Macclesfield News - written by local people

A review of this weekend’s action from the

Lewis Evans Upholstery sponsored Macclesfield & District Sunday Football League.

Blueberry remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division after a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Packhorse who are now well placed to overhaul league leaders Three Crowns . They trail the league leaders by a mere  three points  with four games in hand . It was a much better performance by Blueberry who must have feared the worst facing the highest scorers in the league. They managed to restrict Packhorse to a two goal lead at the end of the first half and  with the visitors only scoring a further three times  in the second half  Blueberry can take heart from a respectable scoreline  against arguably the strongest team in the league.  Prolific strikers Dave Hancox and Lee Malkin grabbed four between them with Hancox hitting a hat-trick and Simon Band hit  a fifth. The Packhorse must now turn their attention to the Cheshire Cup as their first fixture of 2009 is a tricky 4^th Round Cheshire Cup tie against Cale Green.

Three Crowns really have had a truly dreadful  December losing all three games in a spell that surely ends their title ambitions. Two of their defeats were at the hands of rivals Brewers  who have now scored thirteen times  in two games against them.

Referee Pete Gregory took charge as Brewers stormed into a five goal lead  with  Jake McGarry hitting a first half brace   before Three Crowns hit a consolation from  the penalty spot when Matt Woolley was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, Jonny Mercer despatching his sixth goal of the  season from   from  twelve yards. Danny Bailey and  a stunning left foot free kick from Martin Firth  concluded the scoring for the hosts.

Brewers have now beaten all their main rivals including  the Packhorse who they knocked out of the Macc FA Sunday Cup first round but really must be cursing their lack of cohesion in their opening fixtures which could have cost them a title if the Packhorse continue to win their games in hand.

At Bollington Cross Macc Boys Seniors  consolidated  third place with another victory , this time against Railway View whose from continues to baffle the pundits. With so many talented individual players in their squad Railway really should have been challenging for honours this season but their form has been  patchy to say the very least. Goals from Dave Spruce and Liam Fisher weren’t enough as Richard Pulvertaft , Josh Roberts  and Eddie Roberts  all scored to give the hosts all three points.

 A scratch AC Bollan were out played by an exciting looking Oxfford team at Congleton Road as without regular keeper James Flower they conceded four times . 

Dave Bilington- Oxfford

Oxfford got off to a tremendous start  scoring twice in the opening twelve minutes through Nathan Shaw and a Jack Jones penalty and continued to trouble a makeshift Bollan defence. Shaw was tremendous in midfield   and the visitors had real trouble  keeping tabs on him as he roamed industriously all over the pitch. Oxfford manager Mark Billington was philosophical  at the thought of having to lose his best player back to university  early in the new year. If he was available every week Oxfford certainly wouldn’t be second bottom.

Jack Jones goes close for Oxfford

After a dressing down from their manager at half time Bollan started the second period well taking the game to their hosts  and when Dave Bradford fired home from ten yards across the goalkeeper a comeback was on the cards . However it proved to be a false dawn as despite  hitting the bar shortly afterwards Bollan conceded twice more in four minutes with their defence going to sleep. Chris Mason made it 3-1 as he jinked unchallenged into the penalty area  and fired a shot low past keeper Les Sykes which went in off the near post. Jordan Lee hit number four.

Games involving  Prestbury are rarely dull and once again this weekends’ encounter proved no exception. One thing you can guarantee is goals and if you are the away side it’s  at least three, however Prestbury more often than not score more!!!!

A debut strike  from the impressive Paul Smith gave the hosts the lead but Vale brought the score level through Tom Jackson’s seventh goal of the season. Steve Whitehead made it 2-1 but again back came a tenacious Vale, Jackson scoring his second.  Two Chris Connors goals either side of  half time including a header and a spectacular effort from way out on the left hand touchline  gave Prestbury a two goal cushion but Dave Holmes sensed a wobble as he made it 4-3.  Neil O’Brian secured all three points  with his fourth strike of the season.