CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L. MATCH ROUND UP W/E 10.3.12

Tim Bigland was the match winner as Cheshire FA, represented by Ashville FC, secured a place in the final of the Northern Counties Senior Cup at the expense of East Riding FA counterparts, Sculcoates FC. In the tie held at Vauxhalls, Jason Aldcroft’s charges were totally dominant in a 1st half that was marred when visiting midfielder James Rudd suffered a broken ankle. Sculcoates came more into the game after the break but the hosts still did most of the attacking yet had to wait until the 82nd minute before breaking down a well organized defence. Bigland’s vital finish to a move which hinged on some individual trickery from Dave Rudge, was somewhat unorthodox but the winning margin could have been doubled only for Matty Cass scooping a late spot kick high and wide. Bigland had also netted in the dying stages in a midweek Division 1 encounter but it was all to no avail as Maghull became the 4th side to defeat Ashville in the league, all at Villa Park, thanks to earlier efforts by 17 year old Sam Wilkie and Lee Tynan. On the same evening, strugglers Willaston fought back from 2 down to finish all square with Cammell Laird Reserves courtesy of a Carl Jarrel free kick and a Trevor Worsley strike. Earlier Lairds domination had seen them net through Matty Houghton and Shaun Holmes. Neither side was successful at the weekend however with Lairds [Houghton, Paul McDonnell] losing by the odd goal in 5 at West Kirby [Josh Hughes, Stuart Jackson, Steve Kane] while Willaston [Josh Williams] suffered a 4-1 home reversal at the hands of Upton AA [Si Andrews, 2, John Farrell, Paul Sweeney]. Marshalls [Phil Davies] now occupy bottom slot after losing 3-1 to resurgent visitors Blacon YC [Adam Langton, Jack Pickering, Matty Cross] and Christleton also continue to climb the table after Steve Flynn and George Rogers obliged in the 2-0 triumph at Southport Trinity. The remaining two Division 1 games were drawn with Dave Lynch being a marksman for Newton as Kieran Smith did likewise for Chester Nomads while Ellesmere Port and Mossley Hill Athletic each drew a blank at Whitby Road.
A superb Richie Foulkes strike set Heswall on the way to a 2-0 Wirral Senior Cup semi final win over Maghull whose Reserve side also tasted last 4 heartache when Ashville Reserves [Paul Howell, Peter Wright] reached the final of the Wirral Amateur Cup at their expense, when recording a 2-0 victory. Their opponents will be New Brighton Reserves who had Kyle Birch and Daniel Bancale registering as the 3rd Division outfit saw off 2nd Division Heswall Reserves by the same scoreline.
In Division 2, Hale [Jamie Ormister, Sean Callard, Brad Williams, Ryan Cullen] returned to winning ways with a vengeance and dented opponents Prescott Cables Reserves own promotion prospects with a 4-0 success and New Brighton [Pat O’Sullivan, 2, Tom Carroll, Jake Corke] are back in 3rd place after edging a 7 goal thriller at Manor Athletic [Andy Kingen, 2, Chris Tolley]. Despite goals from Lloyd Ithell, Graham Carvell and Sean Haggerty, leaders Beb Athletic had to settle for a point as Dave and Chris Bowe and Keith Lewis replied for West Kirby Reserves and in another high scoring affair Lee Dermody bagged a brace for Bronze Social as they got the better of Richmond Raith Rovers, 4-3.
Division 3 table toppers, South Liverpool [Andy Tull, Sean Davies, Gary Dunning, Alex Woodcock], won 4-2 at Manor Athletic Reserves [Louis Gorman, Cole Masters] while 2nd placed Helsby [Reece Conlon, Carl Jenkins, Ian Bond] chalked up a 3-1 triumph at a Mossley Hill Reserves [Chris Metcalf] side just below them in the table. Jordan Lorde was on target for Youth Division top dogs Maghull but they had to be content with a point as Adam Collins netted for host side Runcorn Linnets while Helsby [Scott Foran, Mike Whitehead] secured a welcome point by sharing 4 goals with Finn Harps [Matty Shore, Kristen O’Reilly].