Round Up 3 December 2011

WEST CHESHIRE AFL, LEAGUE ROUND-UP, SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2011

The weather took something of a toll at the weekend with the heavy rain leading to some postponements and the abandonment of the South Liverpool Runcorn Town Youth Division game after 48 minutes because of 15 minutes of torrential rain rendering the playing surface to look like a water obstacle course. The match started on a pretty wet pitch which initially played well but then for fifteen minutes before half time the heavens opened. Only minutes into the second-half two different players, in separate incidents pleaded with referee, Jack Blakemore to abandon the match as they could no longer keep their shorts up! Jack soon realised that the tropical rainstorm had made their shorts so sodden over a period of about fifteen to twenty minutes that they became so heavy and were simply dropping down as the players ran! Fortunately, with the score at nil-nil, everyone accepted the inevitability of the abandonment because of the waterlogged conditions.

In the games that did start and finish, Division One had a shortened fixture list due to second round ties in the Wirral District FA Senior Cup. There were no surprises at Villa Park as Ashville eased past Willaston 2-0. Tim Bigland and Chris Barrow scored for the home side. Great credit went to Cammell Laird Reserves who pushed host, Maghull all the way before finally succumbing 1-2. Laird’s Kris Hesketh’s goal was not enough to cancel out scores from the Brad Smart and Paul Kennan. New Brighton won a hard fought encounter 3-1 when they entertained Manor Athletic. The Harrison Park outfit’s Mike McGrath, Andrew Koo and Sean Kelly ensured that the ‘Latics Kyle Smith’s goal would only be a consolation. The final tie saw a convincing away for Heswall at Vauxhall Motors Rivacre Park, 1-3, thanks to goals from Matty Johnson, Carl Diable and Domonic Holden. The Motormen were disappointed that they only managed one strike through Mark Winslade.

In Division One the game that caught the eye was the local derby at Millcroft were Newton hosted near-neighbours, West Kirby. West Kirby have had an indifferent season by their high standards following a mass departure of players in the close season So Newton would have fancied their chances of recording a home win, further strengthening their claims for top spot. So home sans would have been encouraged as Newton took the early initiative. Then, on 28 minutes, and quite against the run of play, a corner was awarded to the visitors. The ensuing cross seemed to have missed all the players until it fell to Danny Povall who drove the home through a ruck of players. However Newton soon got the game back on level terms as Paul Rudkin made a penetrating run down the left wing before cutting in to score. As the second half got under it seemed that things were finally going the home side’s way when Dave Thompson lobbed the goalkeeper from distance to put Newton in front. However Newton’s hopes were to be thwarted when a deep cross found the visitor’s Lewis McNally who gleefully headed home to claim a point for West Kirby. Mossley Hill Athletic continued their impressive debut season in the top tier with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Ellesmere Port. A brace for Yusuf Malik added to goals from Paul Lamb and John Daly to deal with the visitors, whose only reply came from Mark Jones. Marshalls, equally well placed in the league, saw of the challenge of Southport Trinity by three goals to one. Sam Garrett scored the visitors only goal in reply to scores from Marshalls Ollie Roberts, Joe Connolly and Jay Nilsen. Scoring achievement of the day went to Chester Nomads Kieron Smith who claimed a hat-trick in Nomads convincing 3-1 home win over Marine Reserves. John Cross’s goal for the Crosby side would have given scant consolation.
In the game of the day in Division Two, table topping AFC Bebington Athletic secured a home win over second placed Ashville Reserves, 2-1, to stretch their lead at the top to eight points. Notwithstanding that they have played three games more than the visitors, the ‘Latics will have high hopes of reaching Division One next season. Two goals from Lloyd Ithell claimed all three points for the home side with Lee Forsythe replying for the visitors.