Weekend round up - Saturday 31st March 2018
Sun 1st April 2018 | General | By Ian Templeman
The first part of an Easter weekend double header of fixtures began on Friday and Saturday, with two Premier Division games played on Good Friday afternoon.
Runcorn Linnets remain at the top of the table, although they had to settle for a goalless draw at Bootle. Meanwhile, Runcorn Town stay in fourth after coming from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to City of Liverpool.
John Connolly and Luke Denson with a penalty had the Purps two ahead after just 17 minutes, but Paul McManus pulled a goal back with 57th minute penalty before Craig Cairns struck the equaliser 13 minutes from time.
On Saturday, the eye catching result was at the Silentnight Stadium, where Widnes's unbeaten run of 17 games came to an end in dramatic fashion when they lost 6-1 to Barnoldswick Town.
Goals from Ben Gorman, Andrew Hill, James Crorken and Aaron Hollindrake gave Barlick a 4-0 lead at half time , and Zack Dale and a second from Aaron Hollindrake rounded off a great afternoon for the home side.
Hanley Town remain in third place after being held to 1-1 draw at home to 1874 Northwich. Joshua Thorpe opened the scoring for Town on 15 minutes, and Scott McGowan levelled for 1874 nine minutes into the second half.
1874 now have just ten games in hand on Runcorn Linnets at the top, having caught up some of their backlog in midweek.
Charnock Richard are in sixth place after falling to a rare home defeat, West Didsbury & Chorlton emerging with the points thanks to a 2-1 win. Matthew Eckersley opened the scoring for West in the fifth minute, Carl Grimshaw levelled for Charnock on 26 minutes, but Ashley Woods struck the winner six minutes into the second half.
The highest scoring game of the day was at the Ruby Civil Arena, where Padiham won 5-4 in a thriller against AFC Liverpool.
Anthony Lyons opened the scoring for the Reds, before Mark Ayres, Daniel Boyle, Jason Hart and Jordan Spencer built a 4-1 lead for Padiham, which was reduced when
Elliot Nevitt scored a second for the visitors just before half time.
It was game on when Lyons scored his second just before the hour, but Daniel Boyle's second of the afternoon restored the Storks two goal advantage before Lyons completed his hat trick three minutes from time to reduce the arrears once more.
Winsford United came from two goals down to eventually earn a point from a 3-3 draw at home to Ashton Athletic, Callum Gardner's 87th minute penalty bringing the Blues level.
Down in the relegation zone, Abbey Hey did their hopes of survival a lot of good with a 4-0 win at already relegated Barnton. Andrew Smith and Lewis Haydock had Abbey two up by the break, and Robert Swallow and Adam Farrand from the penalty spot added two more in the second half.
Burscough remain in trouble after going down 4-2 at Congleton Town, which leaves them just above the drop zone. Prince Ekpolo scored both Burscough goals in the first half which were cancelled out by Thomas Morris and David Short, and after the break Steve Foster and Declan Fletcher scored to secure the victory for the Bears.
Maine Road moved a point closer to safety and are now just three points behind Burscough, after a 1-1 draw at home to Squires Gate
Ben Davison struck an equaliser for Road 13 minutes from time, after Gary Pett had given Gate the lead.
In Division One, it was a good day for Litherland REMYCA, who narrowed the gap at the top of the table to just two points, with their win at Atherton LR while league leaders Silsden AFC were held to a 2-2 draw at Cheadle Town.
Aidan Kirby and Reece Kendall had Silsden two up after 32 minutes, but Richard Whyatt and Luke Farrow struck in the second half to earn Cheadle a share of the points.
Meanwhile, at Crilly Park two first half penalties from Colin Quirk and a third goal from Paul Foy 15 minutes from time saw REMYCA through to their 3-0 win.
Whitchurch Alport remain in third place, three points ahead of Prestwich Heys in fourth, after goals from Lee Pickerill and Dean Twigg earned them a 2-0 win at Daisy Hill.
Meanwhile Heys lost for the first time in 11 games when they went down 3-2 at AFC Blackpool.
Jack Williams, Conah Bishop and Daniel Pickering were on target for Blackpool, with Chris Baguley and Daniel White scoring for Heys.
James Kirby, Stuart Tulloch, Josh Lane and Brandon Moores scored for Sandbach United in the 4-2 win at Nelson that keeps them in fifth place, and Alsager Town occupy the final play off place after their 4-0 win at Eccleshall.
Michael Lennon, Taylor Attrell, Matthew German and Joseph Kearns scored for the Bullets.
Cammell Laird 1907 kept up their hopes of a play off spot by coming from behind to earn a point from a 1-1 draw at St Helens Town. Daniel Greene had opened the scoring for Town and Hayden Cooper levelled for Lairds four minutes from half time.
Holker Old Boys’ hopes of making the play offs were dented by a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Chadderton, Jack Turnbull scoring in each half, and in the other game that took place in Cumbria, a last minute winner from Adam Rigby earned New Mills a 2-1 win at Carlisle City.
The other two games ended in draws, with an 85th minute equaliser from Joshua Walker ensuring Abbey Hulton United emerged with a point from a 2-2 draw at FC Oswestry Town, and Stockport Town drew 1-1 with Bacup Borough.
