3 teams progress to quarter final of Cheshire Amateur Cup

Despite three ties being called off, the 3rd Round of the Cheshire Amateur cup still featured strongly in Saturday’s programme. West Kirby played host to Cheshire Association League’s 4th placed side Crewe FC who opened brightly, hitting the bar after one goalmouth skirmish. But it was Kirby who went ahead when Chris Barrow scooped the ball home in the 12th minute following his side’s 1st meaningful attack. Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Barrow powered in a header following a deep right wing cross. Crewe continued to display their attacking potential but their cause became increasingly difficult as Mike McGraa netted early in the 2nd period and Barrow completed his hat trick from close range on the hour mark. Terry Cotgrave rounded off a successful afternoon for Kirby when making it 5-0 in injury time. Vauxhall Motors Reserves were grateful to Tom Craig and Graeme Davidson for their goals as they edged out Runcorn Town Reserves, 2-1 but Cammell Laird Reserves had an easier passage to round 4 as doubles from Craig Cairns and Jon Atkinson plus a single from Liam Simpson saw them overcome Sandbach United, 5-1. Heswall won 3-1 at 2nd Division Willaston with Richie Foulkes netting against his old club and he was joined on the scoresheet by Matt Johnson and Paul Howell while Peter Rutter hit the host’s consolation.
On Wednesday, the 1st round of the Pyke Cup was completed when Ashville cruised to a 5-0 win over Southport Trinity. Feature of the evening was a sparkling 20 minute 2nd half hat trick by Kyle Birch this, after Jay Clare’s 31st minute long range opener had been added to by Leon Jone’s smart finish shortly before the break.
At the weekend, Hale reduced their 1st Division relegation fears and simultaneously increased those of opponents Ellesmere Port when running out 4-0 victors at Hale Farm. Sean Callard, Wayne Smith, Chris Smith and Chris Piercy obliged for the hosts. Southport Trinity remain at the wrong end of the table after their 4-1 defeat at Chester Nomads who had Kieran Smith,2, Danny Hughes and Dan Lloyd on target as James Doyle grabbed a reply.
It was celebration time at Mersey Royal who chalked up their 1st win of the campaign when defeating Prescot Cables Reserves by the odd goal in 7. Aaron Dillon starred with a hat trick for Royal as Anthony Povall added to the total while Sam Gifford was a three goal man for Cables. Leaders South Liverpool had to fight hard to gain maximum reward at the expense of visiting Manor Athletic who had Aaron Baird netting only to be bettered by an Alex Woodcock brace for South. Marshalls [Phil Pierce, Dan Grace, Matty Lowe] earned a useful point when sharing 6 goals with Helsby [John Coady, Paul Abram, Jamie McCarthy] while a Billy Rice double spearheaded a 4-2 triumph for Maghull Reserves over Ashville Reserves.
There was a shock in store for 3rd Division table toppers Redgate Rovers who suffered a 2-0 home reversal at the hands of Marshalls Reserves who had Kadeem Mekki and Lucas Porquet-Molina registering while Joe Brezzell,2, Paul Cliff and Dave Worsley struck for improving Widnes Town as they overcame Capenhurst Villa Reserves [Damien McGinnigle] 4-1. Belfry [Colin McDonald, Danny Hart] earned themselves maximum reward when narrowly defeating South Liverpool Reserves [Chris Muies] by two goals to one. A Nick Jones double featured as Neston Nomads booked a 2nd round place in the West Cheshire Shield courtesy of a 4-1 success at Merseyside Police.
An excellent 4 goal burst from Sherif Yusuf helped South Liverpool to overcome title rivals Bootle in the Youth Division. South’s 5-2 success also saw Anthony Marlow posting while Danny Loughlin and Anthony Seddon replied for Bootle. Ryan Brooke and Brad Sullivan plundered Ramsbottom’s goals as they saw off Vauxhall Motors [Jack Ledsham] 2-1.