first 15 minutes both Billinge strikers came close and Steve Wolhuter should have put the home team ahead but saw his effort go the wrong side of the post.

Egerton should have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Wells beat the Billinge offside trap but Jamie Scott in the Billinge goal was quick off his line to save well. Scott came to the rescue again minutes later, saving well from Billingham's effort.

In the 25th minute the deadlock was broken when Bradshaw and Redmond linked up down the right, Redmond’s cross found Steve Bowen on the far post who headed home for 1-0.

With 30 minutes on the clock, Jon Redmond made it 2-0 when Platt's pass found the striker, Redmond wrong footed the Egerton defender and rifled his shot into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

In the second half Egerton continued to press and came close again but were unable to get past Scott in the Billinge net.

In the 76th minute Billinge broke away down the right, substitute Low's pass found Bowen who crossed the ball in first time to pick out Kyle Ross on the far post to make it 3-0.

Pilkington moved up to sixth place with a 3-2 away win at Maine Road Reserves after turning up with the bare eleven and relying on their managers to step onto the pitch as substitutes despite both being the wrong side of 40 and relying on a debutant goal keeper who was an unknown to the majority of the players before kick off..

With only twenty minutes on the clock, Pilkington were hit with injury when their right back had to retire due to a hamstring strain, this resulted in coach Nick Robinson having to enter the pitch, despite not having played for a number of years.
The sides went into the break on level terms in a game that had seen Maine Road dominate but they were unable to break through a strong yet make-shift defence. At this point Robinson forfeited his place in order for manager Ste Palfrey to step into the fray, giving Pilkington a fresh pair of legs.
Maine Road started the second half strongly and were 2-0 up before an hour had been played. They were awarded an indirect free kick in the box which was worked well as Jack Shiels struck the ball, which was saved cleanly but the clearance fell to Sam Barnett who sent a first time shot crashing into the top corner. The pressure from the home side soon resulted in a second goal when Danny Hulme split the defence and put Tom Keyworth in behind the defence before he finished well from a tight angle.
However Pilkington put everything on the line and went all out attack. Brad Smailes brought it back to 2-1 with a brilliant individual effort that started out wide on the touchline and with no real threat he cut back inside and hit a great left footed effort into the far top corner to bring the visitors back into the game and raise their morale.
Club veteran Graham Boyce pulled Pilkington back level in the 81st minute as he used his experience to stay calm during a goal mouth scramble and cooly slot home for 2-2.
With five minutes remaining, manager Palfrey moved to right back and on receiving the ball in his own third, looked up and delivered a peach of a pass that turned the last defender around and landed in the path of the advancing Boylan, who controlled it and despatched it for 3-2 which proved to be the winner.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

Moore United gained their first points in the cup campaign as they beat Litherland Remyca 2-0 away. The group remain tight as Billinge sit top with seven points having played a game more than Moore who sit in fifth but have a game in hand.

Reserve League Two

Cuddington moved up to seventh following their 4-0 win away at bottom side Golborne Sports, while Middlewich Town shared the points with West Didsbury & Chorlton A in a 2-2 draw.