Weekend Round Up - Saturday 8th April 2017
Sun 9th April 2017 | General | By Patrick Burke
The 2016/17 campaign will be over this time in three weeks. However, the battles at the top of both divisions remain on a knife edge after this weekend’s action, whilst it’s still all to play for at the other end as well.
There was one Friday night game in the Premier Division, and it was a big one as leaders Atherton Collieries came from behind to claim a vital 2-1 win at AFC Liverpool. Conor Smith’s goal midway through the first half had seriously threatened to throw the cat amongst the pigeons at the summit, but Colls rallied and responded after the interval through Jordan Cover and Jamie Forbes.
Michael Clegg’s side temporarily moved five points clear of everyone else, but the lead was cut to two points once again when second placed Runcorn Linnets ran out 3-0 winners at AFC Darwen on Saturday. Three goals in eight second half minutes – two from Stuart Wellstead and one from Zach Aley – keep Linnets in contention, even though Atherton have two games in hand on them.
Near neighbours Runcorn Town remain in the mix too after coming out on top at Winsford United. Simon Thelwell grabbed the only goal just before the half-hour mark to move Town up to 3rd, six points behind Colls on level games.
5th placed 1874 Northwich lost further ground on the sides above them as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Abbey Hey. Anyone who arrived after seven minutes will have missed both Johnathon Hardy’s opener for the hosts and the own goal which cancelled it out!
Padiham strengthened their grip on 6th place with an excellent 3-0 victory at Hanley Town, who are now five points adrift of their opponents. Patrick O’Brien and James Dean put the Storks in control by half-time, and Kieron Pickup rounded off their day with eighteen minutes to play.
8th placed Irlam’s five-match winning streak came to an end at home to an Ashton Athletic side buoyed by their midweek Lancashire Challenge Trophy triumph. Wednesday’s hero, Lee Vaughan, and Luke Holden turned the game on its head after Danny Eyres had given Steve Nixon’s team a half-time lead. The Yellows moved up to 10th.
Elsewhere, Ryan Malone grabbed the pivotal goal on 39 minutes as Barnton ended a five match winless run, edging past Barnoldswick Town at the Hinchliffe Homes Stadium. They moved up to 17th and are now twelve points clear of the bottom three, with Barlick a couple of spots above them in 15th.
Two out of sort teams claimed a point apiece as a late equaliser from Squires Gate’s Connor Smith saw them draw 1-1 with Congleton Town. Declan Fletcher found the net early on for the Bears, but they stay 16th as Gate drop to 18th with an eleven point cushion ahead of New Mills in 20th.
The final game in the Premier Division saw the bottom two sides go head-to-head, with Nelson and Cammell Laird 1907 playing out a 2-2 draw. Christopher Anderson headed the Admirals in front, but Adam Rooney hit back for Lairds. Despite the visitors missing a penalty in the second half, Josh Maldon’s effort looked to have them on course for a third straight win, before Thomas Keelings levelled with seven minutes to go. The result didn’t really help either side: Nelson are ten points from safety whilst Lairds stay nine points behind their opponents.
There are new leaders at the top of the First Division, with City of Liverpool taking advantage of Litherland REMYCA’s inactivity by winning 2-0 at Alsager Town. Elliott Nevitt grabbed both goals, and the result had extra significance for the Bullets, who dropped out of the top six.
Charnock Richard are breathing down the Purples’ necks, though, after they beat Daisy Hill 3-0 to move into 2nd place. Jonathan Hession scored once and Carl Grimshaw twice in the opening 45 minutes for a fifth consecutive victory.
The in-form team going into the final few weeks are 4th placed Widnes, and they made it six wins on the spin with an 8-0 thrashing of mid-table St Helens Town. George Lomax notched a first-half hat-trick, and Joey Dunn’s side turned on the style after the restart, with Christopher Lomax, Luke J Edwards and Chad Whyte all on the scoresheet alongside a Steven Akrigg brace. Widnes are now just two points off top spot with a game in hand.
