Round up 16 October 2010

CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE AFL
MATCH ROUND UP WEEK ENDING 16 October 2010

Football was once again placed into perspective this weekend with the sad news of the death of Upton AA Chairman, Barry Gaulton. Barry was elevated to Chairman only at the beginning of this season following many years sterling service to the club as Secretary. Barry died suddenly and unexpectedly whilst on holiday in Tenerife. So it was all credit to the club that both sides turned out on Saturday to fulfil their fixtures. Certainly it is what Barry would have wanted. The First Division side won a good point at near neighbours, Christleton as Upton’s Steve Finlay score in a 1-1 draw at Little Heath. Paul Sweeney scored for the home side. Meanwhile the Reserves won the ‘reverse’ fixture at home to Christleton Reserves in a pulsating five goal thriller. Andy Shelton, Richard Deponeo and Mike Bowell secured the points for Upton with Steve Sailes and Jamie Ellis replying for Christleton.

Whilst Maghull were being surprisingly beaten at Mossley Hill Athletic in the Liverpool County Cup, West Kirby took full advantage yet again by Winning at Blacon YC. However the Deesiders did not have things their own way and had to work very hard to secure their four goals to two win. Paul Hughes, Chris McGinn and a couple from Dave Forbes put West Kirby firmly in the top spot of Division One. A brace from Blacon’s Danny Davies will have given the Cairns Crescent side hope that things may be turning their way having collected just a single point so far in the campaign.

In a keenly anticipated encounter at the Helsby Community Ground, home side, Helsby, were held to a 0-0 draw by visitors, and fellow title hopefuls, Heswall. Newton got back to winning ways thanks to strikes from Ben Bennet, Paul Robinson and Wayne Wardle producing a 3-1 win at home to Ellesmere Port. John Atkinson scored what turned out to be a consolation goal for the Port. The woes for Cammell Laird Reserves continue apace, this time seeing last season’s champions going down 2-1 at Willaston. Despite a goal from Alex Bishop, Lairds lost to goals from Domonic Holden and Trevor Worsley.

There was just one Division Two fixture at the weekend which saw Prescot Cables Reserves secure a much needed 4-2 win at home to ‘basement club’, Bronze Social. Sam Gifford, Danny Hewitt, Callum Roberts and Kurt Sherlock gave Cables the three points that took the side out of the relegation placings. Scores for Hughes and Thompson were only consolations for the struggling Bronze.

The remainder of the Division were taken up, county competitions allowing, with the first round ties in the West Cheshire Haworth & Gallagher Bowl competition. A goal fest was expected at Villa Park when Mallaby returned to the scene of their recent mauling at the hands of Ashville. However although Ashville eventually won the tie, it was a completely different story this time around and the visitors deserve great credit for taking the much fancied home side to extra time before losing, eventually 2-1. Dave Rudge and Tim Bigland won an away tie in round two for Ashville at Prescot Cables Reserves. Aaron Baird did the honours for Mallaby. Ashville’s league rivals, Chester Nomads will play a home tie in the next round when they welcome the winners of the Heswall Reserves v Mossley Hill Athletic tie. Nomads secured a 2-0 home win that was far more convincing than the score line suggests, thanks to strikes from Rob Taberner and Kieron Smith. Capenhurst Villa will fancy their chance in round two at home to Bronze Social having won an excellent tie at home to Maghull Reserves in the first round. Villa won by the odd goal in five thanks to a brace from Iain Forster and a single for Steve Morgan. Maghull’s Brad Smart collected two goals, but to no avail. New Brighton swept aside Hale by four goals to one with Kyle Birch (2), Perrie Black and Paul Howard bettering Hales single score through Paul Hart. New Brighton will no entertain AFC Bebington Athletic who secured the only away victory of the round, winning 0-2 at West Kirby Reserves Marine Park. Matty Earp and Graeme Carvell ensured Bebington’s progress in the Bowl.