Press Round Up 5/9/15

Premier Division

Styal picked up their second win of the season as they beat Crewe 3-2 away. Nathan Southern and Ben Burrow hit home for the home side but goals from Joe Cooper, Stuart Maylett and Ben Mellor secured an important three points for Styal.

After a difficult start to the season, Gamesley have found their feet and put together a run of form that saw them move up to second place, four points behind Knutsford who have a game in hand.

A hat trick from Mitchell Thomas helped them to a 3-2 victory at home against Congleton Vale.

Andy Whitney and Shaun Alcock hit home for Rudheath Social as they won 2-1 at home against Poynton, while Sandbach United kept a clean sheet, finishing 3-0 winners at home against Denton Town. Josh Lane and Mike Schofield (2) were the scorers.

Malpas sit in third after a 2-1 win away at Garswood United. The away side started well looking to work the ball wide to use the pace on the flanks, with Sadler and Parry making the moves to give the pass option. Garswood looked to overload the flanks with diagonal balls looking to catch the full backs out, but both Maclean and Gibbs were up for the challenge.

Alex Hughes created the breakthrough when on the edge of the box, he held the ball before turning the centre half and firing into the top corner in the 28th minute.

Garswood always looked dangerous at set pieces as Malpas lacked height. The next goal was always going to be massive and the home side took more control with a formation change which Malpas looked to hold out against. Garswood got the breakthrough when a twenty five yarder hit the bar only for Stuart McDonald to follow up and head in to make it 1-1 on the hour mark.

Malpas regrouped and struck back after 66 minutes when good play out wide found Hughes in the box, he turned and fired again to make it 2-1. Full credit to Garswood, they pressed and had a number of corners as they continued to be a threat. A penalty was awarded to Garswood for hand ball with 20 minutes remaining but it was fired high and Malpas held on for the win.

League One
Billinge sit in second place after a hard fought 2-1 win against Tarporley Victoria. Elliot Bradshaw opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when he headed home Ryan Platt’s corner at the far post.

Tarporley Victoria drew back level in the 47th minute through a Joe Marley strike but a free kick on the edge of the box from Ste Wolhuter stole the points for Billinge in the 71st minute.

Kieron Eaves was in fine form as he put four past Pilkington in Golborne Sports’ 8-2 victory. Mike Goodwin, Anthony Smith, Kenny Cooper and Gary Shannon also scored for the home side.

Dan Sisson scored twice for Grappenhall and along with a goal from Cody Black helped his side to a 3-2 win away at Egerton.

Middlewich got off to the best possible start when they took the lead after 3 minutes in their game at Daten. Callum Priestley turned his defender to slide Evans in down the left, he was then able to check back and return the ball into the 6 yard box for Priestley to smash home.

Middlewich doubled their lead six minutes later when more good link up play between Priestley and Evans on the left resulted in a pass by Evans to the back post to the oncoming Marsh to slide home. The away side began to completely dominate possession which was resulting in more chances coming their way. Ed Marsh was played clean through but the keeper saved well to push the ball to safety, and a terrific long pass from centre half Dean Burgess found the perfectly timed run of captain Sam O’Sullivan, but again the keeper got down low to prevent Middlewich adding to their lead.

On 24 minutes Steve Rowlands won the ball in midfield and slid a ball through to James Dean, and with just the keeper to beat, scored a delightful chip from the edge of the area to make it 3-0. Two minutes later Marsh played Evans clean through and although the keeper saved his initial effort, he made no mistake from the rebound with a cool finish.

The Middlewich defence of Wade, Burgess, Yearsley and Weedall were able to cope with any pressure that came at them and were often the starting point for much of Town’s good play. Daten did create one decent chance in the first half, but George Brookes, making his debut in the Middlewich goal, got down well to his left to save comfortably.

Just before half time Middlewich made it five when Rowlands played in Evans again on the left who squared for Marsh at the back post to hit home for his second of the game.

It didn't take Middlwich long to get going after the restart when their first attack resulted in a corner. The ball was whipped in and Evans was on hand to volley in unopposed for his second of the game and Middlewich’s sixth.

Daten got a consolation goal in the 56th minute when Leon Goulden evaded the offside trap to slide past Brookes.

League leaders Wythenshawe Town were put to the test as they sneaked a 1-0 win away at Maine Road Reserves in a hard fought victory.
Maine Road had the first chance of the game when a cross from Sam Barnett was met perfectly by the head of Zach Gatward and only an excellent diving save denies Maine Road an early lead.

In the 21st minute, Wythenshawe almost capitalised as Patrick Walsh got caught on the ball and the pass met the run of No.11 who cut inside and drew an excellent save from the in-form Caine Merrick. Soon after, Joel Senior put a good ball over the top and Mike Carcamo showed good strength to hold off the defender and keep possession in the corner until he could lay back to Walsh, who squared to the edge of the box to Barnett who shot over the bar.
The game continued to be end to end but it was Wythenshawe who got the breakthrough when a short corner was flicked on and volleyed home by Jimmy McCarthy for 1-0.

