Reserve Divisions start at last

After a hectic August September has arrived and with it the start of the season for sides in the Reserve Leagues One and Two.
Last weekend the vast majority of our Premier Division sides were involved in cup matters and the only league fixture which took place was a 1-0 victory for Blacon Youth who hosted Whaley Bridge.
A goal from XX earned fourth place Blacon all three points as Whaley continue to struggle to find consistency without the goals of injured Sam Leadbetter.
The Derbyshire club sit eleventh with seven points from their opening six games.
In the first round of the Cheshire Amateur cup there were several all Cheshire League ties.
In a surprising upset League one side Malpas FC smashed seven past Poynton as they advanced to the second round in an eleven goal thriller; Lee Parry scored five while Sam Gresty and Tyler Smith grabbed a goal each.
Premier Division high-flyers Crewe squeezed past League One opposition with a 1-0 success over Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves, captain Nathan Southern’s goal the difference between the two sides.
Lostock Gralam also narrowly avoided an upset by beating League Two opponents Mersey Valley 2-1 in a closely fought contest. Myles Wady played in Jack Woolley to open the scoring after half an hour but Mersey Valley pegged them back just before the break by Tom Miller.
Just after the hour mark it was Wady who ensured that the Grey Lambs would be in the hat for the second round and after cutting inside and firing low past the ‘keeper.
Broadheath Central go through after edging out Upton AA by the odd goal in nine; Mark Bellingham, Tom Carr, Reece Davies, Ryan Tolan and Tyler Williams with the goals.
There were comfortable away victories for Altrincham and Knutsford who won 3-0 and 6-0 away to Christleton and Mallaby respectively while FC St Helens also won on the road after beating Royton Town 5-3.
It was successful afternoon for Daten too who made it through to the second round via a penalty shootout at home to Walshaw Sports Club.
Middlewich hosted Old Alts in a tie that also went to penalties. After a goalless affair it was the visitors who booked their place in the second round scoring 10 penalties to Middlewich’s nine.
There was also cup disappointment for Premier Division leaders Congleton who lost 1-0 at home to Heswell.
There were four league games in League One this weekend. Denton, who had beaten Maine Road Reserves 7-4 midweek, made it two wins on the spin with a 3-2 victory at home to Orford FC thanks to goals from Jake Massey, Matty Booth and Richard Farrington.
Vulcan FC beat Ford Motors 5-2 to move up to third, just two points behind Winstanley Warriors and Styal, who were on cup duty this weekend, in first and second respectively.
A double from Alex William Ashley helped Ashton Athletic Reserves to a 3-2 victory at Maine Road Reserves, Charlie Middlemore got the other as Ashton move up to fifth.
In the day’s other League fixture Windle Labout Club kept their first clean sheet of the campaign in a 2-0 home win over Cuddington; two Ryans, Cook and Garvey, with the goals.
In the first round of the Cheshire Amateur Cup Styal were awarded a walkover in their game with Alsager while Cheadle Town Reserves won 4-2 on penalties after their tie against Penby FC finished 2-2.
Moore United were dumped out of the cup by League Two opponents Holmes Chapel Hurricanes, goals from Oliver Hewitt and Joe Clark earned the hosts their place in the second round.
There were also a quintet of League fixtures in League Two which were all won by the away side.
St Helens Town Reserves travelled to Hartford and claimed a 2-1 victory while Knowsley South ran out 1-0 winners when they visited Rylands reserves.
Parklands and Partington wrapped up a splendid day for the away teams with 4-1 and 6-1 victories against the reserves of Sandbach United and Pilkington.
In the cup Golborne Sports took Manchester Gregorians Reserves to penalties but failed to score any of their spot-kicks as they lost 3-0 in the shootout.
There was a cup exit for Winnington Avenue who, despite living up to their name in recent league matches, failed to do so when they travelled to Altrincham and Hale and lost 3-1, not a bad result considering they were playing two teams.
There was some cup success for the League Two sides - aside from the aforementioned giantkilling carried out by Holmes Chapel Hurricanes – Newton Athletic and Duckinfield Town played out a 4-4 draw necessitating a penalty shootout which Newton won 5-4.
In Reserve League One Eagle sit top of the pile after the opening round of fixtures thanks to goals from Lee Boardman and Edward Shaw in a 2-0 win over Daten Reserves.
Broadheath Central reserves ran out 1-0 winners over Garswood United reserves thanks to a goal from substitute James Liversedge.
Middlewich Reserves were the other winners on the opening day, they travelled to FC St Helens Reserves and won 3-2 thanks in large part to a brace from Chris Holbrooks; Keelan Darlington came off the bench to score the third.
Elsewhere Vulcan Reserves and Styal Reserves shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw whilst Lostock Reserves and Poynton Reserves both won Reserve Division Challenge Cup matches. Billinge Reserves and Daten Development are out.
There were nine goals in Greenalls Padgate Reserves’ first game of the season in Reserve Division Two as they beat Crewe FC Reserves 5-4 to go top.
Moore United Reserves are in second after they beat the Golborne Sports Reserves 2-1. In Saturday’s only other League game Parklands Reserves and Broadheath Central A drew 1-1.

Dan Whelan
CFL Press Officer