Rowlands strikes to sink cup opponents

Mar 11 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IN A DRAMATIC Wirral Senior Cup semi-final at Gayton Park, Heswall overcame nine-man Cammell Laird Reserves by the odd goal in five after extra time.

The host side took a first-half lead through Jamie Kenyon only for this to be wiped out just before the break by Chris Niezianya.

The same player then put Lairds in front before his side were reduced to 10 men when Mick McGraa received his marching orders. The visitors received a further blow when Dave Rudge netted an equaliser for Heswall.

Even worse was to follow when Carl Clampett joined his fellow midfielder for an early shower, but the remaining nine were able to force extra time. Tom Rowlands netted the decisive goal, although Lairds were only denied when a late effort hit the Heswall bar.

West Kirby join Heswall in the final with the league leaders also going through 3-2 after extra time. This was despite a Mike Douglas double for home side Poulton Victoria, who were tasting semi-final defeat for the second time in as many weeks. Matty Cass, Andy Bolton and defender Andy Barker secured victory for Kirby. Runcorn Town took full advantage of West Kirby’s absence from league business to edge closer in the title race when a James McShane hat-trick was responsible for seeing off Christleton. The win leaves them 11 points behind the leaders with four games in hand.

Upton AA returned to winning ways when a Danny Andrews brace, plus one from Peter Finch, earned them a 3-0 success at Chester rivals Blacon YC.

Castrol Social continued their warm-up for next week’s Pyke Cup final by beating Ashville 3-0, Simon Thelwell, Jordon Brierley and Stuart Carroll the marksmen. Maghull continued their climb up the table as Brian Ward and Marvin Molyneux found the net in their 2-0 win at New Brighton.

Graeme Hughes (Ellesmere Port) and Tom Carroll for Vauxhall Reserves ensured a share of the spoils at Whitby.

Division Two leaders Poulton Vics Reserves were not in action, but Capenhurst Villa maintained their bid for promotion when an Alan Locke double underpinned their 2-0 defeat of struggling AFC Bebington. Halton also stayed in contention as John McDonald led the way with a hat-trick in the 7-0 thrashing of bottom club Christleton Reserves.

Iain Forster and Chris Yew were on target as Grange Athletic overcame Heswall Reserves 2-0, a result that keeps Grange, with games in hand, firmly in the promotion race.

Maghull Reserves remain in second even though a Steve Johnson effort was cancelled out by a Mike Jeffs strike for visiting Chester Nomads while Robbie Stewart and Jamie Halligan registered in West Kirby Reserves’ 2-0 win over Helsby.

Goals from Chris Black and Byron Roberts guided Ashville Reserves to a 2-1 success over neighbours New Brighton.

RESULTS

DIV ONE: Blacon Youth Club 0 Upton AA 3 (Danny Andrews 2, 1pen, Peter Finch); Castrol Social 3 (Simon Thelwell, Jordon Brierley Stuart Carroll) Ashville 0; Christleton 0 Runcorn Town 3 (James McShane 3) ; Ellesmere Port 1 (Graeme Hughes) Vauxhall Motors R 1 (Tom Carroll); New Brighton 0 Maghull 2 (Brian Ward, Marvin Molyneaux); Newton v Aintree VILLA (Postponed)

DIV TWO: Ashville R 2 (Chris Black, Byron Roberts) New Brighton R 1 (Tommy Carroll); Capenhurst Villa 2 (Alan Locke, 2) AFC Bebington Athletic 0; Grange Athletic 2 (Iain Forster, Chris Yew) Heswall R 0; Halton 7 (John McDonald3, Steve Horrocks Dean Ramouski, Alan Bond, Matty Johnson) Christleton R 0; Maghull R 1 (Steve Johnston) Chester Nomads 1 (Michael Jeffs); Mallaby 1 (James Gillison) Willaston 2 (Dave Forbes, Jimmy Hilditch); West Kirby R 2 (Robbie Stewart, Jamie Halligan) Helsby 0

DIV THREE: Bronze Social 5 (Paul Coventry, Jay Thompson Mike Dolan, Barry Coventry, 2) Focus 0; Fairfield Athletic R 3 James Swetnam, Lee Welsh, Ryan Ellis) Mersey Royal 2 (Dave Skillin, John Firth); FC Pensby 0 Blacon Youth Club R 0; Runcorn Town R 1 (Anton Ellison) Ellesmere Port Res 1 (Lee Watts); St Werburghs 2 (Neil Cartwright, Leon Whitley) Manor Athletic 0; Upton AA R 0 Mossley Hill Athletic 2 (Simon Ellison, 2)

YOUTH DIV: Cammell Laird 0 Maghull 0

WIRRAL DISTRICT FA SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS: Heswall 3 (Jamie Kenyon, Dave Rudge, Tom Rowlands) Cammell Laird R 2 aet (Chris Niezianya, 2); Poulton Victoria 2 (Mike Douglas, 2) West Kirby 3 aet (Andy Barker, Andy Bolton, Matty Cass)