CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE LEAGUE

Tuesday saw a fixture which may well carry some significance as the season draws on. Firmly rooted at the bottom of the First Division, Southport Trinity played host to newly promoted Mallaby, knowing that a win would pull them alongside their visitors and Chester Nomads. Trinity took full advantage of the opportunity winning by two goals to nil thanks to Tommy Hughes and Sam Garbett. As a result Trinity, Nomads and Mallaby are each on eight point having played ten games and are in striking distance of a number of clubs just ahead of them.

On Wednesday Maghull travelled to Ashville intent on securing there six point advantage over South Liverpool at the top of the league. However, things did not go according to their plans and Ashville ran out one-nil winners with Dylan Corrie taking the plaudits direct from a corner 10 minutes into the second period for the home side. Maghull are now just three points ahead of South, but have played two games more than the second placed side. By winning Ashville took hold of third place in the league, nicely placed should either Maghull or South Liverpool slip up.

On Thursday Vauxhall Motors Youth travelled to Altrincham in the second qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup. The prize for the winners was a home tie with Nostell Miners Welfare Youth and from there a chance of playing one of the ‘big guns’ in the first round proper. Sadly Motors fell short at Moss Lane and only had an Adam Hughes goal to show for their efforts as they lost the tie by four goals to one. Motors now have to concentrate on the Cheshire FA Youth Cup for some cup glory.

Saturday again saw some of the fixtures lost due to conference cup dates. Blacon YC missed the opportunity to move up to fourth place in Division One when they drew nil-nil at home to Hale. Cammell Laird Reserves got right back to winning ways as they thumped visitors Upton AA by five goals to one at Kirklands. Danny Dixon scores a hat trick with his efforts added to by Adam lee and Josh Hughes. Luke Finch replied for Upton. As a result Laird’s are hard on the heels of Ashville, whilst Upton will be nervously looking over their shoulders in twelfth place. Chester Nomads were looking to build on their recent improving form when they hosted current champions, Heswall. However it was Heswall, arresting something of a mini-slump who ran out winners. The visitors secured a nil-two win Andy Brown and, inevitably, Richie Foulkes scoring. Ashville were unable to build on their midweek success and move into second place in the league, when they visited Christleton and lost to a single goal from Josh Williams. Meanwhile Vauxhall Motors Reserves woes continued as they lost at home to Newton by one goal to two. Kynan Mason’s goal was not enough for the Rivacre Park outfit with Joe Cawley scoring for the visitors and then the agony of an own goal securing the three points for Newton. Southport Trinity visited Dee Park, home of West Kirby hoping to move out of the relegation placings by taking advantage of the home side’s stop-start season so far. However it was ‘start’ for West Kirby this Saturday as they beat Trinity one-nil thanks to Stuart Jackson.

In Division Two, the top three sides all won, further cementing their hold at the summit of the table. Leaders, Helsby won by the odd goal in five in a keenly contested game thanks to goals from Gary Jones, Carl Rendell and Matthew Johnson. Home side replies from Ahmed Ally and Matthew Millington were not enough to secure a point for Heswall. Manor Athletic travelled to Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves looking for a win to keep hold of second place and, thanks to a Daniel Roberts goal, did just that. Close on their heels in third place, AFC Bebington Athletic kept up the pressure at the top by winning 2-1 at home to Maghull Reserves. Maghull’s Tom Wharton saw his score count for nothing as Bebington scored through Steven Forbes and Steven Scallion. Capenhurst Villa jumped into fourth place thanks to a two-nil home win over Redgate Rovers. Simon Thelwell and Shaun Weaver were the scorers. Ashville Reserves missed the chance to move up the table and challenge the leading sides when they fell at home to lowly Willaston who gathered only their second win of the season. Ashville’s Kyle Kelly scored for the home side but the visitor’s Craig Nolan and Anthony Clarkson ensured that the three points belonged to Willaston. Gateacre Village edged away from the bottom of the league with a fine three-nil win over Prescot Cables Reserves. A brace from Jonathan Deus and a single from Anthony Scotland claimed the win for Village. At the bottom, Mersey Royal secured only their second point of the season, holding visitors West Kirby nil-nil at home.

In the Third Division, South Liverpool Reserves and St Helen’s Town Reserves sat proudly at the top of the table with Hale Reserves on their heels in third place, as the games kicked off. With South hosting St Helen’s in the day’s top fixture, something had to give. As it turned out both sides fought out a really good nil-nil draw. This opened up the chance of top spot for Hale and they took full advantage of the opportunity running out convincing winners over visitors Capenhurst Villa Reserves, three-nil. The heroes for Hale were Paul Joplin, Jonathan Hayes and Stuart Comfort. Rainhill Town moved into fourth place in the table thanks to an excellent six-nil away win at Neston Nomads. Rainhill scorers were Daniel Roberts (2), Mark Ellis, David Monteith, Matthew Dooliong and an own goal. Belfry notched up a good away win at Widnes Vikings Reserves, finally winning 1-2. Belfry’s Mark Brady and Jake Turner scored for the visitors, with Vikings Alex Pybus replying. Kirkby Town Railway won three-one at hoe to Chester Nomads Reserves thanks to goals from Josh Naylor (2) and Dean Kenny. James Turner replied for Nomads. At the bottom, the troubles of Merseyside Police and Upton AA Reserves continue as both lost on Saturday and remain propping up the rest. The Police (Alex Higginson) lost at home to Christleton Reserves (Matthew Wait and David Baker), whilst Upton lost nil-four at home to Marshalls Reserves (Steve Forbes (3) and Danny Connor.

There were just two games in the Youth Division. Maghull Youth entertained South Liverpool Youth and entertainment was the word as the two sides produced an excellent three-all draw. Mark Madden, Liam Wilson and Adam Edwards scored for the home side with David Mee, George Doyle and Alex Walsh replying for South. West Kirby Youth travelled to Widnes Vikings Youth and came away with all three points thanks to a nil-two win through scores from Ryan Duffy and Dan McLoughlin.