Weekend round up - Saturday 27th January 2018
Sun 28th January 2018 | General | By Patrick Burke
Another weekend hit by rain saw five Hallmark Security League Premier Division fixtures postponed as well as three in the First Division, but the remaining fourteen matches across both tiers provided no fewer than 64 goals.
In the Premier Division, the action began on Friday night, Widnes leapfrogging Runcorn Town into 2nd as George Lomax and Kev Towey fired the hosts to a 2-0 win.
Saturday saw leaders Runcorn Linnets stay ten points clear at the top after a tenth consecutive league victory.
Despite second bottom AFC Darwen taking a shock lead through Luke Cassidy, the home team responded with two from Kristian Holt and one each for Paul Shanley, Michael Simpson and Stuart Wellstead. The 5-1 reverse kept Darwen second from bottom.
Charnock Richard beat basement boys Barnton 4-1 at Mossie Park to move up to 3rd, Nathan Fairhurst, Ashley Young, Carl Grimshaw and Jonathan Hession on target. Jack Woolley’s effort for the Villagers couldn’t prevent a heavy loss.
Hanley Town returned to winning ways in the highest scoring fixture of the weekend as they overcame West Didsbury & Chorlton 6-2 to move up to 5th. After going seven games without success, a double from Neville Thompson set the hosts on their way.
Tom Bailey halved the deficit, but Theo Stair restored the two goal cushion before Ben Steer had West back in contention once again. However, Daniel Shelley and Michael Conlon netted in the second half and then Thompson completed the scoring to secure his hat-trick. Their opponents stayed 15th.
Padiham climbed to 7th courtesy of a 4-2 win over 16th placed Squires Gate. After sharing four goals in the first twenty-one minutes, Spencer Jordan and Danny Boyle twice putting the Storks ahead before being pegged back by Scott Harries and Max Rothwell, a second goal for Boyle before the break and a late one from Mark Ayres kept the points in East Lancashire.
The only other game in the Premier Division saw Congleton Town move into the top half after a 3-2 triumph at an Abbey Hey side who remained in the bottom four.
Oliver Ford and Declan Fletcher had the Bears in control, but goals either side of half-time from Peter Watling and Lewis Haydock had Luke Gibson’s team level. However, Fletcher’s second of the afternoon did the trick for Congleton.
In the First Division, the standout fixture of the weekend was at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, where leaders Silsden beat closest challengers Litherland REMYCA 2-1 thanks to early goals from Kyle Hancock and Chris Wademan. Colin Quirk pulled one back for the Merseysiders, but they were handed a rare defeat.
Whitchurch Alport are now only four points behind REMY in 3rd and have two games in hand; first half strikes from Simon Everall, Joe Howell and Sean Griffiths gave them a 3-0 home victory over 19th placed Bacup Borough.
Alsager Town remained 5th as they lost 4-1 to Cheadle Town. Callum Collinson had the visitors ahead at the interval, before one from Jake Ambrose and two from Christopher Sherrington eased them to a fantastic three points, ascending to 14th in the process. Matthew German bagged the Bullets’ consolation.
4th placed Prestwich Heys saw their match postponed, and the play-off places are now completed by Cammell Laird 1907 after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Stockport Town on the Wirral.
Mark Bainbridge volleyed the hosts in front in the first half, but Ben Halfacre had the Lions on terms shortly afterwards. Ultimately, a fine curling effort from Charlie MacInnes after the restart separated the teams as Stockport slipped a place to 11th.
Sandbach United remained well in the mix for a top six berth as they saw off Atherton LR 4-2. A brace from James Kirby was split by one apiece for Luke Walley and Stuart Tulloch as the hosts moved up to 7th. Goals from Theodore Kidd and Callum Scott were too little too late for LR, who stayed 13th.
AFC Blackpool began the day in 6th, but ended it in 8th after losing 3-1 at home to Carlisle City. Robert Carney and David Reynard struck towards the end of the opening 45 minutes for the visitors, and although Carnon Dawson had the hosts back in with a shout, another for Reynard ten minutes from time gave City a precious three points to put them 10th.
At New Sirs, second bottom Daisy Hill drew 2-2 against New Mills. Jordan Donnelly fired the home side ahead, but Nathan Neequaye and Jack McConnell turned the game around for the Millers. However, Donnelly’s second nine minutes from time earned a share of the spoils.
And finally for this weekend, bottom club Nelson have now lost just one of their last six after a 2-2 draw at St Helens Town. Chris Turner had the Admirals ahead at half-time, but Luke Edwards and Andrew Presho appeared to have Saints on course for victory. Turner had other ideas, and another for him saw Steve Cunningham’s side take a point.
With the matches growing in significance by the week, more entertaining action impacted the standings in both divisions ahead of a busy midweek schedule.