Weekend round up - Saturday 31st March 2018
Sun 1st April 2018 | General
By Ian Templeman
The first part of an Easter weekend double header of fixtures began on Friday and Saturday, with two Premier Division games played on Good Friday afternoon.
Runcorn Linnets remain at the top of the table, although they had to settle for a goalless draw at Bootle. Meanwhile, Runcorn Town stay in fourth after coming from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to City of Liverpool.
John Connolly and Luke Denson with a penalty had the Purps two ahead after just 17 minutes, but Paul McManus pulled a goal back with 57th minute penalty before Craig Cairns struck the equaliser 13 minutes from time.
On Saturday, the eye catching result was at the Silentnight Stadium, where Widnes's unbeaten run of 17 games came to an end in dramatic fashion when they lost 6-1 to Barnoldswick Town.
Goals from Ben Gorman, Andrew Hill, James Crorken and Aaron Hollindrake gave Barlick a 4-0 lead at half time , and Zack Dale and a second from Aaron Hollindrake rounded off a great afternoon for the home side.
Hanley Town remain in third place after being held to 1-1 draw at home to 1874 Northwich. Joshua Thorpe opened the scoring for Town on 15 minutes, and Scott McGowan levelled for 1874 nine minutes into the second half.
1874 now have just ten games in hand on Runcorn Linnets at the top, having caught up some of their backlog in midweek.
Charnock Richard are in sixth place after falling to a rare home defeat, West Didsbury & Chorlton emerging with the points thanks to a 2-1 win. Matthew Eckersley opened the scoring for West in the fifth minute, Carl Grimshaw levelled for Charnock on 26 minutes, but Ashley Woods struck the winner six minutes into the second half.
The highest scoring game of the day was at the Ruby Civil Arena, where Padiham won 5-4 in a thriller against AFC Liverpool.
Anthony Lyons opened the scoring for the Reds, before Mark Ayres, Daniel Boyle, Jason Hart and Jordan Spencer built a 4-1 lead for Padiham, which was reduced when
Elliot Nevitt scored a second for the visitors just before half time.
It was game on when Lyons scored his second just before the hour, but Daniel Boyle's second of the afternoon restored the Storks two goal advantage before Lyons completed his hat trick three minutes from time to reduce the arrears once more.
Winsford United came from two goals down to eventually earn a point from a 3-3 draw at home to Ashton Athletic, Callum Gardner's 87th minute penalty bringing the Blues level.
Down in the relegation zone, Abbey Hey did their hopes of survival a lot of good with a 4-0 win at already relegated Barnton. Andrew Smith and Lewis Haydock had Abbey two up by the break, and Robert Swallow and Adam Farrand from the penalty spot added two more in the second half.
Burscough remain in trouble after going down 4-2 at Congleton Town, which leaves them just above the drop zone. Prince Ekpolo scored both Burscough goals in the first half which were cancelled out by Thomas Morris and David Short, and after the break Steve Foster and Declan Fletcher scored to secure the victory for the Bears.
Maine Road moved a point closer to safety and are now just three points behind Burscough, after a 1-1 draw at home to Squires Gate
Ben Davison struck an equaliser for Road 13 minutes from time, after Gary Pett had given Gate the lead.
In Division One, it was a good day for Litherland REMYCA, who narrowed the gap at the top of the table to just two points, with their win at Atherton LR while league leaders Silsden AFC were held to a 2-2 draw at Cheadle Town.
Aidan Kirby and Reece Kendall had Silsden two up after 32 minutes, but Richard Whyatt and Luke Farrow struck in the second half to earn Cheadle a share of the points.
Meanwhile, at Crilly Park two first half penalties from Colin Quirk and a third goal from Paul Foy 15 minutes from time saw REMYCA through to their 3-0 win.
Whitchurch Alport remain in third place, three points ahead of Prestwich Heys in fourth, after goals from Lee Pickerill and Dean Twigg earned them a 2-0 win at Daisy Hill.
Meanwhile Heys lost for the first time in 11 games when they went down 3-2 at AFC Blackpool.
Jack Williams, Conah Bishop and Daniel Pickering were on target for Blackpool, with Chris Baguley and Daniel White scoring for Heys.
James Kirby, Stuart Tulloch, Josh Lane and Brandon Moores scored for Sandbach United in the 4-2 win at Nelson that keeps them in fifth place, and Alsager Town occupy the final play off place after their 4-0 win at Eccleshall.
Michael Lennon, Taylor Attrell, Matthew German and Joseph Kearns scored for the Bullets.
Cammell Laird 1907 kept up their hopes of a play off spot by coming from behind to earn a point from a 1-1 draw at St Helens Town. Daniel Greene had opened the scoring for Town and Hayden Cooper levelled for Lairds four minutes from half time.
Holker Old Boys’ hopes of making the play offs were dented by a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Chadderton, Jack Turnbull scoring in each half, and in the other game that took place in Cumbria, a last minute winner from Adam Rigby earned New Mills a 2-1 win at Carlisle City.
The other two games ended in draws, with an 85th minute equaliser from Joshua Walker ensuring Abbey Hulton United emerged with a point from a 2-2 draw at FC Oswestry Town, and Stockport Town drew 1-1 with Bacup Borough.
