Trade Mark Collections
East Cheshire Football League.
It was back to business as usual in the ECL as for the first time since late November, there wasa full programme of fixtures with none falling foul of the weather- It showed with the top four clubs all winning and scoring twenty two goals between them .
High Lane were in Interleague Cup action against Sandbach in a tie that had already been postponed three times..it was worth the wait…High Lane edging their rivals from the Crewe & District League 5-4 in a sudden death penalty shoot out after the teams finished all square at 5-5 after extra time.
Inter_League Cup.
High Lane 5 Sandbach Town 5 (a.e.t)
High Lane win 5-4 on pens.
A quite remarkable game in the Inter –League Cup saw new boys High Lane progress into the next round after a nerve jangling penalty shoot out with the hosts keeper and man of the match Nick Winstanley making the final decisive save to send his team mates into absolute raptures.
High Lane started well scoring twice in the opening half hour through Dave Wilde and Marc Lilleyman but it wasn’t to last. The visitors bounced back to trail 2-1 at the interval then shocked their hosts in the second half scoring three times with out reply. But for the heroics of Winstanley , who took a stud in his face for his troubles , Sandbach really should have been out of sight but a defensive mix up saw High Lane back in the tie thanks to a an own goal.
Ben Eastwood, only just back from suspension battled bravely in midfield but his match ended prematurely as he was carried off with knee ligament damage that could see him out for some time. With the game finely balanced at 3-4 Ben Townley crashed home to make it 4-4 and send the tie into extra time.
Having trailed for most of the match it was High Lane who now had the momentum and Dave Wilde hit his second after a well worked free kick but the drama had only just begun as , with the final kick of the game, Sandbach equalised. High Lane’s Rob Graydon had the rather dubious pleasure of taking the first penalty but as he scored their spirits lifted and it was left to Nick Winstanley to save the day.
League.
Poynton Nomads 3 Poynton Kings 2
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| David Brindle scores for Kings |
Game of the day in the league saw two Poynton rivals clash at Bollington Recreation Ground. In a wonderfully entertaining game it was Nomads who deservedly ran out winners with a spirited second half display after they trailed 2-1 and were down to ten men with all their subs already on, the unfortunate Liam Gray having to leave the field with bruised ribs after a heavy but accidental collision. David Brindle opened the scoring on seventeen minutes as he calmly sent Jack Gaskell the wrong way from the penalty spot after referee Pete Lloyd had spotted a hand ball. Despite plenty of endeavour from both sides there were few attempts on target but a neatly taken goal from Tom Gaskell on thirty eight minutes got the hosts back on level terms as his half volley crept into the far corner.
Steve Rhodes had a marvellous opportunity to give Nomads the lead a minute before the break as his mazy run brought him within site of goal but he was guilty of holding onto the ball a fraction too long and the danger was abated.
Five minutes into the second half with Kings relying heavily on Tom Hopkins breaking the midfield gain line and releasing his forwards Kings took the lead. Thinking the referee would blow for offside Nomads could only stand and watch as Scott Wright drilled home a low cross shot having been played clear by Gary Kinzett. Player manager Jonny Blissett sacrificed himself as Nomads re-shuffled their pack bringing on the physical presence of Stewart Johnson upfront and the skill and speed of Callum Loftus on the wing. It worked , but only after Liam Gray had had to leave the field . Mark Toomey made it 2-2 with a brave header from close range and Aaron Loftus made it 3-2 with five minutes remaining. It was no more than Nomads deserved , Loftus was outstanding , as was midfielder Steve Rhodes who had several chances to get on the scoresheet himself but it was the overall team spirit that impressed and keeps them in the hunt for title honours at the end of the season.
Old Alts Youth 3 Poynton 3
OAY and Poynton have become known as the draw specialists this season so it would have come as absolutely no surprise that this game too finished all square . It was another lively encounter with six goals , one sending off , some fantastic saves and plenty of incident. In an end to end game Ewen McKinnon scored a hat-trick for the visitors including a penalty after an Old Alts defender saved a goal bound header from Chris Bell. For OAY Kieran Joyce , Tom Masey and Tom Porter were all on target.
Wlmslow Sports 7 Old Alts Vets 1
Wilmslow began 2008 with an emphatic victory over the Vets at Upcast Lane to continue their unbeaten run and remain one point ahead of rivals Club AZ at the top of the ECL. Danny Smith led the scoring with a hat-trick with Jonny Devine bagging a brace and Nick Russell and Martin Shardlow also on the score sheet.
Old Alts 0 Club AZ 5
Club AZ proved too strong for Old Alts as they comfortably defeated their hosts 5-0 at Crossford Bridge. Goals came from Neil Benny , Ben Davenport,Lee Manion, Dean Pountney and John Whitehead in a one sided game.
Juno 0 Boarhound 7
A terrific second half display saw Juno hit for six by Boarhound who had assistant manager Wayne Shufflebotham in charge in the absence of manager Maurice Sutton.
Dan Frost had opened the scoring after ten minutes from close range but at half time, with keeper Rich Lane in fine form Juno were still in with a shout.
An Andy Foote thunderbolt from 25 yards out five minutes after the restart broke Juno’s resolve as they struggled to cope with the pace and power of Boarhound. They lost their shape and Boarhound took full advantage. Dan Frost got his second, Matty Roberts scored twice and their were further goals from Jamie Collins and Ryan Stewart. To be fair to Juno they probably deserved a goal as they were dangerous from set plays but to the rest of the league this was a powerful Boarhound display laying down their credentials for the rest of the season .
