Round Up 05 March 2011

WEST CHESHIRE REPORT WEEKENDING 5 MARCH 2011
Midweek saw the rearranged Division One fixture between Vauxhall Motors and Willaston take place, although the visitors would have preferred otherwise. Vauxhall ran home winners by five goals to one thanks to the efforts of Olanrewannu Giwi, Jordan Brierley, Anthony Ashton and two from Phil Coffin. Willaston’s solitary consolation was claimed by Marc Bentley.
With just eight games to go for table toppers, Maghull were keen to take all three points from the visit of Blacon Youth Club, given the close proximity of West Kirby and their two games in hand. Maghull swept Blacon aside 5-0 thanks mainly to a hat trick from Tom Foley. Paul Keenan and Mike Boyle also joined in the fun. Maghull’s perfect weekend was made complete when West Kirby fell unexpectedly and convincingly at home to Marshalls, losing 1-4. Marshall’s hat trick hero was Richard Jones, one from the penalty spot. James Nilsen scored the fourth. The Deesiders only positive was the penalty scored by Paul Casey. Four points behind, in second place, West Kirby need to make sure that they take advantage of their two games in hand.
In the remaining First division games the ever improving Helsby hosted Cammell Laird running out winners by three goals to one. Laird’s Sean Holmes saw his effort overtaken by goals from Lewis Buckley, Andy Dunning and Matty Johnston. Southport Trinity made sure of three points against Marine with goals from Eric Woodward, Phil Frankland and Callum Kelly. John Cross produced Marine’s only reply. Upton were frustratingly held to a draw at home to Newton despite scoring four goals. Unfortunately two were own goals in favour of the visitors. The two goals they will be happy to claim came from Ryan Brown and John Harricke. Willaston’s woes continued as they lost at home to a resurgent Christleton side 1-2. A brace from the Chester side’s Jamie Rogers cancelled out Trevor Worsley’s effort.
The second round Pyke Cup tie between Ellesmere Port and Heswall finally got underway and ended in a 2-1 win for the home side, after extra-time. In a game that demonstrated plenty of endeavour but little football and even fewer chances, Lee Cairns fired Heswall in front in the third minute. Eighteen minutes later Ben Harvey levelled for Ellesmere Port with a header from a free kick. That is how the game finished in normal time. Finally the game was won in the 103rd minute when Mike Jones, who had only been on the field a few minutes, pushed a shot past the Heswall keeper with the ball rolling agonisingly slowly over the line for the winner.
We now know that the final of the Haworth and Gallagher Bowl will be contested by Ashville and Capenhurst Villa. Capenhurst’s Lee Cairns scored the only goal of the game at Heswall to secure their place. The tie between near-neighbours Ashville and New Brighton was a keenly contested affair. Certainly those yearning for the days of hard but fair tackling would have thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. Notwithstanding that Ashville ran out 4-0 winners, the score was particularly harsh on the visitors who more than played their part in the tie. An early strike from Ross Rule was all that separated the sides until the final quarter of the game. Rule went on to claim a hat trick with the commanding Dave Huyton scoring the fourth.
With Ashville on cup duty, Chester Nomads had the opportunity to close the gap on the leaders when they visited Mossley Hill Athletic. Unfortunately for Nomads they failed to seize the opportunity with an own goal securing all three points for Athletic. Now Chester need to look over their shoulder and fight the promotion challenge of Mossley who are just one point behind in third place, but having played one game more. Richmond Raith Rovers kept their distant promotion hopes alive with a 3-2 win over a disappointing Prescot Cables side. Brad Thompson, Alan Western and Jamie English score for the home side with Sam Gifford and Chris McGann replying for the visitors. Mallaby would have been disappointed to have lost at home to Hale 1-4. Mallaby’s only score came from Chase Kirwan. The visitors win coming from a brace of braces, Paul Hart and Vassilli Poza each claiming two. Bronze Social’s long, hard season continued as Maghull walked away with all three points following a 1-3 away win thanks to a Mark Parvas hat trick. Gary McNaught claimed the consolation goal.