Amateur Football: Familiar opening to new campaign

Aug 14 2007 by Mike Talbot-Butler, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Mid-Cheshire League has changed its name to the Cheshire Association League – still sponsored by Cheshire Building Society – but there was no change on the season’s opening day when reigning champions Middlewich Town began where they left off in May.

The Seddon Street men looked as solid as ever when they scored a 1-0 victory at Poynton with a Joey Roberts goal.

Manager Terry Murphy’s side, who won the League Shield a week earlier when they beat Knutsford on penalties, have as much hunger for success as ever according to their manager who takes his team to play local rivals Barnton in the first batch of midweek fixtures tomorrow, 6.30pm.

Still under Mark Came, Barnton made a good start when they beat promoted Stalybridge Celtic Reserves 1-0 at the Town Field, while Knutsford won their local derby game against Witton Albion Reserves 2-0.

In Division Two, newly-admitted FC of Manchester United Reserves looked ominously strong when they thrashed Monk Sports 6-0 at their Abbey Stadium, Gorton home, but the other league new boys Grappenhall Sports lost 2-1 at Eagle.

RESULTS: Division One: Knutsford 2 Witton Albion Res. 0, Greenall Padgate St Oswald 2 Woodley Sports Res 1, Poynton 0 Middlewich Town 1, Pilkington 2 Trafford Res 1, Linotype/Cheadle Heath 2 Rylands 1, Crosfields 3 Styal 2, Garswood United 3 Gamesley 0, Barnton 1 Stalybridge Celtic Res 0. Division Two: Eagle 2 Grappenhall Sports 1, Broadheath Central 7 Malpas 1, Billinge 0 Whitchurch Alport 0, FC of Manchester United Res 6 Monk Sports 0, Congleton Town Res 0 Daten 2, Club AZ 2 Golborne Sports 2, Maine Road Res 2 Tarporley Vics 3, Lostock Gralam 6 Warrington Town Res 2.