Whitchurch Alport kept themselves in the hunt as they overcame Holker Old Boys 3-0 at Yockings Park. Steve McNichol, Simon Everall and Michael Blundell got the goals to move Alport to within four points of the summit.
A 1-1 draw at home to Carlisle City saw Sandbach United return to the play-off places. Bradley Hayton appeared to hand the visitors victory with eight minutes to play, but Joshua Lundstram equalised deep into added time to save the day for Andy Hockenhull’s team.
Prestwich Heys would have moved into the play-off spots with victory at Atherton LR, but Theodore Kidd got the only goal of the game for the hosts as they claimed maximum points, moving ten points clear of the bottom two in the process.
Not for the first time this season, there was an incredible match at FC Oswestry Town, with Chadderton eventually winning 5-4 to keep alive their outside hopes of a top six finish. Luke Heron and Matthew Crothers had the away side two to the good before Daniel Tinsley pulled one back. Heron and Andrew Bainbridge put Chaddy 4-1 ahead, but back came Oswestry through Tinsley again. Nathan Quinllan’s last minute goal made it 5-2 to Mark Howard’s side, and they needed it as well because Jack Harris and Tinsley went on to make it a nervy finish.
Silsden continued their good form as they came from behind to see off second-bottom Eccleshall 2-1. Kyle Dovey scored on the stroke of half-time for the away side, but Mark Everingham levelled it up before Joshua Eastwood dealt the visitors a cruel late blow.
Cheadle Town twice came from behind to share the spoils with AFC Blackpool. Jack Williams and Richard Tomlinson both put the away side into the lead, but Rhys Webb pegged them back on both occasions.
Last but not least, Rio Wilson Heys’ double was enough to hand Bacup Borough a 2-1 win at Ashton Town, who continue to prop up the division despite Marvin Molyneux equalising from the spot.
This weekend saw us move back into ‘shorts and t-shirt weather,’ so let’s hope both that and the entertainment value of the football carry on moving into the run-in!
Weekend Round Up - Saturday 8th April 2017
Sun 9th April 2017 | General
By Patrick Burke
The 2016/17 campaign will be over this time in three weeks. However, the battles at the top of both divisions remain on a knife edge after this weekend’s action, whilst it’s still all to play for at the other end as well.
There was one Friday night game in the Premier Division, and it was a big one as leaders Atherton Collieries came from behind to claim a vital 2-1 win at AFC Liverpool. Conor Smith’s goal midway through the first half had seriously threatened to throw the cat amongst the pigeons at the summit, but Colls rallied and responded after the interval through Jordan Cover and Jamie Forbes.
Michael Clegg’s side temporarily moved five points clear of everyone else, but the lead was cut to two points once again when second placed Runcorn Linnets ran out 3-0 winners at AFC Darwen on Saturday. Three goals in eight second half minutes – two from Stuart Wellstead and one from Zach Aley – keep Linnets in contention, even though Atherton have two games in hand on them.
Near neighbours Runcorn Town remain in the mix too after coming out on top at Winsford United. Simon Thelwell grabbed the only goal just before the half-hour mark to move Town up to 3rd, six points behind Colls on level games.
5th placed 1874 Northwich lost further ground on the sides above them as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Abbey Hey. Anyone who arrived after seven minutes will have missed both Johnathon Hardy’s opener for the hosts and the own goal which cancelled it out!
Padiham strengthened their grip on 6th place with an excellent 3-0 victory at Hanley Town, who are now five points adrift of their opponents. Patrick O’Brien and James Dean put the Storks in control by half-time, and Kieron Pickup rounded off their day with eighteen minutes to play.
8th placed Irlam’s five-match winning streak came to an end at home to an Ashton Athletic side buoyed by their midweek Lancashire Challenge Trophy triumph. Wednesday’s hero, Lee Vaughan, and Luke Holden turned the game on its head after Danny Eyres had given Steve Nixon’s team a half-time lead. The Yellows moved up to 10th.