League Two
AFC Macclesfield remain unbeaten as they push for promotion. Saturday saw them finish 7-1 winners at home against FC St Helens. Macclesfield took the lead midway through the first half when captain Greg Mathers found space in the opposition half and slid a perfectly weighted ball to Lee Malkin who went one on one with the St Helens keeper and slotted neatly into the bottom corner.

Early in the second half, Macclesfield doubled their lead when Chris Coppenhall, made a vital interception on the edge of this own box and found Jordan Gregory who chipped the ball over the St Helens left back which found Greg Mathers. Mathers cut back onto his right foot and placed the ball into the back of the net.

Jack Banister made 3-0 after a fantastic team goal resulting in Banister finding the top corner, before the floodgates opened when Mathers grabbed his second and Macclesfield’s fourth.

It was soon 5-0 when some neat play between Gregory and James Wheeler sent the ball into Mather’s path, he controlled the ball with a deathly touch to Jack Banister, who struck the ball on the volley to leave the St Helens goalkeeper with no chance.

St Helens pulled one back through Rob Marsh after Macclesfield's defence lost concentration, making the score 5-1.

St Helen's comeback was short lived when player-manager Ed Haslam entered the fray and after a good run down the right, he crossed the ball to find Banister who completed his hat-trick. Greg Mathers finished the game off with his third taking his season tally up to nine.

Lostock Gralam also remain unbeaten, sitting one point clear at the top of the table after a 3-3 draw with third place Hale Bank. The opening goal went against the run of the play, when Daniel Whalley’s effort was fumbled by Morrison and prodded home to put Hale Bank ahead. Nick Harvey pulled Lostock level soon after when he rifled home a splendid effort from a free kick just outside the box, leaving the keeper helpless.

Harvey made it 2-1 just before the break when he turned at the near post and sent an impressive volley into the roof of the net.

Early in the second half Ryan Millington climbed highest in the box to power a header home to make it 3-1 to Lostock but a goal on the hour mark from Conor Speed brought Hale Bank back into the game. Tom Beech added the home side’s third with twenty minutes remaining to earn Hale Bank a point.

Warrington Town Reserves finished 2-0 winners away at Moore United, while Mersey Valley beat Cuddington 3-1 away.

A first half brace from Anthony Kelly gave Cheadle Town Reserves the lead at the break but two in the second half from Tre Baldwin-Willis earned West Didsbury and Chorlton Reserves a draw.

Despite the sides being goal-less at half time, an inspired second half performance saw Unicorn Athletic beat Litherland Remyca Reserves 3-1 away. Unicorn’s goals were scored by Lee Hendley and Matt Aikenhead.

Reserve League Two
It was a tough day for Moore United as they lost 5-0 at home against Rylands. Haydn Fraser scored all five, including a penalty as he ran riot to move Rylands into top spot on goal difference.

Middlewich Town sit just behind, but level on points after beating Golborne Sports 4-2 through goals from Matt Cann, Mark O’Sullivan, Chris Holbrooks and Tom Ward. Niall Concannon and Ryan Imison hit home for Golborne Sports.

Reserve League Challenge Cup

Garswood United took no prisoners as they beat Grappenhall Sports 7-0 away to put the first points on the board in their cup group. Jordan Farrell and James Lawless both bagged a brace, while Kieren Welding, Craig Winer and Keiron McIntyre completed the scoring.

Greenalls PSO celebrated a 4-2 win over Billinge, while Cuddington won 3-2 away against Mersey Valley Development Squad.

Eagle Sports made it two wins in a row as they beat Daten 4-2 at home to top group B, while, Wythenshawe Town shared the points with Sandbach United as the sides drew 3-3. Carlton Jones (2) and Mark Doherty scored for Wythenshawe, while Anthony Broadhurst (2) and Ryan Simmons hit home for Sandbach.

There were goals galore as Denton Town finished 6-5 winners at home against West Didsbury & Chorlton A. Carl Walker bagged his first hat trick of the season, followed up with goals from Jack Worrall, Mitchell Hayes and an own goals, while West Didsbury’s goals came from Landen Clarke, Tim Rakshi, James Taylor and James Tootle (2).

In group C, Whaley Bridge opened their cup account with a 5-1 win away at Poynton, while Knutsford A top group D with six points after beating Styal 7-0 away. Jamie Way was unstoppable as he bagged a double hat trick and Bradley West also hit home for the Cheshire side.

In the other group D game, goals from Darryl Parry and Adam Jenkins (2) earned Malpas a point as they drew 3-3 at home against Linotype CHN.