Heswall Crowned Champions

CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L.
MATCH ROUND UP W/E 27.4.13
Congratulations go to Heswall on becoming Carlsberg West Cheshire champions for the 1st time since 2005. Paul Howell was the side’s marksman in the 1-1 draw with Maghull [John Hastings] on Monday while a Matt Johnson strike and a Richie Foulkes penalty counted in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat of Vauxhall Motors Reserves. It was Foulkes who played a starring role by registering a hat trick as the new title holders rounded off the week with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Christleton. Despite going down 3-1 at Vauxhalls [Mark Winslade, 2, Ben Tolett] on Saturday, Cammell Laird Reserves [Adam Lea] have completed their campaign in the runners up spot. The scramble to avoid the single relegation spot intensifies. On Monday Upton AA’s Tom Fellowes was the game’s solitary marksman as they overcame a Newton side still not mathematically safe themselves and he was joined on the scoresheet by Lewis Denman in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Maghull [John Hastings, pen, Jack McDonnell]. Upton’s 2-0 success over Mossley Hill Athletic at the weekend arrived courtesy of goals from long serving Simon Andrews and Owen Kelsey. The other protagonist in the relegation dog fight is Southport Trinity who were grateful to Tom Ferro, Callum Kelly and Ian Morrison for finding the net in their 3-1 defeat of Newton [Paul Foy]. Despite this, Trinity occupy the dreaded bottom slot having 1 point less than Upton who they visit on Monday evening [April 29th] as they each play their last game!
Mallaby will join already promoted South Liverpool in Division 1 next term after John Hedges led the way by netting a hat trick in Monday’s 7-1 routing of West Kirby Reserves. Mark Toner’s charges followed up with a 1-1 draw at Mossley Athletic Reserves, who 2 days earlier had gained 3 vital points in their battle against relegation when Chris Metcalf grabbed the game’s only goal at Helsby. Hedges was a two goal man at the weekend as Mallaby gained a 3-1 verdict at Helsby while for their part leaders South Liverpool [Cameron Dalton,3, Alex Woodcock2] slammed in 8 goals without reply at already relegated Mersey Royal in midweek and followed up with a 4-1 success at Capenhurst Villa on Saturday. Mossley Hill Athletic’s Division 2 life hangs by a thread after they suffered a heavy 7-2 defeat at Ashville Reserves who had Tom Carroll bagging a brace. Athletic must now rely on gaining an emphatic win at Mersey Royal on Monday and hope that West Kirby Reserves suffer a home defeat at the hands of Beb Athletic 24 hours later.
Richmond Raith Rovers failed in their bid to claim the Liverpool Junior Cup on Tuesday when losing 2-4 to St Helens outfit, New Street. The main issue in an entertaining encounter came as early as the 8th minute when the New Street keeper was shown a yellow card with many on the ground thinking that it should have been red when, as “last man,” he conceded a penalty converted by Paul Gouthwaite. New Street went on to hold a 2-1 interval lead and although Richmond leveled direct from a free kick, a 2nd penalty awarded against them was the forerunner to a 4-2 reversal.
The presence of their senior side in Division 2 prevents 2nd placed Division 3 side Marshalls Reserves from gaining promotion, which leaves league new boys Redgate Rovers and Gateacre looking forward to playing next season in a higher sphere. The rivals met on Monday when Gateacre [John Murphy, 2, Joe Connelly, Kevin Dickenson, Andy Reilly] overcame Rovers [Dave Jones] 5-1. Redgate also tasted defeat when, despite a Dave Halsall effort they went down 2-1 at Christleton Reserves [Alan Bond, Jake McCallum] on Wednesday. At the weekend they returned to winning ways when Paul Learny,2, Craig Blackwell,2, and Sam Corlett obliged in the 5-0 win at Ellesmere Port Reserves who in midweek had Anthony Sullivan posting a double as they surprisingly defeated Marshalls Reserves 2-1. For their part Gateacre had John McGee as a 2 goal man when gaining a 6-2 verdict over Beb Athletic Reserves on Wednesday and had Jonny Deus and Kevin Dickenson netting in Friday’s 2-1 victory at basement boys, Upton AA Reserves [Geoffrey Abraham] 2-1. Even so, Gateacre will need to defeat Merseyside Police by at least 16 goals to become champions at the expense of Redgate who have completed their programme.
Bootle Youth gained the 2nd of 3 possible cup final triumphs when lifting the West Cheshire Plate on Thursday. Although they had to rely on a smart 12th minute header from John Cheetham for their single goal success, theirs was a thoroughly deserved victory against a Gateacre side who battled all the way in a competitive but very sporting contest. An Adam Gaffney strike was enough for Gateacre to defeat Youth Division leaders South Liverpool at the weekend with Gateacre needing to win their remaining 2 games to snatch the title.
The 3 open age divisional cup finals will take place this week beginning on Wednesday [1st May] when Redgate Rovers face South Liverpool Reserves in the West Cheshire Shield at Cammell Lairds. On Thursday, Mallaby and Manor Athletic will contest the West Cheshire Bowl final at Vauxhalls while at the same venue on Friday, West Kirby and Mossley Hill Athletic will battle it out for the honour of lifting the Pyke Cup. Kick off for all ties are 7.00 p.m. In the Liverpool County Youth Cup Final on Thursday Bootle play Gateacre at Walton Hall Avenue kick off 6-30p.m.