Round Up 4 February 2012

CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L.
MATCH ROUND UP W/E 04.02.12
Advocates of G3 pitches were laughing up their sleeves at the weekend. While every other Carlsberg West Cheshire game fell victim to Jack Frost’s icy fingers, Southport Trinity were able to go ahead with Friday night’s Division 1 encounter with Marshalls. Trinity’s second home game on their artificial surface again produced a plethora of goals, only unlike the previous week’s heavy defeat at the hands of Ashville, it was the hosts who were the heavy scorers as they emerged victorious by 5 goals to 2. This, despite Marshalls holding a single goal advantage at the break and then, when the sides were locked at 2-2, Trinity were to be reduced to ten men following a sending off. The morale boosting success lifts Trinity out of the bottom two and came courtesy of strikes by Chris Killen, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Sam Gambot, Carl Ennis and Andy Vernan. Marshalls, who were having their first run out since their Liverpool Challenge Cup ¼ final victory three weeks earlier, had Richard Jones and Phil Davies on target.
Fingers will be crossed that the weather will now relent. Although the majority of sides in the league have completed over 50% of their programmes, some are likely to have midweek fixtures at the backend of the season and further postponements would add to the backlog. Two games are scheduled for Wednesday of this week when Ashville will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of Division 1 to twelve points as they take on the inconsistent Heswall outfit at Villa Park. Ironically all three of Ashville’s defeat to date have occurred at home and the chasing pack will be hoping that their away form will also suffer in the weeks ahead for there to be a halt to the Wallasey side’s seemingly unstoppable title charge. Also on Wednesday, and dusting themselves down from Friday’s defeat, Marshalls visit a Vauxhall Motors Reserves side who will have been boosted by posting recent victories over Ashville and Newton. Marshalls will need to put thoughts of next Saturday’s Liverpool Challenge cup semi final tie with Kingsley firmly out of their minds as they look for vital points in their bid to steer clear of the relegation trap door. They are one of no fewer than eight clubs who are currently separated by just four points in the bottom half of the table and the intriguing battle for Division 1 survival is bound to see many twists and turns before the season’s end.