Amateur Football: Billy worth his weight in gold for Runcorn

Aug 14 2007 by Arthur Green, Liverpool Daily Post

THE new Carlsberg West Cheshire season kicked off with newly-promoted First Division side Runcorn Town beating Poulton Victoria in the Bill Weight semi-final.

A fine individual goal from Billy Sutton after only five minutes and a 30th-minute penalty from Shaun Tierney put them in control.

In the other semi-final champions West Kirby took an early lead through Keiron Fleetwood only to be pegged back by two goals from Jonathon Oliver and Graeme Carvell for AFC Bebington Athletic.

Kirby equalised through Denny Gannon before being reduced to 10 men just before the break. This seemed spur on Kirby and they completely dominated the second half with further goals from Paul Casey and two from Liam Atherton.

In the First Division new signing Ritchie Foulkes headed Heswall in the lead after 75 minutes against Christleton before Tommy Rowlands hit a 25-yard unstoppable shot into the top corner to salvage a point.

A brace from Connor Taylor for newly-promoted Runcorn Town earned them a good opening win at Aintree Villa.

Last season’s champions West Kirby could find the going tougher with some players moving on, but they will be satisfied with a point after Liam Atherton netted at Marine Reserves, who had Martin Christian on target.

A new lease of life in the Newton camp saw them overrun Ashville. Goals from Lee Kissock, Ged King, Steve Jones, Keith Gray and Nick Santangeli make them early pacemakers.

Two goals from Danny Harris and one from Chris Herbert gave Blacon Youth Club the perfect start against visitors New Brighton, who had lost nine players from their victorious Cheshire Cup team.

Cammell Laird Reserves put out a strong team for the visit of Castrol Social and just edged a win with goals from Chris Nezianya and Ian McGraa, Ryan Nicholl pulling one back for the visitors.

Vauxhall Motors Reserves had a long journey back from Maghull after Brian Ward and Paul Lawrenson secured the points for the home side.

Grange Athletic started their Second Division campaign at Ashville and narrowly lost to a Mike Harris goal.

RESULTS: Bill Weight Memorial Cup semi-final: Runcorn 2 (Sutton, Tierneypen) Poulton Victoria 0. West Kirby 5 (Atherton 2, Fleetwood, Gannon, Casey) AFC Bebington Athletic 2 (Oliver, Carvell). Division Two: Ashville Reserves 1 (Harris) Grange Athletic 0, Christleton Res 0 Willaston 3 (Griffiths 2, Mosedale). Division Three: Capenhurst Villa Res 2 (Johnson 2) Blacon Youth Club Res 2 (Wild, Broadbent), Ellesmere Port Res 1 (Ward) Mersey Royal 6 (S Owen 4, P Owen, Jones), Manor Athletic 4 (Jackson 2, Butler, White) St Werburghs 2 (Campbell, Whitney). Division One: Aintree Villa 0 Runcorn Town 2 (Taylor 2), Ashville 0 Newton 5 (Kissoch, King, Jones, Gray, Santangell), Blacon Youth Club 3 (Harris 2, Herbert) New Brighton 0, Cammell Laird Res 2 (Nezlanya, McGrae) Castrol Social 1 (Nocoll), Ellesmere Port 2 (Scallion, Hayes) Poulton Victoria 1 (Davies), Heswall 1 (Foulkes) Christleton 1 (Rowlands), Maghull 2 (Ward, Lawrenson) Vauxhall Motors Reserves 0, Marine Reserves 1 (Christian) West Kirby 1 (Atherton). Division Two: Capenhurst Villa 2 (Freeman, Urmston) Heswall Res 1 (Buhalfaia), Helsby 2 (Cottiga, Askey) AFC Bebington Athletic 1 (Earnshaw), Mallaby 1 (Ball) Maghull Res 2 (Ainsworth, Johnson), New Brighton Res 2 (Dermody, Carroll) Fairfield Athletic 3 (Nolan, Campbell, Nilson); Poulton Vics Res 3 (Dunne 2, Baker) Halton 0, West Kirby Res 3 (Davies, O’Brien) Chester Nomads 2 (Mitchell, Harrison). Division Three: Bronze Social 1 Upton AA Res 3 (Mackeral, Kelly, Roberts), Fairfield Athletic Res 2 (Thompson, Doyle) FC Pensby 3 (Huntington, Davies, Corless), Hale 2 (Stead, Hinds) Focus 0, Richmond Raith Rovers 0 Shaftesbury 2, Runcorn Town Res 0 Mossley Hill Athletic 6 (Franklin 2, Franklin, Alcock, Ellison, Owen).