HAVING been a dominant force in recent seasons West Kirby are in the process of rebuilding and on Saturday drew 3-3 with fellow mid-table side Chester Nomads.
Mike Garrod put Nomads in front in the 23rd minute following a free-kick and although Carl Diable immediately surprised Nomads keeper Ben Corfe with a snap shot to level matters, Garrod was on hand to restore the hosts’ lead before the break.
On the resumption Paul Casey struck the post with a Kirby penalty and 15 minutes remained when Kieran Smith capitalised on poor defending to give Nomads a 3-1 advantage. However Kirby launched a powerful fightback and an own goal and a successful Casey spot-kick produced a final 3-3 scoreline.
The top two in the division had to settle for draws with Ellesmere Port’s visit to Blacon YC resulting in neither side finding the net while leaders Ashville (Lee Hammond, Steve Connor) shared four goals with improving Cammell Laird Reserves (John Johnson 2).
In midweek Lairds had enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Blacon YC. Greg Stones, John Weedon, Aaron Baird and an own goal built up a 4-1 interval advantage with Aiden Shannon later adding to Simon Broadbent’s first half strike for the visitors.
Having failed to score in their previous two games Newton were shown the way by player manager Lee Kissock who notched a double and Gerald King also posted to steer the third placed outfit to a 3-2 win over Upton AA who responded via Simon Andrews and Darren Wallace.
Richard Foulkes and Tom Coan netted for Heswall against former club Willaston. Matty Johnson and veteran Gordon Harrison were also on target in the 4-1 success which saw Mark Knox hit Willaston’s consolation, while a Steve Finlay brace was the backbone of Christleton’s 2-0 defeat of Vauxhall Motors Reserves.
Robbie Oakes hit the game’s only goal as lowly Heswall Reserves knocked Division Two leaders Ashville Reserves out of the Haworth and Gallagher Bowl and in another first round shock Bronze Social had Jay Thompson, Steve Egan and Sam Herbert registering in their 3-0 win over New Brighton.
Runcorn Linnets Reserves (Jack Webb, Ryan Dutton) overcame Mallaby 2-0 while Capenhurst Villa (Mark Ryan, Iain Forster, Lewis Walters, Rob McDowall) eased to a 4-0 victory at West Kirby Reserves.
In a reduced Division Two programme a Wayne Hulse double spearheaded Beb Athletic’s 3-0 success at Prescot Cables Reserves. There was joy for third division South Liverpool in the Liverpool Challenge Cup second round when a Neil Fisher strike ended Edge Hill BCOB’s interest in the competition.
