Press Report

Premier Division

Crewe continued their run of good form with a 2-0 win over title contenders Knutsford. First half goals from Mike Evans and George Ward helped Crewe to their fifth win of the season as they climbed up to thirteenth, while Knutsford sit in third place, three points off the top with a game in hand.

Greenalls PSO were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Sandbach United as Alex Lowe and Lee Vaughan hit home, while Aidan Cox and Charlie Livesey scored for Sandbach.

Styal were beaten 2-0 at home by Garswood United who move up to sixth, while Congleton Vale came back from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 at home against Eagle Sports with Jordan Erdmann coming off the bench to score the equaliser.

League One

Middlewich Town moved up to fourth following a 5-0 win away at Pilkington. Middlewich could have gone ahead after 3 minutes when Mike Evans delivered an inch perfect cross into the box to James Dean but his volley went wide of the post from 6 yards out. They did take the lead a minute later though when a Dean Burgess pass from the back found Callum Priestley in space who was able to get to the ball before the keeper before squaring to Wakefield for an easy tap in.

Priestley then went close himself when he took on two defenders on the right before shooting across goal but the shot was narrowly wide. Charles Masters was then called in to action when the Pilkington right winger took on two Middlewich defenders before shooting inside the box, but Masters tipped it wide for a corner. Middlewich’s best efforts of the half then came from Sam Wakefield who shot over from 18 yards and Sam O’Sullivan had an effort saved after a neat one two with Evans.

Masters was called in to action again in the 48th minute when the Pilkington right winger again caused problems in the box before getting a shot away that Masters did well to save. Pilkington nearly scored minutes later when one of the forwards beat Masters to the ball but he was forced too far wide and could only hit his shot in to the side netting.

Middlewich doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Dean latched on to an Evans through ball and lofted the ball over the keeper in to an empty net from the right corner of the penalty area. Dean then made it three on the hour mark. A Middlewich free kick in to the box was headed clear but only as far as Mark Rebbeck who lifted the ball back in to the box. As defenders were running out Dean timed his run perfectly and when a defender misjudged the bounce he lobbed the keeper who was caught out again.

Middlewich were firmly in control now and increased their lead on 78. Pilkington failed to deal with a long Masters kick and the ball went straight through to Sam Wakefield who took one touch before rifling the ball in to the far corner. He then completed his hat trick with four minutes left when Mike Whitehead’s cross was flicked on by Priestley to Wakefield at the back post who finished first time from 6 yards out.
Billinge moved back to the top of the table and a point ahead of Altrincham Reserves following their 2-1 win away at Maine Road Reserves. The home team took the lead in the 20th minute of the game when Martin Owen delivered the ball into the box from a free kick just outside. Andrew Cochrane got up well and headed towards the goal but Jamie Scott in the Billinge net managed to get a hand to it. Adam Savill picked up the stray ball and quickly crossed the ball back across the box to the far post to meet the run of Aeron Woodman who headed the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.

Billinge equalised in the 38th minute when Jamie Scott converted a free kick to make it 1-1 before the break.
The winner came in the 58th minute when Ste Wolhuter picked up the ball on the counter-attack and finished well to secure the points for Billinge and move them back to the top, still with two games in hand.

JA Walton Challenge Cup

The only group A game saw Halebank beat Unicorn Athletic 6-2 at home to get their cup campaign off to a winning start. Andrew Cashmore opened the scoring in the 10th minute, which was followed up with two goals in two minutes from Conor Speed and Dan Whalley to put Halebank 3-0 up at the break. Obi Beevers pulled one back for Unicorn with a well taken strike to make it 3-1 but a second half brace from Matthew Perry and another from Speed put the game out of reach for Unicorn despite a further goal from Anthony Arnold.

League Two

Lostock Gralam ended AFC Macclesfield’s unbeaten league run with a 2-1 win at home through two goals from captain Ryan Millington. Lostock now sit five points clear of their opponents, having played four games more.

Warrington Town Reserves moved up to third following their 4-2 win away at Litherland Remyca Reserves. They sit on the same number of points as AFC Macclesfield and also have four games in hand over leaders Lostock.

Reserve League One

Grappenhall Sports took a big jump away from the drop zone as they beat Garswood United 4-1 away. Elliot Clayton-Priestly bagged a brace, with Sam Shaw and Derrick Okonji also hitting home.

Sandbach United battled back from 2-0 down to mirror their first team result and draw 2-2 at home against Greenalls PSO. Jack Smith and Harrison Bostock scored second half goals to earn Sandbach the point.

Reserve League Cup

Two goals each from Anthony Higgins, Tom Rooney and Ryan Sephton helped Billinge to a 6-2 win away at Mersey Valley Development Squad. Billinge sit at the top of group A having won four of their five games.

Reserve League Two

Middlewich Town moved to within three points of their opponents Denton Town after beating them 2-1 at home.