Richmond Raith Rovers March on

Having netted a bagful of goals a week previously, Richmond Raith Rovers Mags found themselves trailing to a Carl Rendell goal after just 2 minutes of Saturdays’ encounter at fellow Division 2 promotion rivals Helsby. However 10 minutes later Rovers led 2-1 thanks to a double strike by Jay English but in a see-saw 1st half this was soon wiped out when Rendell grabbed his 2nd of the game. Using the wind to his advantage Paul Gouthwaite crafted a 3rd for Rovers but the sides were again level at the break thanks to Matty Johnson’s spot kick for Helsby. Early in the 2nd period English capitalized on a poor clearance to edge Rovers 4-3 in front and despite creating numerous chances they had to wait until the 84th minute for Anthony Lee to complete a 5-3 success in an incident packed game that saw one player dismissed for Helsby and two for the visitors. Rovers now lie in 2nd place behind Capenhurst Villa who were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves who had Jack Shaw netting while Ian Mitchell struck for Villa. Goals by Andy Johnson and Kevin Walker saw Manor Athletic take a 2-0 lead against Prescot Cables Reserves only for their promotion hopes to suffer a blow when their opponents hit back to clinch a superb 4-2 victory courtesy of Kieran Lowe, Adam Ryder, Karl Connelly and Jake Costopolous. A Farshad Parvas brace was the feature as Maghull Reserves won 5-3 at Heswall Reserves [Matt Millington, Iain Colligan, Adam Winstanley] with Tom Moreton, Dave Hughes and Chris Nation consolidating the visitors’ success. In a Division that realised no home team victories, Ashville Reserves ran out 4-1 winners at Willaston while two Ashley Hawthorne spot kicks earned Marshalls three points as they gained a 2-0 verdict at basement boys Mersey Royal. Two in-form sides Redgate Rovers [John Connolly, 2, Brad Sherwood] and Gateacre Village [Johnny Deus, 2, Scott Willis] battled out a 3-3 draw at Formby.
Surprise result of the day in Division 1 saw Chester Nomads going 5 goals up in the first 20 minutes finally beating Mossley Hill Athletic, 7-1. Long serving Dale Harris was a 2 goal man for Nomads as were Mark Chad and ex Upton AA striker Simon Andrews. Jack Delgado completed the tally with Neil McCarthy netting the consolation. Table trailers Upton AA battled hard before going down 2-0 at runaway leaders Maghull who had Colin McDonald and Mick McGinn obliging. Hale staged a tremendous fight back to come from 2-0 down, at which point they missed a penalty, to emerge as 5-3 winners over visiting West Kirby who had Dave Bowe, Danny Brooke and Liam Casey as their marksmen. Peter Doran led the way for Hale with a hat trick which was supplemented by a Carl Latham brace. Hale now reside in 2nd place leapfrogging South Liverpool who were held to a 1-1 draw by a Newton side who took a 1st half lead through player/manager Lee Kissock. Mike Thompson salvaged a point for the hosts. Gerard Mullen, 2, and Matty Elder were men on the mark for Mallaby who picked up 3 vital points from their visit to Blacon YC [Kevin Garland] who they defeated 3-1. Sharp shooting Craig Cairns was a hat trick star for Cammell Lairds Reserves as they overcame Heswall 7-1 at Kirklands. Jonathon Atkinson and Adam Coullis weighed in with a brace apiece as Richie Foulkes hit the reply. Dan Hastings was another 3 goal man as Southport Trinity maintained their improved form with a 3-0 victory over Ashville while Vauxhall Motors Reserves [Alex Clare] drew 1-1 with Christleton [Jimmy Cross].
As in Division 2 there were no home victories in Division 3 with table topping St Helens Town Reserves enjoying a 5-0 win at Capenhurst Villa Reserves thanks to strikes by Liam Houghton,2, Kyle Ross,2, and Paul Cook-Hannah. Ford Motors [Terry Keenan, 2, Liam Sumner, Daniel Tree and Adam Daniel] kept up the pressure by also recording a 5-0 success at the expense of Marshalls Reserves while Rainhill Town stay firmly in contention after Matt Dooling, 2, Dan Leather, Luke Garvey and Dave Monteith struck in the 5-1 defeat of Merseyside Police [Dave Challenor]. Dean Kenny led the way with a treble and John Humphreys added a brace as Rainhill Town [Dan Leather, Luke Garvey] ran out 7-3 victors at lowly Upton AA Reserves [Nick Smith, 2, Stephen Rowland]. Carter Costello grabbed the games only goal as Bootle Reserves triumphed at Christleton Reserves while Kurt Roach was a hat trick hero for South Liverpool Reserves in their 3-1 decision over Belfry [Mike Otis]. Despite John Shaw getting on the score sheet, Neston Nomads were unable to hold on to an early strike by Phil McDiarmond as Hale Reserves whose Colin Mee, Stuart Cornfoot responded in the 3-1 verdict.
Eliot Toner was again on target late in the game for Mallaby Youth who also had Tom Flett registering as they edged out Newton Youth 2-1 in the Youth Division’s only encounter.