Press Report 26/3.16

Premier Division

A goal from Oli Jepson and an own goal saw Sandbach United beat Whaley Bridge 2-1 at home, while Denton Town continued their run of form and moved out of the bottom two after winning 4-1 at home against Crewe. Tom Bane, Tom Murray and Vinnie Braine (2) all helped push Denton to safety with their goals.

Linotype CHN remain in with a chance of silverware after beating Greenalls PSO 2-1 at home. They remain eight points behind leaders Knutsford with two games in hand but have four and six games in hand over the sides in second and third place, Whaley Bridge and Congleton Vale respectively.

Congleton came back from 2-0 down at home against Garswood United to finish the game on level terms at 2-2. Tom Jackson headed home a George Sutcliffe free kick in the 47th minute, before Ryan Reid sent a cross forward for Richie Booth to drive a shot into the net from 20 yards in the 88th minute to earn Congleton a point.

Rudheath Social shared the points with Eagle Sports in an uneventful 0-0 draw, while goals from Nick Challinor and Andy Hurst helped Poynton to a 2-0 win over local rivals Styal.

Rylands overcame torrid footballing conditions and a hard working Gamesley to score a 2-0 victory on Saturday thanks to a brace from Matt Ball. With the strong wind behind them, Rylands started quickly, looking to turn the Gamesley full backs at the earliest opportunity. It took just 3 minutes for the blues to come close, with Greg Freeman flicking Mike Southern’s cross narrowly past the far post with the Gamesley keeper beaten.

As Rylands flooded forward, Gamesley hit on the break on 18 minutes, but the number 11 could only fire wide of Gareth Powell’s goal when well placed. Rylands came close to opening the scoring on 25 minutes when Stephen Latham’s volley from Southern’s corner was cleared off the line, before Calum Wilson’s goal-bound drive was blocked by the brave Gamesley defender.

Rylands took the lead after 43 minutes when Matt Ball latched on to a ball in behind the Gamesley left-back, firing low on the angle from just inside the area in to the bottom corner to score his first goal in a Rylands shirt.

The conditions took a turn for the worst in the second half, with torrential rain joining the fierce winds blowing from the railway end and both sides understandably struggled to keep hold of the ball. It took until the 70th minute for the game to spring to life and Gamesley again hit on the break, and Powell was forced in to a fabulous reaction save down to his right when found one-on-one with the Gamesley striker.

The home side went straight on the counter and Ball went on a mazy run from right back, coming inside and beating almost the entire Gamesley team single handedly, before cooly finishing in to the bottom right corner to double the advantage.

League leaders Knutsford were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Malpas. On a first class playing surface it was clear early on that both teams were looking to get the ball down and play, but a strong wind cutting right across the pitch made it difficult. Knutsford had the wind first half and right from kick off moved the ball well, keeping the away team on their toes and when given space, Knutsford saw two shots go just wide with Tinsley scampering across his line.

At the other end Hailes was causing problems down the Malpas left with Hughes making some great runs in between the centre halves. Knutsford were on top in midfield but Malpas got the break through when Hughes picked up a stray defensive pass and rounded the Knutsford keeper to put Malpas in front after 25 minutes.

Moments later Hughes and Hailes did well down the left only for Hailes to see his shot go wide of the post, at the other end Tinsley was in action with two quality saves and watching a shot come back off the crossbar.

Three minutes into the second half, Dean Warburton was given space and he fired home to bring Knutsford back level. On the hour mark, Alex Hughes received the ball at the edge of the box and cut inside with great footwork before being brought down. He got up and made no mistake from the spot for 2-1.

Knutsford pushed on and had a number of corners as well as seeing a shot hit the post. Late in the game both teams were taken off the pitch due to heavy rain fall making it impossible to see the ball or players. From the restart Malpas got pinned in and from a corner Steven Jenyons found himself unmarked to beat Tinsley to the ball with a good header on eighty minutes to make it 2-2.

