CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L. MATCH ROUND UP W/E 18.02.12

There was a dramatic Pyke Cup 2nd round tie at Vauxhall Motors Reserves where the hosts edged a 9 goal thriller after extra time. Although opponents Marine Reserves had been reduced to 10 men after just 35 minutes they deservedly led 2-1 with only 6 minutes remaining. However substitute Louis Hughes then leveled matters for Vauxhalls and team mate Mark Winslade made it 3-2 in the 91st minute. The drama continued and Marine took the game into extra time when netting direct from a left wing corner with the last kick of normal time. Early in the added period Marine conceded an own goal, a la Sandy Brown, and almost immediately Winslade completed his hat trick to make it 5-3. A 4th goal was not quite enough for a brave Marine who had Brad Foster, Paul Pearson, Arthur Shinks and Karl Burquest on target. Holders Maghull also progressed to the semi finals by virtue of defeating Cammell Laird Reserves, 2-1. Lee Tynan and Mike Cummins were the home heroes with Paul McDonnell netting for Lairds. Ashville were pushed all the way before booking their place in the last 4 when Jay Clare and Danny Edwards struck after the break against a Chester Nomads outfit unable to find the net. Unfortunately, Marshalls bid to lift the Liverpool Challenge Cup faltered at the semi final stage when they went down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Kingsley.
Runaway Division 1 leaders Ashville extended their lead at the top in midweek when Steve Connor added a double to Matt Cassidy’s 1st minute penalty as they overcame Heswall, 3-0. The fight to avoid the relegation trap door intensifies and Christleton did themselves a huge favour with a 4-0 success at rivals Willaston. John Coulter hit a 2nd minute opener and the diminutive Nathan Mapletoft headed home from a corner immediately after the interval with the win being completed by late strikes from Ronnie Morgan and Mike Jeffs. The form book was thrown out of the window when Blacon YC [Jamie Rogers, 2, Rob Johnson] lifted themselves off the bottom of the table thanks to a 3-1 victory against highly placed Newton [David Lynch, pen[ but Upton AA drew a blank when Andy Barker notched a solitary late goal for visiting West Kirby. Heswall fought back from 2-0 down to claim a point as Richie Foulkes and Carl Diable fired home after Kevin Frankland and Andrew Vernon had registered in the 1st half for hosts Southport Trinity.
Hale are the new leaders of Division 2 having squeezed out 4th placed Ashville Reserves [Peter Wright, Mark Howell] 3-2, thanks to efforts by Paul Hart, Brad Williams and Hayden Carlson. Previous top dogs Beb Athletic [Warren Hulse] went down 2-1 at 3rd placed New Brighton who had Danny McGill and Tom Carroll posting. Mallaby further enhanced their survival prospects as John Hedges, Tom Ashton and Darren Thomas obliged in the 3-1 defeat of Capenhurst Villa [Mark Higham] and Steve McGann and David Bowe were on the mark when West Kirby Reserves enjoyed a 2-0 triumph at the expense of Marshalls Reserves who slip to the foot of the table as a result. Previous occupants, Heswall Reserves, [Rob Applewhite, 2, Sam Pullinger] collected their 3rd maximum of the season when gaining a 3-2 verdict over Richmond Raith Rovers [John Garner, Robert Madine].
In Division 3, leaders South Liverpool were grateful to Kevin Martin and Gary Dunning for their hard earned 2-0 win at neighbours Merseyside Police while ace marksman Wes Huitzer grabbed another treble in Helsby’s 6-1 trouncing of Upton AA Reserves. There were doubles for Phil Duncan and Ryan James as 3rd placed Mossley Hill Reserves eased to a 4-0 win over Ellesmere Port Reserves but 4th placed Chester Nomads Reserves [Mark Stockton, 2,] were on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline at Belfry [John Hughes, Danny Hart, Colin McDonald,2]. Jordan Lorde was the hero as he netted the game’s only goal for Youth Division leaders Maghull against Finn Harps while Runcorn Town edged out Allerton by the odd goal in five and Widnes Town overcame Pex Hill, 2-0.