CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L. MATCH ROUND UP W/E 3.3.12

Saturday’s attention was focused on the Division 2 promotion battle with the top 4 meeting in two crucial games. Leaders Beb Athletic entertained 2nd placed Hale who were smarting from the previous week’s mauling by Capenhurst Villa. A man of the match performance by the host’s Lloyd Ithell saw him register an impressive hat trick in his side’s 3-0 triumph. His first effort arrived after 23 minutes when he finished off a counter attack just seconds after Athletic keeper Craig Aylett had pulled off a superb save to deny Hale an opener. Another excellent sweeping move eight minutes after the break saw Ithell add number two and his afternoon’s work was completed by thundering home a long range effort shortly before the end. A superb fight back by Prescot Cable Reserves saw them replace opponents New Brighton in 3rd place. The Rakers had taken a 2 – 0 lead before the break through Sean Robinson and Paul Lindfield but goals by Ashton Gibiliru,2, Lee Owens and Connor Ellis earned Cables a precious 4-2 win and keeps them well within striking distance of a top two position. Ashville Reserves’ Matty O’Shea was the game’s sole marksman as the 5th placed outfit triumphed at Capenhurst Villa and Andy Kingdon,2, Graham Williams and Aiden Walters obliged as Manor Athletic overcame table trailers Marshalls Reserves.
Despite Lee Welsh netting for Marshalls it was visiting Ellesmere Port who booked the remaining semi final berth in this season’s Pyke Cup competition courtesy of Ryan Nicoll and Jim Cross. The Haworth and Gallagher Bowl final in May will feature Heswall Reserves and Runcorn Linnets Reserves. The former were surprisingly easy 3-0 winners at Maghull Reserves thanks to efforts by Rob Oates,2, and Andy Brown but Linnets [Lewis Buckley,2, Jack Shaw] were pushed all the way before emerging as odd goal in 5 victors over Bronze Social [Jay Thomas, Anthony Anglesey].
Ashville now hold a remarkable 17 point advantage at the top of Division 1. In midweek Chris Barrow led the way with a hat trick and Danny Edwards added a brace as they overwhelmed Ellesmere Port 8-0, having led 5-0 at the break but Saturday’s victory at improving Christleton was a much closer affair when Barrow netted the only goal of the game. Marine Reserves again proved themselves capable of defeating higher placed teams when Karl Berquist, Mike Brown, Peter Donnelly and Brad Foster all registered as they got the better of 2nd placed West Kirby, 4-0. In midweek Berquist had bagged a brace as Marine came from 2 goals down to snatch a point from a 3-3 draw at Cammell Laird Reserves. At the weekend Lairds [Matty Houghton,2 James Kenyon] ran out 3-1 winners while securing 3 vital points at Heswall [Richie Foulkes,pen]. Replacing Lairds at the foot of the table are Willaston [Paul Ellison] who went down 4-1 at home to Maghull [Brad Smart,2, Mike Cummins, Sam Wilkie]. On Wednesday a close range Steve Finlay effort just before the break was enough for Vauxhall Motors Reserves to defeat a Marshalls side who went on to miss a 2nd half penalty against opponents by then reduced to 10 men. Vauxhall followed up with a similar sized win at Blacon YC on Saturday when Mark Winslade was the man on the mark. Southport Trinity [Andy Vernon, Joe Grice, Kevin Frankland] climbed further away from danger when gaining a 3-2 verdict over out of form Newton [Steven King, Ian Smith] and Chester Nomads [Eddie Moss, Dale Harris] returned to winning ways thanks to a 2-1 success at Mossley Hill Athletic [Yusuf Malik].
Alex Woodcock was a 5 goal star as South Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of Division 3 with a 7-3 victory over Belfry while 3rd placed Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves overcame Neston Nomads 5-2. In the Bill Graham Youth Plate 1st round Maghull needed extra time before seeing off Widnes Town on the strength of a 2-1 scoreline, Helsby ran out comprehensive 5-0 winners at Pex Hill and South Liverpool garnered a 3-1 victory over Runcorn Town.