Hale scrape a 1-0 victory at lowly Mallaby

Having no fewer than 17 goals to their name from their previous three Carlsberg West Cheshire League outings, 2nd placed Hale were soon into their stride when visiting a Mallaby outfit still surprisingly languishing in the bottom two of Division 1. Home keeper Dave Parkinson was called into action on three occasions in the opening few minutes as Hale sought an early breakthrough, but as the 1st half wore on Mallaby began to get a foothold in the contest and twice had the ball cleared off the Hale line. The interval was reached with the score at 0-0 and on the restart and with the pitch cutting up, both sides displayed their determination to gain the upper hand with no quarter asked or given. But soon after the hour mark it was to be Hale who were to snatch the only goal of the game. There seemed little danger when Wayne Smith received the ball on the edge of the box with two defenders in attendance but the burly striker tricked his way through and slipped the ball past Parkinson. To their credit Mallaby strove hard to grab an equalizer and in the dying minutes a John Hedges header almost gave them the parity their overall play warranted. Chester Nomads continue to forge their way up the table and on Saturday they fashioned a comprehensive 3-0 victory over a visiting South Liverpool side whose title aspirations are fading fast. Simon Andrews and Dale Harris were again on the score sheet where they were joined by Sean Manton. There was to be no Christmas joy for Heswall who were again put to the sword by Cammell Laird Reserves. Last week’s 7-1 defeat at the hands of the same opponents was backed up by a 5-0 reversal this time round as Adam Coulls, 2, Jonathan Atkinson, 2, and Ben Holmes netted for Lairds. West Kirby continue to show improved form and with Ian Brunt leading the way with a brace, they overcame struggling Upton AA, 5-2. Mike McGraa, Stuart Jackson and Liam Casey also registered for the visitors while Adam Kelly and Luke Finch hit late goals for Upton. Mossley Hill Athletic returned to winning ways as Callum Holmes stole the show with a superb hat trick when they ran out 3-0 winners at Blacon YC. Despite having Adam Thelwell-Wilson notching a double, host side Christleton, who ended the contest with 10 men, lost by the odd goal in five to a Vauxhall Motors Reserves outfit who had Mark Head as their two goal man which was added to by Jordan Brierley.
The Division 2 top two at the start of the day, Capenhurst Villa and Richmond Raith Rovers Mags, were disengaged on Saturday and Manor Athletic took full advantage by surging to the number one slot courtesy of a 6-0 trouncing of Heswall Reserves, all goals coming in the second period. Tom Carroll was the backbone of the success with a fine treble while a Graham Williams’s double and a Lee New strike completed the victory. Helsby remain 4th after easing to a 3-0 win at West Kirby Reserves where Carl Rendell, 2, and David Crane were on target for the visitors. Fifth placed Prescot Cable Reserves shared the spoils with Ashville Reserves after a 2-2 draw that saw Eddie Johnson and Charlie Wilson net for Cables while Alan Hutchinson and Carl Murphy did likewise for the hosts. Willaston remain in the bottom two after going down 2-0 at home to Gateacre Village whose triumph was underpinned by a Scott Willis brace.
Colin Lynch, Michael Fargher, Matt Dooling and Dan Leather were the marksmen as Rainhill Town put Chester Nomads Reserves to the sword with a 4-0 victory that lifted the host side into 2nd place in Division 3. Bootle Reserves kept their promotion hopes alive by edging out battling Upton AA Reserves, 3-2. A two goal salvo from Billy Smart was supplemented by Matty Mackin for Bootle with Richie Deponeo and Ben Leaman responding for the visitors. Leaders St Helens Town Reserves surprisingly dropped points when they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Marshalls Reserves and it was also honours even at Widnes Vikings Reserves who drew 1-1 with Kirkby Town Reserves. Paul Denbyshire obliged for the hosts with Lee McCormick netting for Town. Capenhurst Villa Reserves ran in 6 goals without reply when playing host to Belfry. Kyle Smyth and Jamie Eaton each found the net twice and the overwhelming victory was completed by Graeme Hughes and Mark Ryan.
Two of the Divisions high flyers, Ford Motors and South Liverpool Reserves locked horns in the 2nd round of the West Cheshire Shield but after two hours of combat could only blank each other out. So it was to the dreaded penalty shoot-out which saw South emerge triumphant, 4-3.
West Cheshire Shield - Semi Final Draw

Kirby Town Railway v Hale Reserves
South Liverpool Reserves v Rainhill Town

The Carlsberg West Cheshire League wishes you all a Happy Christmas