League One

Middlewich entertained Billinge as the sides met for the second time in two weeks and the league leaders Billinge looked to avenge last week’s defeat.

Middlewich played against a very strong wind in the first half but took the lead with the first chance of the match in the 10th minute. James Dean collected the ball just inside the Billinge half and was allowed to travel before passing out wide to Holdsworth. As he shaped to cross, he dummied the defender and pulled back for Dean to slide the ball past the keeper from close range.

Chances were few and far between as both teams battled against the wind, Middlewich were struggling to get out of their own half and Billinge seemed to keep over hitting passes that were going out of play.

In the 47th minute, Holdsworth cut in from the right and bent a shot to the far post and with the keeper stranded the ball came back off the inside of the post. Two minutes later, Billinge levelled as the home side lost possession on the half way line and as the players appealed for a free kick the ball was threaded through to Liam Roughley who slid the ball past Masters from just outside the box.

The weather again took a turn for the worse, as the heavens opened making it more difficult for the players. Billinge came forward again and Roughley cut in from the right and shot from distance but it was straight in to Masters’ hands.

Middlewich regained the lead on 59 minutes when Callum Priestley played a one two with Dean on the right and his low cross into the box was missed by a Billinge defender leaving Dan Holdsworth with a tap in from two yards.

At the other end, Masters was called in to action when Billinge counter attacked but he saved on the edge of the box. On 64 minutes Billinge levelled again as Chris Cottington then curled an unstoppable effort round the wall from 30 yards out and in to the top right corner leaving Masters with no chance. The rain got worse and both teams went for the winner but both defences held out well keeping chances to a minimum.

Wythenshawe Town continued their climb up the table as they beat Golborne Sports 4-0 at home. Antonio Din Chin came off the bench to score twice, while Osebi Abadaki and James Green also found the net to move their side eight points behind leaders Billinge with four games in hand.

Grappenhall Sports moved out of the bottom two with an important 3-2 home win over local rivals Daten. Sam Bruce bagged a brace with Andrew Ball also scoring in a victory that puts Grappenhall level on points with their opponents with two games in hand.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

FC St Helens moved to the top of group B after they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Maine Road Reserves.
The home side took the lead after 4 minutes when the ball was crossed in behind the Maine Road centre halves as Paul Sweeney connected well with a good volley. A superb save by Caine Merrick denied the Sweeney but Liam Houghton reacted quicker than the defence and slotted home the rebound for 1-0.

The first 30 minutes saw Maine Road struggle to settle and get into the game, FC St Helens closed down well but never took advantage of the possession and failed to test keeper Merrick as the back four defended well.

Maine Road drew level in the 52nd minute with a good passage of football from the back as Mike McKeown found Aeron Woodman, he picked out Patrick Walsh and sent a good ball in behind for Matthew Morgan to slot past the keeper for 1-1.

The away side make it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute when Calum Broady calmly hit home to put Maine Road ahead. Four minutes later, Callum Laird intercepted a pass from the back and slotted home to pull the home side back level.

In the 73rd minute the home side were back in front as Liam Houghton bagged his second of the game, beating his man to head home from a free kick. Maine Road were not to be beaten and drew level again with six minutes remaining when Tom Keyworth whipped in a low cross and picked out Liam Turner running towards the far post, he finished well first time to secure a point for the away side.

Tarporley Victoria scored three unanswered goals as they beat Pilkington 3-0. Sam Lloyd (2) and Max Owen were the scorers and the victory means that Vics could still qualify for the knockout stages if they win their remaining game against Egerton. Three points would mean they qualify on goal difference and go through with leaders Warrington Town Reserves.

League Two

Halebank caused an upset as they beat Warrington Town Reserves 3-0 at home, defender Lee Marshall scored either side of half time while Nick Ellis came off the bench to score with eight minutes remaining. Although Halebank currently sit in sixth spot, they are eighteen points behind leaders AFC Macclesfield with six games in hand and can still boast only one league defeat this season.

