Leaders West Kirby made to work for solitary point

Mar 18 2008 by Arthur Green, Liverpool Daily Post

VAUXHALL MOTORS RESERVES made Division One leaders West Kirby work hard for their point.

The warning signs came as early as the 10th minute when Anthony Carroll broke free only to see his chipped shot over Kirby’s keeper Bobbie McLaughlin narrowly miss the target.

Kirby came back strongly and a cross in the 23rd minute from the left found Andy Barker, who headed over the advancing Motors keeper. Then Carroll had another opportunity to score but again his lob over the keeper was too high.

A rasping 30-yard strike from Ged Brannan committed a full stretch save by the Vauxhall keeper just before half-time, keeping the visitors in the game. And six minutes into the second period, a penalty from livewire Thomas Carroll earned them a point. The game opened up with both sides having chances to take maximum points.

A hat-trick from Will Dolan and a strike from Ian Robinson kept Runcorn Town’s challenge at the top alive at Ellesmere Port, Nathan Mapletoft hitting their only goal.

Bottom side Ashville had Dave Johnson and Tom Rockcliffe on target but couldn’t stop a rampant Cammell Laird reserve side from netting four times.

Alex Bishop claimed a hat-trick and Tony Randall added another.

Newton slipped further behind at the bottom when fellow strugglers Christleton took maximum points.

Andy Skelton and Kia Stockton grabbed the all-important goals after Jamie Hannah had netted for the home side.

Aintree Villa are looking desperately over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table as the games and points slip away.

Anthony Johnson salvaged a point against visitors Poulton Victoria, who had Danny Edwards popping one in.

Castrol Social recorded their second 2-1 victory in succession, making it going six games without defeat after Tony Ashton and Steven Higson netted in their win at Marine Reserves in midweek. Tony Ashton and Simon Thelwell were on target against Upton AA, who replied through Danny Andrews.

Heswall powered their way to a 3-1 win against Blacon Youth Club with Tom Rowlands, Mike Pickles and Peter McNulty finding the net, Blacon found a consolation through Russell Whitley.

New Brighton earned a point at Maghull after Alan Ball hit the net, only to be pegged back by Gary McGuinness.

Poulton Vics Reserves, runaway leaders in Division Two, had Tony Baker and Justin Broadbent on hand as Mallaby fought hard but could only muster one goal through Wayne Ball.

Christleton Reserves made a brave show against mid-table New Brighton Reserves but a goal from Josh Cullen wasn’t enough as the visitors struck twice through Liam Jamieson and Sean Robinson.

Promotion contenders Grange Athletic came unstuck with the visit of Helsby, being held to a 1-1 draw. Craig Webb set the scene for Grange, but Simon Page rewrote the script.

Halton need a last minute push to secure a promotion place and a dismal point against visitors Chester Nomads is not what the locals wanted to see.

Matty Johnson hit the goal for Halton but it was eclipsed by Eden Fenlon’s equaliser.

Bebington Athletic’s fight for survival is creeping along and a point against fellow strugglers Ashville Reserves won’t do the nerves any good as Graeme Carvell found the net only to be pegged back by John Gillion’s strike.

Heswall nearing the end of the campaign had to settle for a point at local rivals Willaston, Ian Colligan netting for the visitors, Robbie Foulkes for Willaston.

In the Third Division Mossley Hill Athletic are beginning to feel the strain and local rivals Focus were in no mood to hand out any points, as a hat-trick from Jonathan Starkey sealed the day. Steve Wilson and Kevin Franklin pulled two back for Athletic.

Bronze Social almost killed off any hope of Runcorn Town Reserves finishing in a promotion position with a fine 4-2 win. Barry Coventry [2], Paul Coventry and Callan Holmes putting the game out of reach, Reece Conlan hit a brace for Town.

Fairfield Athletic Reserves are making a determined bid to pull away from the foot of the table and a hat-trick from Ashton Gibiliru, an own goal and one from Aaron Biggs saw off St Werburghs, who had Leon Whitely and Leon Gough on target.

Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup semi-final: @Stockport Georgians 0 Cammell Laird Res 3 (Bishop 2, Lee). Div One: Marine Res1 (Otobo) Castrol Social 2 (Ashton, Higson). Div One: Aintree Villa 1 (Johnstone) Poulton Vic 1 (Edwards); Ashville 2 (Johnson, Rockcliffe) Cammell Laird Res 4 (Bishop 3, Rendell); Castrol Social 2 (Ashton, Thelwell) Upton AA 1 (Andrews); Ellesmere Port 1 (Mapletoft) Runcorn Town 4 (Robinson, Dolan 3); Heswall 3 (Rowland, Pickles, McNulty) Blacon Youth Club 1 (Whitley); Maghull 1 (McGuiness) New Brighton 1 (Ball); Newton 1 (Hannah) Christleton 2 (Shelton, Stockton); West Kirby 1 (Barker) Vauxhall Motors Res 1 (Thomas). Div Two: AFC Beb Ath 1 (Carvell) Ashville REs 1 (Gillion); Christleton Res 1 (Cullen) New Brighton Res 2 (Jamieson, Robinson); Grange Ath 1 (Webb) Helsby 1 (Page); Halton 1 (Johnson) Chester Nomads 1 (Fenlon); Poulton Vic Res 2 (Baker, Broadbent) Mallaby 1 (Ball); Willaston 1 (Foulkes) Heswall Res 1 (Colligan). Div Three: Capenhurst Villa Res 3 (Kelly, Johnson, Lloyd) Hale 0; Focus 3 (Starkey 3) Mossley Hill Ath 2 (Wilson, Frankland); Mersey Royal 0 Upton AA Res 0; Richmond Raith Rovers 0 FC Pensby 0; Runcorn Town Res 2 (Conlan 2) Bronze Social 4 (Coventry 2, Coventry Holmes); Shaftesbury 2 (Davies, Hodgin) Ellesmere Port Res 1 (Mapletoft); St Werburghs 2 (Whiteley, Gough) Fairfield Ath Res 5 (Gibiluri 3, Biggs, og). Youth Div: South Liverpool 3 Cammell Laird 2.