3 valuable points for Upton A.A. at Mossley Hill Athletic

CARLSBERG WEST CHESHIRE A.F.L.
The first programme of the New Year was affected by the wet weather with only three Division 1 games taking place. Basement boys Upton AA travelled to 4th placed Mossley Hill Athletic and were delighted to return with their 3rd win of the season in the bag. In a well fought and entertaining contest that displayed no after effects of festive activities, both sides spent the early stages testing each other out although Upton keeper Adam Bedford was relieved to see one home effort flash past the post. But it was Upton who were to take the lead midway through the 1st period when the ever alert Nathan Mapletoft capitalised on confusion in the home rearguard to slip the ball into the net. Mossley responded and Callum Holmes shot narrowly wide while at the other end Luke Finch fired over from close range. As the half drew to a close, the hosts’ efforts to level saw them reduced to long range shooting but in the dying seconds they were awarded a penalty for handball. Mossley skipper Dave Byrne took on the task but his effort was thwarted by Bedford with the veteran keeper diving full length to tip the ball round his right hand post. The opening stages of the 2nd half belonged mainly to Upton with Finch having 3 attempts on goal without success and in an effort to get back into the game, Mossley made two substitutions. The contest developed into a midfield battle but in the 68th minute, the hosts drew level when Charlie Opare’s snap shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection on the way into the net. Ten minutes later, there was greater joy for Mossley as substitute Paul Pearson headed his side into the lead from Byrne’s excellent free kick. However, the joy was short lived as the visitors quickly equalized when Chris Melia headed home a right wing cross. The game was moving to injury time when Upton snatched all 3 points as a left sided corner was met firmly by Henry Nicholls’ head to earn his side a welcome 3-2 success. Goals from Mike McGraa and Chris Bowe gave West Kirby a 2-0 advantage at South Liverpool and although McGraa later doubled his tally, the visitors had to be content with a point from a 3-3 draw after Gary Pollard, Craig Williams and Louis Fay netted for the hosts. League leaders Maghull found themselves trailing to Sam Garbetts’ opener at Southport Trinity but hit back to claim their 18th victory from 21 outings. Colin McDonald and Jamie McGrane were the men on the mark for Maghull in their 2-1 triumph.
Vauxhall Motors Reserves reached the last 4 of this season’s Cheshire Amateur Cup courtesy of their 2-0 defeat of fellow league side Mallaby. Kynan Mason and Tom Craig did the damage for The Motormen. The two other ties involving our clubs were postponed and have been rearranged for this Saturday when Capenhurst Villa entertain Ashville while Cammell Laird Reserves visit Knutsford. Joining Vauxhalls in the semi-finals are Manchester League club Stockport Georgians who overcame Cheshire Association outfit Rudheath Social Club, 4-0, with all the goals arriving in extra time.
Second Division action was restricted to four fixtures where Helsby’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow by inform Gateacre Village who ran out winners at Childwall Fairways by the odd goal in 7. Gateacre’s victory was underpinned by a superb Ian Lewis hat trick which was supplemented by a Joe Connelly strike. Carl Rendell, 2 and Ian Cox netted for the visitors. Host side Redgate Rovers edged out Willaston, 2-1, thanks to strikes by Ben Helme and Graham Hill while Anthony Clarkson responded for the visitors. It was honours even in a feisty fixture at West Kirby Reserves where Mike Bowe registered twice for the hosts while Mike Cummins penalty and Chris Nation obliged for Maghull Reserves. Dan Grace was a hat trick star for Marshalls as they eased to a 3-0 win in their mid-table clash with Beb Athletic.
Division 3 leaders St. Helens Town Reserves were inactive due to their game being one of three in the division falling victim to the weather and find themselves in 3rd place after single goal victories away from home for rivals Rainhill Town and Ford Motors. Rainhill take over top spot after regular marksman Dan Leather netted the all-important goal at Kirkby Town Railway. Ford left it late before grabbing all 3 points at Widnes Vikings Reserves when Paul Bathgate hit the vital winner. Hale Reserves remain in contention after Jack Walker, 2, Colin Mee and Anthony Terry netted in their 4-2 victory over Marshalls Reserves [Matt Powell, Kenny Benpath]. Jack McGovern bagged a brace for Belfry as they shared 6 goals with visiting Upton AA Reserves. He was joined on the score sheet by Tom Cowperthwaite while Steve Rowland, Luke Quest and Alex Smith responded for Upton. Merseyside Police remain rooted to the foot of the table after suffering a 4-0 home reversal at the hands of South Liverpool Reserves who had Sam Adams,2, Neil Hodgson and Paul Wilson obliging.
Bootle now head the Youth Division after Luke McKeown and Steve Clarke were their marksmen in an entertaining encounter which saw them overcome West Kirby 2-0.


Ray Condliffe




SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2014 KICK OFF 2-00P.M * 3-00P.M
DIVISION ONE
BLACON YOUTH CLUB WEST KIRBY
HALE UPTON A.A.
MAGHULL HESWALL
MALLABY SOUTH LIVERPOOL
NEWTON CHRISTLETON
*SOUTHPORT TRINITY MOSSLEY HILL ATHLETIC
OPEN:- CHESTER NOMADS, VAUXHALL MOTORS RES
DIVISION TWO
AFC BEBINGTON ATHLETIC PRESCOT CABLES RES
HELSBY MAGHULL RES
HESWALL RES MARSHALLS
MANOR ATHLETIC ASHVILLE RES
MERSEY ROYAL WILLASTON
MOSSLEY HILL ATHLETIC RES RICHMOND RAITH ROVERS MAGS
WEST KIRBY RES REDGATE ROVERS
OPEN:- GATEACRE VILLAGE
DIVISION THREE
CHRISTLETON RES MERSEYSIDE POLICE
FORD MOTORS KIRKBY TOWN RAILWAY
MARSHALLS RES SOUTH LIVERPOOL RES
*RAINHILL TOWN BELFRY
WIDNES VIKINGS RES BOOTLE RES
OPEN:- CAPENHURST VILLA RES., HALE RES. NESTON NOMADS, ST HELENS TOWN RES
YOUTH DIVISION KICK OFF 10-30A.M.
BOOTLE VAUXHALL MOTORS
MALLABY NEWTON
SOUTH LIVERPOOL MAGHULL
WEST KIRBY WIDNES VIKINGS
CHESHIRE AMATEUR CUP 4TH ROUND KICK OFF 1-30P.M.
CAPENHURST VILLA ASHVILLE
Knutsford CAMMELL LAIRD RES
CHESTER CHALLENGE CUP 3RD ROUND
CHESTER NOMADS RES Peacock 09
UPTON A.A. RES Uberlube