MATCH ROUND UP W/E 21.4.12

More promotion and relegation matters were settled in the past week leaving others still to be decided as we enter the last 7 days of league competition. The meeting of Division 1’s bottom two ended all square with Willaston finding the net through Chris Firhurst and Trevor Worsley while Joe Connelly responded twice for Marshalls. But the result leaves Willaston now facing Division 2 football next season while Marshalls own survival hopes are fading and their encounter with Cammell Laird Reserves next weekend is vital to both sides. Lairds meeting with Upton AA on Saturday was abandoned after their popular player Matty Houghton suffered a broken leg and best wishes go to him for a speedy recovery. Pyke Cup finalists Ellesmere Port kept their heads above water as a result of defeating Maghull and were grateful to Ben Harvey for bagging the games only goal although despite a strike by Peter McNulty they lost out 2-1 on Wednesday to West Kirby who had John Hughes as a 2 goal man. Two days earlier Port had suffered a 5-0 reversal at 3rd placed Chester Nomads who had Edd Moss, Steve Cunningham, Mark Crossan, Kai Stockton and Joe Cossans registering. In other Division 1 action on Saturday, Ian Burrows grabbed a hat trick as Cheshire Amateur Cup holders, Heswall, ran out comprehensive 6-1 winners against Vauxhall Motors Reserves and Christleton hot shot; Ronnie Morgan also posted a treble when they overcame hosts Newton, 4-1. Marine Reserves [Carl Berquist] remain in the runners up spot after sharing 2 goals with champions Ashville [Lee Bridges].
Hale secured promotion to the top flight following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Manor Athletic. Paul Hart had opened the scoring for Hale with Chris Tolley leveling late in the game. In midweek Hart, Brad Williams and Haydn Carson had obliged as Hale overcame Marshalls Reserves, 3-0, leaving Marshalls consigned to Division 3 football next time round. Three wins in 6 days have catapulted Ashville Reserves to the Division 2 runners up spot. A Matty O’Shea double steered them to a 2-1 win at West Kirby Reserves on Monday while a Paul Howell brace and an own goal were responsible for Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat of New Brighton whose promotion hopes were badly dented by the result. At the weekend, Howell, Jay Clare and Peter Navarro netted for Ashville in the odd goal in 5 victory over Richmond Raith Rovers [Mike Sullivan, Ali Birmingham]. In midweek, Bebington Athletic [Dave Murphy,2, Tom Byrne] boosted their own promotion hopes when coming from behind at Manor Athletic [Graham Williams, Chris Tolley] to win 3-2 but then fell from grace when going down 2-0 to Capenhurst Villa [Graeme Davidson, Mike Urmston] on Saturday.
Congratulations go to newly crowned Division 3 champions, South Liverpool. Adam Reed edged them in front in Saturday’s encounter with 2nd placed Helsby and although Adam Hunter equalized for the hosts following a free kick awarded when South’s keeper collected a back pass, Gary Pollard popped up with a late winner for South leaving Helsby with the considerable consolation of securing promotion themselves.
Looking for trophies on three fronts, Youth Division’s 2nd placed side. Lower Breck Boys [Shaun Campbell, 2, Andy Hardy, John Nado, Elliott Blakeney], showed their strength when coming from 2 goals down to win 5-3 at Helsby [George McGregan, Jake Galloway, Alex Hale]. In midweek they had a 2nd half penalty by Hardy to thank for their single goal victory at league leaders Maghull. On the same evening, the hopes of South Liverpool [Brad McEvoy, Own Goal] suffered a set back when going down 4-2 to rivals Hale [Josh Doran, 2, Spencer Douglas, Andy Cashmore]. Jordan Lorde led the way with a hat trick and he was joined on the scoresheet by Danny Hutchinson and James Walsh as Maghull bounced back at the weekend thanks to a 4-1 success at Widnes Town [Will Myers].