Heswall drop valuable points at Chester Nomads

Title contenders Heswall were held to a 2nd successive draw when visiting Chester Nomads at the weekend. Richie Foulkes and veteran Gordon Harrison were the men on the mark for the village side but strikes by Kieran Smith and Paul Sweeney for Nomads produced the final 2-2 score line. Heswall’s dropping of points allowed West Kirby to gain ground thanks to a 3-0 home success over Christleton. Mike McGraa’s phenomenal goal scoring run was extended as he collected a double while Ross Rule completed the tally. Cammell Laird Reserves still head the table and John Wheedon and Jonathon Atkinson found the net as they overcame host side Southport Trinity, 2-0. Games are running out for Trinity who remain in the drop zone and their situation was worsened by the improving Upton AA gaining an important odd goal in 5 victory at Marine Reserves. Blacon YC were able to miss 2 penalties and go a goal down when entertaining Maghull but still emerge as 2-1 winners thanks to a last minute strike. Tom Wharton had edged the visitors in front but Lee McElmeel and Sam Henry secured maximum reward for Blacon. New signing Alex Clare emerged as the hero for Vauxhall Motors Reserves when netting the game’s only goal with virtually the last kick of the game against visiting Hale. Vauxhall custodian Dave Jones was the busier of the 2 keepers in an open contest, although it was the hosts who created the better clear cut chances. Just when it looked as if Mark Winslade’s earlier shot that had hit the Hale bar was going to be the nearest there was to be to a goal, substitute Clare popped with the winner. Ellesmere Port remain marooned at the foot of the table with their latest setback coming in a 2-0 defeat at champion side Ashville who had Lee Healey bagging a double. Another 2 goal man was Ben Backley who was joined on the Mossley Hill Athletic score sheet by Kurt Sherlock and Ryan Poole as Athletic got the better of Newton, 4-2, with Liam Smith converting 2 penalties for the visitors.
This season’s Haworth and Gallagher final will feature Manor Athletic and Mallaby. Having defeated Saturday’s opponents Maghull Reserves 4-0 in the Wirral Amateur Cup semi final just 3 weeks earlier, Mallaby found them in a much meaner mood this time round. Although both sides had chances to break the deadlock, neither was able to register after 2 hours of football with Mallaby reaching their 2nd final by winning the resultant penalty shootout, 6-5. Andy Kingham and Graham Williams were the Manor semi final match winners as they edged Richmond Raith Rovers 2-1 with Ryan Perry posting for Rovers.
A single Dayne Murphy strike was enough to earn Beb Athletic three vital Division 2 points at the expense of Willaston and they leapfrogged Marshalls [Stephen Thorpe] who now lie in the relegation zone after going down 2-1 at resurgent Capenhurst Villa [Luke Eccles, Mike Banks]. South Liverpool strengthened their title hopes when easing to a 4-1 win over Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves. Andy Tull led the way with a double as Cameron Dalton and Tom Kinsella also posted while Brendon Agnew hit Mossley’s consolation. Jay Thompson and Colin Cunliffe each netted twice as Heswall Reserves gained a comfortable 5-2 verdict over basement boys Mersey Royal [Brian Youds, Aaron Dillon] and Prescot Cables Reserves [Ryan Cannon,2, Sam Gifford] garnered 3 welcome points when being on the right side of a 5 goal thriller with hosts Helsby [Mike Lewis, George McGrogan].
The dreaded Manager of the Month curse failed to strike Widnes Town’s Ste Hill as the February recipient oversaw the Division 3 leader’s 4-1 defeat of Christleton Reserves. Paul Cliff, Alex Pybus, Luke Forsyth and Dave Worsley obliged for Town with Dave Baker hitting the reply. With games in hand, rival promotion seekers Gateacre and Redgate Rovers also triumphed and Ian Lewis and Martin Ho struck for Gateacre as they overcame Hale Reserves 2-0, while Craig Blackwell, Martin Wilson and Sam Corlett steered Redgate to their 3-0 success over Capenhurst Villa Reserves. Nick Jones,2, and Mark Nokes were on target for Neston Nomads as they edged a 3-2 verdict over South Liverpool Reserves and the spoils were shared as Marshalls Reserves drew 2-2 with Chester Nomads Reserves while Upton AA Reserves and Merseyside Police were locked at 1-1. In the top Halton/West Cheshire Youth Competition game of the day, a smart double from Rob Rowlands underpinned a 2-0 triumph for Bootle at South Liverpool.
This Wednesday [6th March] three Carlsberg West Cheshire sides will be in action in the semi-finals of the Cheshire Amateur Cup. West Kirby and Vauxhall Motors Reserves meet at Cammell Lairds FC, while Heswall take on Cheshire Association League outfit, Barnton at Runcorn Linnets. Both games kick off at 7.15 p.m.