Weekend round up - Saturday 23rd/Sunday 24th March 2019
Sun 24th March 2019 | General | By Ian Templeman
Cup semi finals mixed in with league action across the three divisions provided the usual range of talking points at the weekend.
In the Buildbase FA Vase semi final first leg, Northwich Victoria were held to a 1-1 draw by Chertsey Town at Wincham Park on Sunday afternoon.
In front of a crowd of 1288, Chertsey had taken a first half lead through Dave Taylor, but Vics levelled 18 minutes from time through Harvey Whyte.
Both Avro and Sandbach United have the advantage after their away wins in the respective first legs of the First Division Cup Semi Finals.
Goals in each half from Kane Wallwork and Mike Stockdale earned Avro a 2-0 win at Bacup Borough, while Ryan Allcock, an own goal, Harry Cain and Billy Buckley built a 4-1 lead for Sandbach Unietd at Carlisle City, and although the home side reduced the arrears late on, Sandbach take a 4-2 lead into the second leg.
In the Premier Division, City of Liverpool and Bootle continued their winning runs with victories, and although the Purps keep their two point lead at the top they were made to work hard for a 3-2 win at home to Hanley Town.
The Purps were 2-1 down with 16 minutes remaining before Jack Hazlehurst and John McGrath with a penalty edged them to victory with two goals in six minutes.
Ryan Cox's early goal for Bootle ensured the Bucks remained two points behind thanks to a 1-0 win at Barnoldswick Town.
Runcorn Town missed the chance to narrow the gap on Congleton Town in third place, losing 2-0 at Squires Gate. Riccardo Egidi and Joe Booth were on target for the home side.
A brisk start to the game between Ashton Athletic and Irlam saw the sides tied at 2-2 after 25 minutes. Adam Gilchrist and Christopher Bandell's goals were cancelled out by two from Jordan Buckley for Irlam.
But Gilchrist struck his second of the game nine minutes from time to earn Athletic a 3-2 win that kept them into sixth place, ahead of Charnock Richard on goal difference, who won 1-0 at bottom club Abbey Hey thanks to a goal from Carl Grimshaw.
Down in the relegation zone there was a vital win for Winsford United, whose 2-1 victory at home to Litherland REMYCA moved them six point clear of the drop zone.
Paul Foy gave Remy an early but Wealth Da Silva levelled on the half hour before Sam Madeley struck an 88th minute winner for the Blues.
West Didsbury & Chorlton continue to occupy second bottom place, their 1-1 draw at home to Padiham moving them to within three points of Hanley Town who sit just outside the drop zone.
Remi Howarth gave West a first half lead and Gary Bernett levelled for the Storks just after the hour.
Elsewhere, a first half Alex Hughes goal gave Whitchurch Alport a 1-0 home win over Burscough, and Silsden shared a goalless draw with 1874 Northwich.
In the First Division North, Longridge Town extended their lead at the top to seven points over Avro, thanks to a 5-2 home win over Steeton. Richie Allen bagged his fourth hat trick of the season for Town.
There was a dramatic finish at Adie Moran Park where Lee Grimshaw's second goal of the game in the second minute of stoppage time clinched a 2-1 win for Prestwich Heys over Lower Breck.
The result didn't alter the respective league positions, with Heys still fifth and Breck third.
At the bottom of the table Holker Old Boys remain six points above the drop zone after going down 3-0 at home to AFC Darwen, and there was some cheer at last for bottom club Atherton LR, who picked up their first win since early December, thanks to Nathan Strong's goal in the 75th minute of the game at Shelley.
Elsewhere, John Edgerton's 85th minute winner earned Ashton Town a 2-1 victory over Garstang, and Ryan Hall scored twice in Cleator Moor Celtic's 4-1 win over Chadderton.
The fascinating chase at the top of the First Division South continues, with Rylands keeping their four point lead at the top thanks to a 3-1 win at Barnton. Christopher Francis, Liam Moran and Dominic Murphy were on target for the league leaders.
Stone Old Alleynians remain in second place after a 2-1 home win over Wythenshawe Amateurs, a first half penalty from Dave Ablewhite and a second half winner from Jack Tomlinson clinching the points.
The Ammies drop into fourth place after being overtaken by FC Oswestry Town, whose 2-1 home win over Abbey Hulton United was achieved by two goals in the last five minutes, a Liam Parry penalty and a 90th minute winner from Samuel Spridgeon.
Vauxhall Motors and Wythenshawe Town are still separated by a point in fifth and sixth place respectively after they shared a 1-1 draw at the Syncreon Arena, an 89th minute own goal salvaging a point for the Motormen.
Cheadle Heath Nomads were two goals down after 13 minutes at home to St Martins but a goal from Andrew Simpson and two in the second half from Richard Tindall edged them to a 3-2 win.
Bradley Carr scored the decisive goal for Eccleshall in 4-3 win over Stockport Town at Pershall Park, and Maine Road also hit four, with Connor Hughes, Owen Pollitt, Thomas Keyworth and Joseph O'Brien all on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers.
Rangers remain in the relegation zone, along with Stone Dominoes who lost 3-1 at Alsager Town, George Shaw scoring twice for the Bullets.
In the other game Cammell Laird 1907 shared a 1-1 draw with Cheadle Town.