AFC Macclesfield sit six points clear at the top of the table after beating Moore United 2-0 away from home. With barely a minute on the clock, Moore had their first chance of the game when a long ball from the back was misjudged by the Macclesfield back line and the Moore front man collected the ball to go one on one with Macclesfield keeper. Chell was quick to react and turned the ball around the post for a corner.

Macclesfield's first chance of the game fell to Matt Horton. With superb link up play, he found himself free in a crowded penalty area and got his shot away but the keeper made the save. The ball fell to Horton again but once again, the keeper saved.

Macclesfield started to dominate the game. Midfielders Sam Williamson and Jonny Cavanagh were dictating the play and with forty minutes on the clock, Cavanagh played a superb through ball to skipper Greg Mathers who let fly from the edge of the box and found the bottom corner of the Moore net, leaving the keeper no chance.

After the break, Macclesfield pushed for the second but with the conditions worsening, it became difficult for both teams to play football. On the hour mark, Macclesfield made it 2-0 when Jack Banister beat the offside trap to go one on one with the on rushing Moore keeper, Banister delicately chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Lostock Gralam kept up the pressure on the leaders as they beat Unicorn Athletic 4-0 away from home despite the sides going into the break on level terms. Lostock look the lead on the hour mark when Reid was fouled in the penalty area. He stepped up and coolly converted from the spot.

At this point, the rain began and as conditions worsened, Dean Jones smashed an effort off the bar before adding to the visiting advantage when Charlie Fisher's determined work retrieved the ball and played in Jones to slot home. Moments later Fisher found the net himself smashing home in fine fashion for 3-0 after a Unicorn lapse at the back.

With 19minutes to go the referee halted proceedings as the rain was relentless and horizontal. Eventually the game was re started and Lostock added a fourth in the 88th minute when a sloppy pass was snatched by Fisher to intercept and race through. He unselfishly rounded the keeper and played a square ball to Reid who made no mistake in rolling the ball home.

Reserve League One

Whaley Bridge continued their run of form with a 5-2 home win over Linotype CHN. Whaley raced into a three goal lead through a brace from Alex Airey and one from Tom Scorer but Linotype battled back with two goals from Jordan Thompson but Scorer added another two to his tally to see Whaley finish 5-2 winners.

Poynton returned to winning form as they beat local rivals Styal 1-0 in a hard fought battle. There were little chances at either end in the first half as the sides battled through the midfield but Styal were reduced to ten men mid-way through the second half which increased the pressure on the away side.

Styal brought fresh legs on for the second half with the introduction of Kieran Macguire who made an instant impact with a mazy run at the Poynton defence only to see his shot tipped over by a wonderful save by the Poynton keeper. Even with ten men Styal were looking the most likely side to score, trying to play football on a difficult pitch.
Poynton were trying to catch Styal on the counter attack, and it took a wonder strike from the edge of the Styal penalty area from substitute Kyle Woodward to break the deadlock and give Poynton the lead.

More substitutes for Styal couldn't create an equaliser and saw only one speculative strike from Joe Swindells from range which brought out a good save from Alan Osborne in the Styal goal, potentially his only save of the game.
Knutsford A were in form again as they beat Garswood United 5-2 away from home. Matt Schofield bagged a second half hat trick with Jamie Way and Bradley West also finding the net.

Sam Mulryan scored twice along with goals from Aaron Woods and Jamie Redmond as Gamesley shared the points with Greenalls PSO in a 4-4 draw, while Eagle Sports and Billinge played out a 0-0 draw.

Daten beat Grappenhall Sports 2-0 as they look to move out of the relegation zone, they now sit level on points with Styal but remain in the drop zone on goal difference.

Reserve League Two

West Didsbury and Chorlton A moved level on points with league leaders Rylands following their 4-3 win away at Golborne Sports, while goals from Dave Balmer and Sam Howard helped Moore United to a 2-0 win away at Malpas.