Press Report 30/1/16

Premier Division

Congleton Vale remain two points clear at the top of the table following their 3-0 win at home against Styal. After a pretty even first half, Congleton opened the scoring on the hour mark through Carl McCurrie, before substitute Jordan Erdmann scored two identical goals in the 67th and 88th minute by lobbing the onrushing Styal goalkeeper.

A single goal from Ebbie Rezayan saw Knutsford beat Greenalls PSO 1-0 away to remain firmly in the title race as they have three games in hand over leaders Congleton Vale.

Linotype CHN returned to league action with a bang as they won 5-0 away at Rylands. Leon Grandison bagged a brace, while Ashley Harrison, Kieran Hibbert and Nehru McKenzie also made the score sheet. The win puts Linotype up to ninth but they are only two points behind their opponents who sit in fourth place and both have a number of games in hand over the sides above them.

Whaley Bridge also remain firm title contenders as they secured a 5-1 win away at Malpas, keeping them level on points with second place Knutsford. Whaley took the lead after six minutes when a shot just outside the box forced Harding into a save, only for the ball to fall to the feet of the Whaley striker who made no mistake.

On the half hour mark it was 2-0 when a cross from the right hit the post before rebounding off the Malpas goalkeeper and into the net. At the other end Malpas did find the net through Alex Hughes but his effort was disallowed for offside.

Whaley were well drilled and organised all over the pitch and the game looked over when a free header on 55 minutes made it 3-0. Alex Hughes got one back for Malpas from the penalty spot but Whaley finished the game off late on with two more goals to take all three points.

Crewe returned to winning form with a 3-2 win away at Garswood United in cold and snowy conditions. Mike Blundell, Nathan Southern and Matthew Worrall all hit home to move Crewe up to twelfth place in the table.

League One

Leaders Billinge suffered their second league defeat in as many weeks as they fell 3-1 away at Daten. Billinge remain four points clear at the top, having played a game more than second place Altrincham Reserves, while the three points moves Daten out of the drop zone.

Pilkington sit comfortably in sixth spot after they secured a 2-1 win at home against Grappenhall Sports. With a strong wind blowing straight up the pitch it was always going to be a game of two halves and the advantage was with Pilkington in the first half. They found their rhythm the quickest, surging up the pitch and creating a few half chances for Graham Boylan and Danny Hughes.

The home side took the lead in the 28th minute when full-back Jake Worrall pulled off a great tackle on the touchline and the ball ricocheted to Graham Boylan in space who slotted home nicely with the outside of his foot. Two minutes later, Worrall was again rampaging down the left and his cross was missed by the keeper and Brad Smailes scrambled the ball over the line to make it 2-0.

The referee had to pause the game for ten minutes as hail was making it impossible to see. After the short break, Grappenhall found their rhythm and started to get a foothold in the game. A few sloppy mistakes at the back gave Grappenhall encouragement and a quick break in the 41st minute resulted in debutant goalkeeper, Tom Roach bringing down the Grappenhall forward for a penalty. Roach redeemed himself however with an outstanding save as he tipped the penalty over the bar as it veered towards the top-corner.

Grappenhall started the second half at full pace and their striker found himself in space, as Roach advanced the shot went past him and was destined to be going wide until it deflected off defender Dominic Whelan and into the goal to make it 2-1.

Middlewich Town moved up to third as they scored two unanswered games away at Maine Road Reserves. The away side took the lead in the 18th minute, against the run of play after being awarded a free kick 35 yards out. Caine Merrick made a brilliant save but Middlewich were quickest to react to the loose ball and fired it home for 1-0.

Middlewich doubled their lead in the 76th minute when their number 8 found himself on the left touchline just past half way and with nothing on launched a cross into the Maine Road box. James Flynn misjudged the flight of the ball as it went over his head and the number 16 came around the back and headed back across goal leaving Merrick no chance.

League Two

The only game in this division to survive the weather was Cuddington v Cheadle Town Reserves and it was the away side who finished victorious, celebrating a 4-2 win. Damon Lee, Aiden Lovett, Josh Westmerland and Josh Stevenson all scored in the win that moves Cheadle up to seventh.

Reserve League One

Gamesley were involved in another goal-fest as they lost 8-5 away at Billinge. Rob Ablewhite was in fine form as he scored four, as was Karl Elias who added a hat trick for Billinge. Their final goal came from substitute Jordan Corcoran and moved Billinge up to sixth.

Garswood United beat third place Knutsford A 3-2 away to go level on points with seventh place Sandbach United, while Daten won 2-1 away at Styal to move out of the relegation zone.

Reserve League Two

Wythenshawe Town continue to climb the table after beating Golborne Sports 4-2 at home. They now sit in fifth but have five games in hand over their closest opponents.

West Didsbury & Chorlton A moved to within two points of leaders Rylands, following a 1-1 draw away at Mersey Valley Development Squad.