Ellesmere Port success on 3G

The rain Gods again did their worst leaving the Carlsberg West Cheshire programme in tatters at the weekend. Just 2 games survived, one of which was on an artificial surface. This was at the impressive JMO Sports Park on the outskirts of Skelmersdale which is the home of Southport Trinity who lie just 2 places above bottom slot in Division 1 with Saturday’s opponents, Ellesmere Port, being the occupiers of that bottom position. So it was a “must win game” for the visitors who responded well to the challenge by emerging as 3-1 victors. Neither side had played since the opening day of the month and early play was understandably tentative. Phil Coffin had twice gone close for a Port side that looked the most likely to open the scoring but it was the hosts who were to claim that distinction in the 21st minute when Eric Woodward rose high to head home a right wing cross. Port almost equalized when a Coffin effort from close range struck the post while at the other end their keeper, Luke Picken, produced an excellent point blank save to prevent Trinity from extending their lead. On the half hour, Coffin was again on the end of a left wing cross but just failed to hit the target, however a minute before the break Port got the reward their overall play deserved. Haydn Cooper had a shot blocked but latched onto the loose ball and his persistence was rewarded when he lifted the ball over Trinity keeper Ross Kirkpatrick to level the scores. The home side made a bright start to the 2nd period and Ian Morrison headed just wide while Picken again came to Port’s rescue when reacting quickly to snuff out a goal bound effort. Woodward came close to restoring Trinity’s lead that his earlier header had given them but the visitors came even closer when a long range free kick was tipped onto the post by Kirkpatrick. Soon after the hour the game swung in Ports favour. Firstly Ryan Nicol ran clear and although Kirkpatrick did well to save his shot, the ball slipped from his grasp allowing Coffin to follow up and gleefully force the ball into the net. Shortly afterwards Nicol was replaced by Tom Gould who quickly made his mark when chasing up a long clearance and slipping the ball past the outrushing Kirkpatrick. Trinity responded with Woodward once more coming close while Coffin fired over for Port who went on to claim only their 2nd win of the campaign. The side still remain rooted to the foot of the table but this deserved success should give them confidence while Southport will be aware that plenty of hard work is required if they are to avoid the dreaded drop.
The only game to be played out on grass was in Division 2 which saw 3rd in the table Maghull Reserves entertain Heswall Reserves who lie just one place below them. In keeping with their proximity in the league, the sides finished level at the end of 90 minutes when the score was 3-3. The efforts of officials at Maghull F C to ensure Saturday's game went ahead as planned were rewarded with a thrilling encounter in front of a large crowd at Old Hall Field. Maghull Reserves and visitors Heswall Reserves third and fourth respectively in the Carlsberg West Cheshire League's Second Division served up an entertaining match in trying conditions which saw the home side take the lead three times with Heswall levelling matters on each occasion.
Tom Wharton shot Maghull into an early lead only for Owen Davies to level matters when he took advantage of a defensive slip on the greasy surface to fire home from close range. Terry McDonald restored the home teams advantage but Colin Cunliffe again responded for the visitors when he headed home a cross to make it 2-2 before the interval. Maghull opened strongly after the break and Adam Peterson scrambled a third to again put Peter Nolan's team in front and with players tiring and legs getting heavier it was veteran Gordon Harrison who ensured Heswall a share of the points when he popped up in the home teams penalty area to net with a stunning volley ten minutes from the end.
Maghull's fine unbeaten run was extended to eleven games and to only one defeat in their last eighteen outings but they will not have many more tougher contests than this but full credit to both sets of players for producing a game of the highest entertaining quality when all others failed

If League General/Fixture Secretary Arthur Green has a New Year wish it must surely be for an improvement in the weather as the backlog of fixtures is steadily increasing.. Next Saturday the ¼ finals of the Cheshire Amateur Cup are scheduled with 7 of the sides being Carlsberg West Cheshire clubs. The remaining “outsider” is Cheshire Association Division 2 outfit, and past winners, Barnton who entertain Ashville, while West Kirby host last year’s runners up Cammell Laird Reserves, Vauxhalls Reserves entertain Newton and holders Heswall visit Upton AA.