Weekend round up - Saturday 27th January 2018
Sun 28th January 2018 | General
By Patrick Burke
Another weekend hit by rain saw five Hallmark Security League Premier Division fixtures postponed as well as three in the First Division, but the remaining fourteen matches across both tiers provided no fewer than 64 goals.
In the Premier Division, the action began on Friday night, Widnes leapfrogging Runcorn Town into 2nd as George Lomax and Kev Towey fired the hosts to a 2-0 win.
Saturday saw leaders Runcorn Linnets stay ten points clear at the top after a tenth consecutive league victory.
Despite second bottom AFC Darwen taking a shock lead through Luke Cassidy, the home team responded with two from Kristian Holt and one each for Paul Shanley, Michael Simpson and Stuart Wellstead. The 5-1 reverse kept Darwen second from bottom.
Charnock Richard beat basement boys Barnton 4-1 at Mossie Park to move up to 3rd, Nathan Fairhurst, Ashley Young, Carl Grimshaw and Jonathan Hession on target. Jack Woolley’s effort for the Villagers couldn’t prevent a heavy loss.
Hanley Town returned to winning ways in the highest scoring fixture of the weekend as they overcame West Didsbury & Chorlton 6-2 to move up to 5th. After going seven games without success, a double from Neville Thompson set the hosts on their way.
Tom Bailey halved the deficit, but Theo Stair restored the two goal cushion before Ben Steer had West back in contention once again. However, Daniel Shelley and Michael Conlon netted in the second half and then Thompson completed the scoring to secure his hat-trick. Their opponents stayed 15th.
Padiham climbed to 7th courtesy of a 4-2 win over 16th placed Squires Gate. After sharing four goals in the first twenty-one minutes, Spencer Jordan and Danny Boyle twice putting the Storks ahead before being pegged back by Scott Harries and Max Rothwell, a second goal for Boyle before the break and a late one from Mark Ayres kept the points in East Lancashire.
The only other game in the Premier Division saw Congleton Town move into the top half after a 3-2 triumph at an Abbey Hey side who remained in the bottom four.
Oliver Ford and Declan Fletcher had the Bears in control, but goals either side of half-time from Peter Watling and Lewis Haydock had Luke Gibson’s team level. However, Fletcher’s second of the afternoon did the trick for Congleton.
In the First Division, the standout fixture of the weekend was at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, where leaders Silsden beat closest challengers Litherland REMYCA 2-1 thanks to early goals from Kyle Hancock and Chris Wademan. Colin Quirk pulled one back for the Merseysiders, but they were handed a rare defeat.
Whitchurch Alport are now only four points behind REMY in 3rd and have two games in hand; first half strikes from Simon Everall, Joe Howell and Sean Griffiths gave them a 3-0 home victory over 19th placed Bacup Borough.
Alsager Town remained 5th as they lost 4-1 to Cheadle Town. Callum Collinson had the visitors ahead at the interval, before one from Jake Ambrose and two from Christopher Sherrington eased them to a fantastic three points, ascending to 14th in the process. Matthew German bagged the Bullets’ consolation.
4th placed Prestwich Heys saw their match postponed, and the play-off places are now completed by Cammell Laird 1907 after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Stockport Town on the Wirral.
Mark Bainbridge volleyed the hosts in front in the first half, but Ben Halfacre had the Lions on terms shortly afterwards. Ultimately, a fine curling effort from Charlie MacInnes after the restart separated the teams as Stockport slipped a place to 11th.
Sandbach United remained well in the mix for a top six berth as they saw off Atherton LR 4-2. A brace from James Kirby was split by one apiece for Luke Walley and Stuart Tulloch as the hosts moved up to 7th. Goals from Theodore Kidd and Callum Scott were too little too late for LR, who stayed 13th.
AFC Blackpool began the day in 6th, but ended it in 8th after losing 3-1 at home to Carlisle City. Robert Carney and David Reynard struck towards the end of the opening 45 minutes for the visitors, and although Carnon Dawson had the hosts back in with a shout, another for Reynard ten minutes from time gave City a precious three points to put them 10th.
At New Sirs, second bottom Daisy Hill drew 2-2 against New Mills. Jordan Donnelly fired the home side ahead, but Nathan Neequaye and Jack McConnell turned the game around for the Millers. However, Donnelly’s second nine minutes from time earned a share of the spoils.
And finally for this weekend, bottom club Nelson have now lost just one of their last six after a 2-2 draw at St Helens Town. Chris Turner had the Admirals ahead at half-time, but Luke Edwards and Andrew Presho appeared to have Saints on course for victory. Turner had other ideas, and another for him saw Steve Cunningham’s side take a point.
With the matches growing in significance by the week, more entertaining action impacted the standings in both divisions ahead of a busy midweek schedule.
