Round up 28 January 2011

CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE AFL
MATCH ROUNDUP W/E 29th JANUARY 2011

An untimely heavy overnight frost put paid to all but a handful of Carlsberg West Cheshire fixtures at the weekend. In the only Division 1 encounter Cammell Laird Reserves played host to their counterparts from Vauxhall Motors Reserves. The visitors made most of the 1st half running with home keeper Stevenson often responsible for keeping them at bay but Lairds came closest to scoring when one effort hit the outside of the post. Play after the break became scrappy although Sean Holmes almost gave Lairds the lead with his effort just clearing the bar. Nine minutes remained when the game was decided in Lairds favour in controversial circumstances. A linesman’s flag was already raised as a home attack ended with Lee Furlong netting from close range. After consulting with his assistant the referee allowed the goal to stand and following strong Vauxhall protests keeper Dave Peace received his marching orders. Play ended with no further addition to the score enabling Lairds to claim their 3rd success of the season.
There were goals galore as Division 2 table trailers Bronze Social entertained Richmond Raith Rovers. John Garner was the Rovers hero with a sparkling 4 goal display which was added to by Paul Goothwaite effort as their team ran out winners by the odd goal in nine. Gary Baker, Anthony Anglesey, Tom Harris and Neil Blackmore were on target for the plucky losers. West Kirby Reserves and Capenhurst Villa lie just above Bronze in the table and each had to be content with a point apiece after their meeting on Saturday ended in a 2-2 draw. Adam Lea grabbed a brace for homesters Kirby which was cancelled out by Lewis Walters and Steve Morgan for Villa.
New Brighton Reserves had home advantage when facing Marshalls Reserves in a 2nd Round Complete Focus Shield tie. Half time was reached in a closely fought game with neither side able to find the net but the deadlock was broken after an hour when New Brighton defender Antony Corsair fired his side in front. Time was running out for the visitors when a defensive error allowed Anthony Reilly to level matters taking the tie into extra time. The pendulum appeared to swing in favour of the visitors during the 2nd period of added time. A New Brighton player received a 2nd yellow card and from the resulting free kick substitute Kenny Gambo gave his side the lead. Despite enjoying numerical advantage Marshalls appeared to then rely on the defensive qualities that had stood them in good stead when defeating leaders Manor Athletic 7 days earlier. However with just two minutes remaining they were undone when a superb Steve Kane strike came to the rescue of the hosts bringing the scores level at 2-2. The resulting penalty shoot out went the way of New Brighton Reserves by 4-2 and it will be the seaside outfit who will face Runcorn Linnets Reserves in the semi final.
In Division 3 Bebington Athletic Reserves collected a welcome three points thanks to a 2-0 home victory over Ellesmere Port Reserves. Wayne Hulse and Danny Nevin were the men doing the damage for the League’s new boys. Merseyside Police returned to the League at the start of the campaign and they retain their mid table placing after their 3-1 defeat of visiting Upton AA Reserves. A Daley Woods brace spearheaded their success with Tony Hill joining him on the score sheet while Upton’s reply came courtesy of Simon Andrews.