Witches open with win at Tarporley

Middlewich got off to a winning start in the new Cheshire League season in a traditionally tricky fixture after two goals from Ed Marsh and a Chris Lunn strike gave the Witches all 3 points.

Town kicked against the wind and slope in the first half but despite this were still able to keep the ball on the floor and play possession football. Mid way through the half they were unlucky not to take the lead when Sam Wakefield sliding in at the back post failed to connect with Chris Lunn’s cross shot from the right. At the other end Tarporley looked to use the wind to cause chaos in the Middlewich box and Adam Morris and Sam O’Sullivan were both called on to clear dangerous crosses into the area.

Middlewich took the lead in the 36th minute when a wonderfully driven ball forward by Dean Burgess was latched on to by Ed Marsh’s run from deep and although his initial shot was saved he made no mistake with the rebound. 0-1.

H/T 0-1

Town began the second half like they ended the first and doubled their lead from the penalty spot on 51 minutes. A clever passage of one and two touch football that went from left to right ended with the ball being threaded through to Marsh whose touch took him past the last defender before clearly being brought down. Marsh got up to take the spot kick himself, drilling the ball to the keepers left giving him no chance. 0-2.

Middlewich now took control of the game and Sam Wakefield should have made it three when he was played clean through but the keeper saved his effort from 10 yards out. However on 69 minutes Town did get a third through an inexplicable mistake by the Tarporley keeper. Middlewich played the ball forward to Chris Lunn who was unable to connect and the ball ran straight through to the keeper. As he looked to roll the ball out to his nearest defender he suddenly became distracted by a Town player and unbelievably fumbled the ball straight into the path of Lunn, and despite the best efforts of a recovering defender on the line, Lunn smashed the ball in to make it 0-3.

Tarporley pulled one back on 75 mins through a free header from a corner but it was to prove a consolation goal as Middlewich held on to claim the win.

F/T 1-3

Middlewich Town: Masters, Whitehead (Weedall), Robinson, Burgess, Wade, Basford (Horne), Marsh (Morana), O’Sullivan, Lunn, Wakefield (Smith), Morris