Weekend round up - Saturday 23rd/Sunday 24th March 2019
Sun 24th March 2019 | General
By Ian Templeman
Cup semi finals mixed in with league action across the three divisions provided the usual range of talking points at the weekend.
In the Buildbase FA Vase semi final first leg, Northwich Victoria were held to a 1-1 draw by Chertsey Town at Wincham Park on Sunday afternoon.
In front of a crowd of 1288, Chertsey had taken a first half lead through Dave Taylor, but Vics levelled 18 minutes from time through Harvey Whyte.
Both Avro and Sandbach United have the advantage after their away wins in the respective first legs of the First Division Cup Semi Finals.
Goals in each half from Kane Wallwork and Mike Stockdale earned Avro a 2-0 win at Bacup Borough, while Ryan Allcock, an own goal, Harry Cain and Billy Buckley built a 4-1 lead for Sandbach Unietd at Carlisle City, and although the home side reduced the arrears late on, Sandbach take a 4-2 lead into the second leg.
In the Premier Division, City of Liverpool and Bootle continued their winning runs with victories, and although the Purps keep their two point lead at the top they were made to work hard for a 3-2 win at home to Hanley Town.
The Purps were 2-1 down with 16 minutes remaining before Jack Hazlehurst and John McGrath with a penalty edged them to victory with two goals in six minutes.
Ryan Cox's early goal for Bootle ensured the Bucks remained two points behind thanks to a 1-0 win at Barnoldswick Town.
Runcorn Town missed the chance to narrow the gap on Congleton Town in third place, losing 2-0 at Squires Gate. Riccardo Egidi and Joe Booth were on target for the home side.
A brisk start to the game between Ashton Athletic and Irlam saw the sides tied at 2-2 after 25 minutes. Adam Gilchrist and Christopher Bandell's goals were cancelled out by two from Jordan Buckley for Irlam.
But Gilchrist struck his second of the game nine minutes from time to earn Athletic a 3-2 win that kept them into sixth place, ahead of Charnock Richard on goal difference, who won 1-0 at bottom club Abbey Hey thanks to a goal from Carl Grimshaw.
Down in the relegation zone there was a vital win for Winsford United, whose 2-1 victory at home to Litherland REMYCA moved them six point clear of the drop zone.
Paul Foy gave Remy an early but Wealth Da Silva levelled on the half hour before Sam Madeley struck an 88th minute winner for the Blues.
West Didsbury & Chorlton continue to occupy second bottom place, their 1-1 draw at home to Padiham moving them to within three points of Hanley Town who sit just outside the drop zone.
Remi Howarth gave West a first half lead and Gary Bernett levelled for the Storks just after the hour.
Elsewhere, a first half Alex Hughes goal gave Whitchurch Alport a 1-0 home win over Burscough, and Silsden shared a goalless draw with 1874 Northwich.
In the First Division North, Longridge Town extended their lead at the top to seven points over Avro, thanks to a 5-2 home win over Steeton. Richie Allen bagged his fourth hat trick of the season for Town.
There was a dramatic finish at Adie Moran Park where Lee Grimshaw's second goal of the game in the second minute of stoppage time clinched a 2-1 win for Prestwich Heys over Lower Breck.
The result didn't alter the respective league positions, with Heys still fifth and Breck third.
At the bottom of the table Holker Old Boys remain six points above the drop zone after going down 3-0 at home to AFC Darwen, and there was some cheer at last for bottom club Atherton LR, who picked up their first win since early December, thanks to Nathan Strong's goal in the 75th minute of the game at Shelley.
Elsewhere, John Edgerton's 85th minute winner earned Ashton Town a 2-1 victory over Garstang, and Ryan Hall scored twice in Cleator Moor Celtic's 4-1 win over Chadderton.
The fascinating chase at the top of the First Division South continues, with Rylands keeping their four point lead at the top thanks to a 3-1 win at Barnton. Christopher Francis, Liam Moran and Dominic Murphy were on target for the league leaders.
Stone Old Alleynians remain in second place after a 2-1 home win over Wythenshawe Amateurs, a first half penalty from Dave Ablewhite and a second half winner from Jack Tomlinson clinching the points.
The Ammies drop into fourth place after being overtaken by FC Oswestry Town, whose 2-1 home win over Abbey Hulton United was achieved by two goals in the last five minutes, a Liam Parry penalty and a 90th minute winner from Samuel Spridgeon.
Vauxhall Motors and Wythenshawe Town are still separated by a point in fifth and sixth place respectively after they shared a 1-1 draw at the Syncreon Arena, an 89th minute own goal salvaging a point for the Motormen.
Cheadle Heath Nomads were two goals down after 13 minutes at home to St Martins but a goal from Andrew Simpson and two in the second half from Richard Tindall edged them to a 3-2 win.
Bradley Carr scored the decisive goal for Eccleshall in 4-3 win over Stockport Town at Pershall Park, and Maine Road also hit four, with Connor Hughes, Owen Pollitt, Thomas Keyworth and Joseph O'Brien all on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers.
Rangers remain in the relegation zone, along with Stone Dominoes who lost 3-1 at Alsager Town, George Shaw scoring twice for the Bullets.
In the other game Cammell Laird 1907 shared a 1-1 draw with Cheadle Town.
