A review of this weekend’s action from the
Lewis Evans Upholstery
sponsored
Macclesfield & District Sunday Football League.
Premier Division
Three Crowns 1 Pack Horse 1
A fair result in the end but a draw was not what either side really wanted. Pack horse had much the better of a predictably combative affair with all the battles coming in midfield but it was Tom Perry, in goal for Crowns who was by far the busiest keeper making smart saves most notably from Lee Malkin. The game was goal less at half time but within three minutes of the restart the visitors took the lead, Lee Malkin tapping home from close range for his twentieth goal of the season .
Sean Gill, Ryan Stewart and Dave Barratt fought hard for possession and slowly began to gain the upper hand against Martin and Andy Quigley giving strikers Andy Foote and Nathan Hulley a chance to test the miserly Pack defence. Despite having more of the play Crowns best chance seemed to be from set pieces. Nathan Hulley wasted a great opportunity on seventy minutes but with eight minutes remaining he lined up an almost identical free kick some 22 yards out and curled a magnificent ball beyond Jason Knight and into the top corner. With thirty seconds to go Andy Foote had a great chance to steal the game as he rose to head Ryan Stewart’s curling corner but to his despair he crashed his header against the crossbar.
Packhorse, having dominated large parts of the game, were ultimately thankful to leave Victoria Park with a point.
Blueberry 3 Prestbury Club 0
Three points and a clean sheet to boot, it was a good day all round for Blueberry who are now within three points of Vale in their fight to avoid the drop. Pete Eccles gave the home side the lead right on half time with Luke Wild and Steve Bellamy adding two more in the second half. Lee Smith did an excellent job standing in for regular keeper Dave Mellor who was sidelined through injury.
Brewers 3 Oxfford 2
A second half strike from free kick specialist Martin Firth ultimately proved to be the difference in an entertaining game at Bollington Rec between two evenly matched sides. Dave Billington gave the visitors a first half lead on fifteen minutes only to see Martin Firth equalise on the half hour . Jamie Madden made it 2-1 early in the second half with his fourth of the season but Mark Billington soon brought Oxfford back level with his second of the match. With minutes remaining upstepped Firth to blast home the winner for Brewers who climb to second place , one point behind Three Crowns but with two games in hand.
Macc Boys Seniors 5 Vale 0
An excellent performance from the Macc Boys who built on their Cup success of last week and are now right in the mix for title honours . After a solid first half in which they led 1-0 thanks to an Eddie Roberts goal they accelerated away in the second half scoring four times . Simon Gibbons scored twice , both goals direct from free kicks and he was joined on the score sheet by Ali Stevenson and Chris Coppenhall who grabbed his sixth of the season.
Railway View 3 AC Bollan 3
A really entertaining game on Windmill Street refereed by Pete Gregory saw Railway come from behind three times to take a well deserved point at home to AC Bollan. In a disappointing season so far Railway proved they do have real spirit as first Mike Harrison , then Chris Coxen and finally , with three minutes left on the clock debutant Dave Gibbons pulled Railway back level after goals from John Williams , Andy Davies and Tim Hammond had given the visitors the lead.
FIRST DIVISION
Baths 4 Macc Boys Seniors 5
Mid table Macc Boys would , on paper not have been expected to trouble high flying Baths who had only lost one game in the league this season , but they did ..and how. This result puts a severe dent in Bath’s promotion ambitions leaving them in third place , nine points behind second place Boarhound. All credit to Baths , they did come from behind three times at 0-2 , 2-3 and 3-4 to level the game but it wasn’t their day as Macc Boys became of age to take all three points . On target for Baths , Andy Wells , Lee Anderson, Liam Casey and Paul Ainsworth and for Macc Boys Dave Short hit two with Will Perry , Chris Smallman and James Wooten also amongst the goals .
Hollins 0 Albion Rovers 2
Its twelve wins from twelve for Rovers who now look like nailed on certainties for promotion to the Premier Division. Jamie Collins set them on their way with an excellent freekick to register his 31st goal of the season in the first half and Gareth Gibbons made it 2-0 in the second half from the penalty spot. A disappointed Hollins team now lie in fourth place three points behind Baths.
Poynton 6 Chain & Gate 0
A much improved performance from both sides saw Poynton comfortably take all three points with Rick Cash helping himself to a hat-trick making it eleven goals so far this season. Bobby Cash , Leo Faulkner and Dan Moult were also on target.
Tytherington Juniors 2 Boarhound 6
Boarhound seem certain to join Albion Rovers in the top league next season after another powerful display against a Juniors side who played better than the scoreline suggests. Dan Avery and Ryan Walker both scored for the home side but with Craig Hayes, Andy Shard , Wayne Riley and Decland Fletcher all on target for the visitors the result was never really in doubt . Fletcher ‘s hat-trick takes his tally to thirty five in all competitions this season , just four ahead of Albion’s Jamie Collins.
Unicorn 3 Sporting Kerridge 2
Unicorn recorded only their second win of the season after overcoming Sporting Kerridge at Back Lane . Chris Bann scored twice for the home side with Chris Kelly adding a third.
