Round up 27 August 2011

Carlsberg West Cheshire AFL
Match Round-up, week ending 27 August 2011

The third week of the West Cheshire campaign was certainly a case of goals galore in all three open age divisions. Altogether a total of 170 goals were scored in some 42 matches!

In a measure of the progress that Ashville have made over recent months, it was a shock to see Chester Nomads win 2-3 at Villa Park in midweek and end Ashville’s 100% record. Steve Cunningham, Dale Harris and Mark Crossan did the damage for Nomads. The only good news for the home side was the brace collected by the free scoring Craig Griffiths. Ellesmere Port also lost their 100% on the same night crashing 0-3 at home to Heswall (Jon Paul Stanhope 2, Keiron Fleetwood).

This was all good news for Newton, Maghull and Marine Reserves who took the opportunity to leapfrog the early season table toppers. Newton end the week in pole position despite losing 4-1 at Mossley Hill Athletic in midweek. David Lynch claimed the only reply to Mossley’s scorers: Simon Ellison 2, Paul McNeill and Ryan Powell. However on Saturday a turn of fortune saw the Frankby based side thrash Blacon YC by five goals to one, thanks to a brace apiece for David Johnson and Anthony Fellon and a single for Paul Ledsham. Blacon’s solitary score came from Mike Mackin. It had promised out be a good week for Blacon having claimed a fine 2-3 away win (Lee McElmeel 2, Scott Broadbent) at Southport Trinity (Callum Kelly, Ian Morrison). Maghull (Lee Tynan) and Marine Reserves (Jack Booth) shared a 1-1 draw in midweek. Maghull followed this up on Saturday by running out convincing 3-0 winners at home to Cammell Lairds Reserves, thanks to goals from Andrew Edgar, Brad Smart and Sean Robinson. Marine Reserves edged a closely fought encounter 0-1, John Cross claiming the decider.

Remaining Division One matches saw West Kirby slowly but surely get back into winning ways, beating Willaston 2-0 in midweek (Terry Cotgrave, Tom Austin) and confirm their return to form with a similar win over Christleton, this time the scorer was Lee Healey. In what seemed a tough week of fixtures for Vauxhall Motors, they came away with a point apiece at Marshalls (David Powell), 1-1 (Joe Mooney) and 0-0 at derby rivals Ellesmere Port 0-0. Marshalls would have enjoyed Saturday a great deal more having dispatched a hapless Willaston side 8 (eight)-0. Scorers for Marshalls were (deep breath!): Joe Connolly 3, James Nilson, John McGovern, Ian Lewis, Dave Powell and Phil Davies. Heswall consolidated their fine win at Ellesmere Port in midweek with a 2-0 home win over Mossley. After 30 minutes of play where the visitors were seemingly in control, centre forward turned the game upside down with a shot from just inside the penalty area. Keiron Fleetwood made sure of the 3 points, placing the Gayton Park outfit handily in 6th place, just one point off top.

Hale and AFC Bebington Athletic had been setting the early pace in Division Two, winning their first four matches. However, Bebington came a cropper at 3rd placed Runcorn Linnets Reserves Millbank Stadium, losing 2-0 thanks to goals from Lewis Buckley and Jack Straw. This gave Hale the incentive to climb clear in top spot winning an enthralling game at Mallaby 3-4. Mallaby’s Peter Rutter scored two goals to add to Mark Brady’s goal. Hale claimed all three points thanks to four goals form hotshot, Paul Hart.

A similarly splendid fight is beginning to gel at the top of Division 3. Helsby, fielding a side entirely made up from local lads are scoring goals for fun at the moment, so far hitting 23 in five games. Just as importantly, they have only let in 3 in reply. On Saturday Liverpool side, Belfry were the victims losing 1-6 to the men in green their Hillside School home. A hat trick from Jamie McCartney, two from Wes Heizer and a single for Matthew Johnson did the damage. Belfry’s only reply was claimed by Liam Langley. South Liverpool (Andy Tull, Curtis Cummins, Patrick O’Hanlon, Kevin Martin, and a Neil Fisher penalty) moved into 2nd place following their 5-2 home win over Christleton Reserves (Phil Quilliam 2).

Finally, congratulations to former West Cheshire player, John Paul Kissock, in signing a contract with top conference side, Luton Town.