Weather again curtails programme

This week’s weather affected programme was reduced to a handful of games with the Blacon Youth Club Division 1 fixture v Vauxhall Motors Reserves being switched to the Motormen’s Rivacre Road ground where, earlier in the season, Blacon had suffered an 8-1 defeat. Saturday’s encounter, played on a superb playing surface, saw a quiet opening with neither side making serious headway but this was to change after 11 minutes when Blacon’s Ross Broadbent capitalised on a defensive error to put his side in front. Almost 20 minutes had elapsed when Vauxhalls drew level as Mark Head’s cross was met by Alex Clare who slotted home. Clare almost gave his side the lead only to be foiled by a superb one handed save by Carl Hallal while at the other end Vauxhall keeper, Jonothan Ritchie, saved a Broadbent effort. Vauxhall pressure on the Blacon goal saw Hallal twice effectively punch away teasing crosses and when a Vauxhall corner was cleared, Blacon launched a counter attack that led them to being awarded a penalty which was coolly converted by Jamie Rogers. The 1st half entered its’ final minute and Blacon went close to extending their advantage only for Ryan Nichol’s fierce shot to slam against the post with Ritchie well beaten but in a cruel twist of footballing fate, the ball was switched to the other end where Clare set up Head who netted with ease to take the teams into the interval all square at 2-2.
Early 2nd half pressure came from The Motormen and Kynan Mason fired just wide but on the hour mark Blacon had a clear cut opening only for Ritchie to pull off a stunning point blank save from Nichol’s header. Clare had a shot saved and Christian Banasko headed over the Blacon bar while many of the Chester side’s attacks were falling foul of the Vauxhall offside trap. As the game reached its’ later stages Hallal saved from Clare and Head while Nicol again went close with a header for Blacon. Vauxhalls almost snatched all 3 points when, in the 90th minute, Mason fired against the bar but when the final whistle blew both sides had to be content with a point from a well fought contest played in an excellent spirit. Mossley Hill Athletic staged the only other game in Division 1 against a Newton outfit whose last outing was at the end of December, a 1-0 win over Saturdays’ opponents. On this occasion Athletic comprehensively turned the tables when running out 5-1 winners. Mark Owens, Sean Alcock, Danny Rigby, Paul Pearson and Callum Holmes netted for the hosts with Gerard King hitting the consolation.
Three Division 2 contests remarkably ended in 4-3 victories for the visiting team. Gateacre Village fought back from being 2-0 down at West Kirby Reserves thanks to efforts by Kevin Dickenson, pen, Scott Willis, Ian Lewis and Kieran Owens. Carl Williams,2, and Mike Bowe struck for Kirby. Having dropped just 2 points in 8 outings, Village now head the Division. Dan Smiley, Phil Duncan, Cameron McGann and Graham Grady obliged for Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves as they got the better of Redgate Rovers who responded via Jake Connolly, Ben Holme and Graeme Hill. Spare a thought for Maghull Reserves’ Michael Boyle who netted a hat trick but still finished on the losing side as Nathan Millington, Chris Kennedy, Andy Brown and player/manager Gordon Harrison posted for Heswall Reserves after they had trailed 3-1 at one stage.
Division 3’s top two met at Rainhill Town where the hosts were able to extend their point’s advantage over opponents Ford Motors to 13, courtesy of a narrow 2-1 success. Top marksman Matthew Dooling was again on the mark for Town with Colom Murphy also netting as Terry Keenan replied for Ford. Fourth placed Hale Reserves had to be content with a point from a 1-1 draw following a visit by Christleton Reserves who had Lee Butterworth registering while Danny Murphy plundered the Hale goal.
Ray Condliffe
SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2014 KICK OFF 2-00P.M * KICK OFF 3-00P.M
DIVISION ONE
*CAMMELL LAIRD RES ASHVILLE D. HOLMES A. BAINBRIDGE** M. IRVINE**
MAGHULL HALE D. ROGERS D. STEWART** M. HANSON**
MALLABY SOUTHPORT TRINITY I. JONES H. SMITH** D. GOULBOURN**
MOSSLEY HILL ATHLETIC WEST KIRBY T. MORGAN C. SLADEN S. DOWDALL
NEWTON SOUTH LIVERPOOL K. SILCOCK A. DAVIES** B. HORAN**
OPEN:- UPTON A.A. , VAUXHALL MOTORS RES
DIVISION TWO
CAPENHURST VILLA GATEACRE VILLAGE J. ROGAN
HESWALL RES REDGATE ROVERS K. TAYLOR
MARSHALLS MANOR ATHLETIC S. BOURQUE
PRESCOT CABLES RES HELSBY S. BYRNE
RICHMOND RAITH ROVERS MAGS MAGHULL RES W. KINNEAR
OPEN:- WILLASTON
DIVISION THREE
BELFRY MERSEYSIDE POLICE D. RICHARDSON
FORD MOTORS BOOTLE RES R. BARKER
KIRKBY TOWN RAILWAY WIDNES VIKINGS RES P. WILLIAMS
NESTON NOMADS MARSHALLS RES D. COOPER
SOUTH LIVERPOOL RES RAINHILL TOWN P. SULLIVAN
OPEN:- CAPENHURST VILLA RES., CHESTER NOMADS RES., CHRISTLETON RES., ST HELENS TOWN RES
YOUTH DIVISION KICK OFF 10-30A.M.
MAGHULL VAUXHALL MOTORS J. FARRELL
NEWTON WEST KIRBY R. ALLEN
WIDNES VIKINGS SOUTH LIVERPOOL B. ROBINSON
OPEN:- BOOTLE [REQ]
LIVERPOOL COUNTY FA JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL
HALE RES MOSSLEY HILL ATHLETIC RES
CHESTER SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS
CHRISTLETON Lache @ Boughton Hall
CHESTER NOMADS BLACON YOUTH CLUB @ Chester County Sports Club, Upton AA.
WIRRAL AMATEUR CUP SEMI FINALS
ASHVILLE RES AFC BEBINGTON ATHLETIC
WEST KIRBY RES Wooodlands Santos
CHESTER CHALLENGE CUP 3RD ROUND
Uberlube UPTON A.A. RES