Newton come from 2 down to reach Quarter Finals of Cheshire Cup

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Saturday’s weather affected programme featured County and District cup ties with Newton earning top plaudits after staging a remarkable fightback to come from 2 goals down at Cheshire Association League leaders Knutsford and emerge as 4-2 victors. After 2 postponements on their own ground Newton were forced to switch the Cheshire Amateur cup 3rd round tie to their opponents venue and a 2 goal interval deficit must have had them fearing the worst. However a forceful 2nd half performance saw Liam Smith,2, Dave Thompson and Paul Foy steer the triumphant visitors to a 4th round meeting with Vauxhall Motors Reserves. Paul and Aaron Gouthwaite were on target for Richmond Raith Rovers as they reached the semi-final stage of the Liverpool Junior cup and their comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Sidac was completed by Liam Anderson and Mike Sullivan. Hale Reserves also tasted cup success as Vassili Poza, Spencer Douglas and James Standish obliged in the 3-0 victory over Sandy Lane in the Liverpool Intermediate cup. Three Wirral Senior Cup 2nd round ties were completed and Division 1 highfliers Heswall were given an almighty scare by visiting 2nd Division side Capenhurst Villa. The tie was in extra time before Richie Foulkes scored the only goal of the game for the hosts as the contest was completed with Villa down to 9 men. Local rivals Vauxhall Motors Reserves and Ellesmere Port locked horns at Rivacre Road where The Motormen took an early lead through a Graeme Davidson header. Port fought back and created a number of chances, twice hitting the woodwork before full back Mark Bainbridge finished off a flowing move to give Vauxhalls a 2-0, 67th minute lead. Almost immediately a smart Colin Smith finish reduced the arrears but the hosts held on against opponents whose overall performance deserved better reward. Defender Danny Brookes got West Kirby off to a flying start against Manor Athletic and he later added a second which was supplemented by Chris Reilly as Kirby eventually ran out 3-0 winners. Chester Nomads were made to fight all the way in their 1st round Chester Senior cup tie before eclipsing Hoole Rangers by the odd goal in 7 thanks to strikes by Dale Harris, George Pulford, Glen Donaldson and an own goal but Helsby bowed out of the Runcorn Challenge cup at the 1st time of asking when going down 2-0 at Runcorn Albion. As expected, Mallaby made progress in the Wirral Amateur cup when overcoming struggling Mersey Royal, 5-1.
Highlight of the reduced league programme was Hale’s 8-0 trouncing of Upton AA in Division 1. Before the game, Hale were bottom 3 partners of their opponents but strikes by Sean Wright, 2, Sean Calland, Andy Cashmore, Kevin Duncan, Chris Smith, Wayne Smith and Anthony Gray have lifted them up the table and have added to Upton’s relegation concerns. Southport Trinity now lie just one place above Upton after losing out 1-5 at Mossley Hill Athletic. Davey Smiley, Ryan Powell, Callum Holmes, Ben Backley and Kurt Sherlock were on the mark for Athletic while Eric Woodwood registered for Trinity. Despite goals from Shaun Skillen and Patrick O’ Sullivan, West Kirby Reserves remain in the Division 2 relegation zone after Trevor Worsley, 2, and Peter Rutter steered Willaston to a 3-2 verdict. With no one else finding the net, Lloyd Ithell’s double for Beb Athletic was bettered by Mike McGinn’s treble for host side Maghull Reserves. Belfry moved into 2nd place in Division 3 following their impressive 4-3 success at league leaders Redgate Rovers. Mark Brady, Jordan Stafford, Colin McDonald and an own goal counted for Belfry with David Halsall, Adam Owen and an own goal making up Redgate’s tally. Matty Crank was a hat trick star as Upton AA Reserves racked up a superb 5-1 win over Neston Nomads; he was supported by a Geoff Abraham brace as Joe Tomlinson hit Nomad’s consolation. A Seb Walker double spearheaded a 3-1 victory for Christleton Reserves at neighbours Chester Nomads.