Elsewhere, Ryan Malone grabbed the pivotal goal on 39 minutes as Barnton ended a five match winless run, edging past Barnoldswick Town at the Hinchliffe Homes Stadium. They moved up to 17th and are now twelve points clear of the bottom three, with Barlick a couple of spots above them in 15th.
Two out of sort teams claimed a point apiece as a late equaliser from Squires Gate’s Connor Smith saw them draw 1-1 with Congleton Town. Declan Fletcher found the net early on for the Bears, but they stay 16th as Gate drop to 18th with an eleven point cushion ahead of New Mills in 20th.
The final game in the Premier Division saw the bottom two sides go head-to-head, with Nelson and Cammell Laird 1907 playing out a 2-2 draw. Christopher Anderson headed the Admirals in front, but Adam Rooney hit back for Lairds. Despite the visitors missing a penalty in the second half, Josh Maldon’s effort looked to have them on course for a third straight win, before Thomas Keelings levelled with seven minutes to go. The result didn’t really help either side: Nelson are ten points from safety whilst Lairds stay nine points behind their opponents.
There are new leaders at the top of the First Division, with City of Liverpool taking advantage of Litherland REMYCA’s inactivity by winning 2-0 at Alsager Town. Elliott Nevitt grabbed both goals, and the result had extra significance for the Bullets, who dropped out of the top six.
Charnock Richard are breathing down the Purples’ necks, though, after they beat Daisy Hill 3-0 to move into 2nd place. Jonathan Hession scored once and Carl Grimshaw twice in the opening 45 minutes for a fifth consecutive victory.
The in-form team going into the final few weeks are 4th placed Widnes, and they made it six wins on the spin with an 8-0 thrashing of mid-table St Helens Town. George Lomax notched a first-half hat-trick, and Joey Dunn’s side turned on the style after the restart, with Christopher Lomax, Luke J Edwards and Chad Whyte all on the scoresheet alongside a Steven Akrigg brace. Widnes are now just two points off top spot with a game in hand.
Whitchurch Alport kept themselves in the hunt as they overcame Holker Old Boys 3-0 at Yockings Park. Steve McNichol, Simon Everall and Michael Blundell got the goals to move Alport to within four points of the summit.
A 1-1 draw at home to Carlisle City saw Sandbach United return to the play-off places. Bradley Hayton appeared to hand the visitors victory with eight minutes to play, but Joshua Lundstram equalised deep into added time to save the day for Andy Hockenhull’s team.
Prestwich Heys would have moved into the play-off spots with victory at Atherton LR, but Theodore Kidd got the only goal of the game for the hosts as they claimed maximum points, moving ten points clear of the bottom two in the process.
Not for the first time this season, there was an incredible match at FC Oswestry Town, with Chadderton eventually winning 5-4 to keep alive their outside hopes of a top six finish. Luke Heron and Matthew Crothers had the away side two to the good before Daniel Tinsley pulled one back. Heron and Andrew Bainbridge put Chaddy 4-1 ahead, but back came Oswestry through Tinsley again. Nathan Quinllan’s last minute goal made it 5-2 to Mark Howard’s side, and they needed it as well because Jack Harris and Tinsley went on to make it a nervy finish.
Silsden continued their good form as they came from behind to see off second-bottom Eccleshall 2-1. Kyle Dovey scored on the stroke of half-time for the away side, but Mark Everingham levelled it up before Joshua Eastwood dealt the visitors a cruel late blow.
Cheadle Town twice came from behind to share the spoils with AFC Blackpool. Jack Williams and Richard Tomlinson both put the away side into the lead, but Rhys Webb pegged them back on both occasions.
Last but not least, Rio Wilson Heys’ double was enough to hand Bacup Borough a 2-1 win at Ashton Town, who continue to prop up the division despite Marvin Molyneux equalising from the spot.
This weekend saw us move back into ‘shorts and t-shirt weather,’ so let’s hope both that and the entertainment value of the football carry on moving into the run-in!
