West Kirby progress in Pyke Cup

WEST CHESHIRE LEAGUE ROUND-UP: WEEK ENDING 2 NOVEMBER 2013

The eagerly awaited return of the Pyke Cup came a week earlier than originally scheduled when Division One Champions, Heswall, played host to Cup holder, West Kirby at Gayton Park, owing to West Kirby’s participation in the Northern Counties Cup next week. Both clubs will admit that they have not had the start to the season that they had hoped for back in the days of August sunshine. So something had to give in the somewhat murkier November gloom, and it was the Heswall side that fell, losing five-one. Richie Foulkes, who has been scoring for fun, perhaps the one bright hope of the home side’s season managed to find the back of the net yet again. However a Tom Murray hat trick alongside goals from Stuart Jackson and Jake Smith made sure it was West Kirby that progressed to the next round.

In the First Division, Maghull seized the opportunity to forge further ahead of an otherwise engaged South Liverpool, albeit having now played four more games. Maghull made short work of their trip to a healthily placed Blacon YC, finally running out five-two winners, thanks to Steve Willow (2), Paul Jackson, John Hastings and Rob Dutton. Blacon’s reply came via Ryan Nicholl and Ross Broadbent. To compound South Liverpool’s frustration, Ashville beat Hale two-nil at Villa Park to leap frog into second place. Jay Clare and Leon Jones made sure of the points for the home side. Cammell Laird Reserves missed a golden opportunity to join the front runners, going down three-nil at Kirklands to Christleton. The Chester side’s heroes were Aaron West, Josh Williams and James Brady. At the bottom, Mallaby did their cause no good at all losing at home, two-one to Vauxhall Motors Reserves. Despite a Connor Dickins goal, they fell to strikes from Alex Clare and Karl Clair. Upton AA failed to put some daylight between them and Mallaby, failing to score when they visited Newton who claimed the two-nil win thanks to John Cassidy and Donavon Hushon. Chester Nomads (Simon Andrews, Dale Harris) won the big battle at the bottom two-one at home to Southport Trinity (a Danny Ventre penalty).

Division Two leaders, Helsby (Matty Johnson) were held at home one-one by Redgate Rovers (Craig Blackwell). This gave Manor Athletic the chance to close the gap on the leaders to one point but only managed to draw two-all at Gateacre Village. Gateacre scored via Scott Willis and Kieran Owens. Athletic’s goal scorers were Terry New and Tom Carroll. Marshalls closed in on the heels of visitors Prescot Cable Reserves with a creditable four-one home win thanks, in the main, to a Daniel Grace hat trick together with a fourth from James Lenton. Jake Coterall replied for the visitors. Consequently, Capenhurst Villa moved into fifth place in the league having won three-on at Maghull Reserves. Mike Banks, Jack Sheppard and an own goal meant that Villa travelled home happy. Maghull’s only bright moment was Chris Nation’s goal.

Ford Motors are threatening to become one of the promotion candidates with their credentials further enhanced on Saturday by a three-one away win at Capenhurst Villa Reserves. Despite a Tom Hockley goal for Villa, two goals from Dave McNabb and a third from Chris Cottingham meant it was the visitors who went home with all three points, securing fourth place into the bargain. This was helped, in part by Kirkby Town Railway (Josh Naylor, Terry Naylor and John Humphreys) holding Bootle Reserves (Fernando (2), Jack Challenger) at home in a splendid three-all draw. Merseyside Police recorded only their second league win of a tough season when they secured a three-nil home win over Marshalls Reserves, thanks to David Heaton (2) and Peter Fairfield. The Police will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself however. Having registered their first win at home to Widnes Vikings Reserves, they then let in nine at Neston Nomads!

In the Youth Division, no doubt basking in their Cheshire FA Youth Cup win over Newton, Vauxhall Motors continued their fine season with a four-two home win over Mallaby Youth at Rivacre Park. Adam Hughes notched two goals for the Motormen to add to goals from Craig Ellis and Brendon Thomas. Mallaby replied through two Jobe Wallace goals. Finally, West Kirby (Matty Croft, Jack Ledsham) registered a fine two-one win at Maghull (Liam Eddy).