MATCH ROUND UP W/E 14.4.12

Heswall are this season’s Umbro Cheshire Amateur Cup winners having defeated league rivals Cammell Laird Reserves, 4-0, in Friday night’s final held at a rain swept Vauxhall F.C. Both sides had created chances before Heswall’s 40th minute opener when Lee Cairns latched on to a free kick to send the ball into the net. Seconds earlier Lairds had hit the post and almost leveled matters a minute after going behind only for their corner to be scrambled off the line. But that was as good as it got for Lairds who fell further behind just before the break when the unmarked Jock Harrison planted a perfect header past Aaron Kinnear. Nine minutes into the 2nd period Lairds failed to clear their lines allowing Ian Burrows to execute an exquisite chip to make it 3-0. A late, close range, goal by substitute Stuart McMullen completed the scoring for Heswall against opponents who battled to the end but there was no doubting the village side’s eventual superiority on the night.
The 2nd Division promotion battle gathers intensity and the three main protagonists were in action on Wednesday when Hale and New Brighton each chalked up victories but Beb Athletic tasted defeat at the hands of Mallaby. The Mallaby side featured two 16 year olds in a new look outfit that is gaining many plaudits for it’s attractive style of play and Wednesday’s 2-0 success came virtue of 1st half strikes by Jordan Costello and Gerard Mullen. Two late goals steered Hale [Paul Hart,2, James Ormister, Sean Wright] to a 4-2 win over Runcorn Linnets Reserves [Lewis Buckley, Jack Webb] while New Brighton had Danny McGill to thank as his brace anchored their 2-0 defeat of Manor Athletic. At the weekend Hale took an early lead at Manor through Paul Hart but this was wiped out by Graham William’s free kick before the break. Williams later added a 2nd and Haydn Cooper completed a 3-1 success for Manor in a game that saw 3 red cards shown.
Table trailers Willaston are now in grave danger of relegation from Division 1 after their shot shy attack failed to counter a Tom Craig strike for Vauxhall Motors Reserves while despite going in front courtesy of Phil Davies, Marshalls Reserves remain just one place above them after losing out 2-1 at West Kirby who hit back through Matty Hogg and John Paul Stanhope. Tim Bigland and Steve Conner collected doubles for champions Ashville in Thursday’s 5-0 win over Blacon YC but 2 days later a Josh Dures brace wasn’t enough as they lost by the odd goal in five at Chester Nomads [Dale Harris, Danny Delgardo, Steve Cunningham]. Highlight of the 1st Division action in midweek saw Vauxhalls Res. trounce local rivals Ellesmere Port, 11-2 with Mark Winslade and Tom Craig leading the way with a hat trick apiece against a side who even changed keepers in a bid to stem the tide.
South Liverpool [Alex Woodcock] suffered only their 2nd defeat of their Division 3 campaign in midweek when they went down 2-1 to Mossley Hill Reserves [Alan Jordan, Tom Moore] but at the other end of the table Neston Nomads spirited battle to avoid the bottom two places was boosted by Wednesday night’s 3-2 win at fellow strugglers Ellesmere Port where Dean Jones produced a match winning hat trick. There was less joy for Nomads at the weekend when Tom Hockley,2, and Jamie Johnson obliged for Capenhurst Villa Reserves as they overcame Nomads [Rob Cottrell], 3-1 while Port went down 2-0 to Mersey Royal [Ali Major, Daryl Karisa].
A well struck double from Ashville Reserves’ captain and full back, Mark Howell, spearheaded his side’s 4-0 interval lead over New Brighton Reserves in Monday’s Wirral Amateur Cup Final. Robbie Courtney and Peter Wright were also on target while Liam Jameson struck twice late on for New Brighton as Ashville eventually ran out 4-2 winners.
In the Youth Division, Lower Breck’s latest success lifted them into 2nd spot as Shaun Campbell, 2, and Johnny Nado inspired the 3-0 victory at Runcorn Town while Sean Carlson and Kieron Parker each bagged a brace for Hale in the 5-1 success at Finn Harps.