A review of this weekend’s action from the
Macclesfield & District F.A. Sunday Cup.
Sponsored by Gradus Ltd
By Matt Eagles
1st Rd
You can always count on the F.A Sunday Cup ties to produce their fare share of thrills and spills, this weekends games proved no exception with plenty of goals, and no fewer than eight red cards, four of them coming in an explosive second half between Poynton and Disley 1sts. There were also shocks a plenty with last seasons finalists , Packhorse falling at the first hurdle and Railway View’s cup run coming to an end at home to First Division Albion Rovers.
Baths 1 Westlands 0
Craig Millward
FC Grove 1 AC Bollan 3
Ashley Jordan Tim Hammond 2
Simon Bush
Unicorn (MSL) 1 Three Crowns 8
Nick Mullins Greg Mathers 2
Johnny Mercer 2
Nathan Hulley 2
James Gaskell
Jason Blythe
Railway View 3 Albion Rovers 6
Mike Harrison Ian Potts 3
Stuart Ainsworth (pen) Gareth Gibbons 2
Liam Fisher Jamie Collins
Packhorse 0 Brewers 3
Jake McGarry 2
Martin Firth
Vale Hoppers 2 North West Fire 3
Jake Moss John Hopkinson
David Pickles Simon Hallow
Andy Martin
Alderley Royal Oak 8 Foresters 1
Scott McGowan 4 Steve Byram
Alex Kemp
Duncan Warrinder
Stephen Boardman 2
Poynton 3 Disley (1sts) 4 ( aet )
Leon Eadsforth Mike Ward 2
Lee Stubbs John Critchlow 2
Jon Chesters
Brewers produced perhaps the shock of this season’s First round by knocking out one of the pre-tournament favourites and last seasons losing finalists Packhorse 3-0 at Mary Dendy Fields .Their victory however came as no surprise to a delighted manager Damien Druce who, despite a slow start in the league always felt his team could compete with the best teams in the Sunday League once he had finalised his squad of players.
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| Man of the Match- Brewers Dom Chell |
Having hit five last week against Macc Boys Seniors , once again it was Jake McGarry whose goals made the difference. The in form striker scored twice, once in each half to help send Brewers through to round Two, but it was a thunderous left foot free kick from Martin Firth that had given the visitors the lead in the first half. It was far from one way traffic though as Brewers battled to hold onto their lead , playing the last twenty minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Adam Brindle. Dom chell was outstanding in goal and captain Matt Woolley led by example with probably his best game for the club so far.
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| Jake McGarry is congratulated by Matt Woolley |
Flying high in the First Division Albion Rovers knocked out Premier League Railway View on their Windmill Street pitch. The visitors were happy to welcome back former player Gareth Gibbons into their line up and his presence and guile upfront had an immediate impact. Within two minutes of his return he had set up Jamie Collins to head home and it was his curling free kick that made it 3-1 after twenty minutes . In between man of the match Ian Potts scored the first of three goals for Rovers with a spectacular shot from distance and not to be out done , Mike Harrison netted a superb volley from 20 yards to pull a goal back for Railway.
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| Railway's Mike Harrison lines up a free kick |
Railway stepped up the pressure in the second half pushing forward to get an early goal that would put them right in the match . Michael Oakes had a great chance but his effort was blocked by a last gasp sliding block from centre half Ryan Beaden who put the ball out for a corner. It was however Rovers who extended their lead against the run of play , full back Michael Gibbons breaking down the left to leave Ian Potts with a simple tap in.
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| Stuart Ainsworth scored a penalty for Railway |
A penalty from Stuart Ainsworth and a neat finish from Liam Fisher inside twelve frantic minutes, which included the dismissal of Beaden by referee Colin Leese should have ensured a exciting finale but it all fizzled out as Railway ran out of steam when Gareth Gibbons nonchalantly lifted the ball over Brett Baloc to make it 5-3 and Ian Potts hit number six with a flying volley from ten yards.
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| Albion Rovers' hat-trick hero Ian Potts |
A second half brace from Tim Hammond ensured AC Bollans’s safe passage through to the 2nd Round against FC Grove at Lacey Green. Despite starting the game with seven first team regulars unavailable Grove led at half time thanks to a controversial Ashley Jordan strike but in the second half when things began to go against them they inexplicably lost their heads finishing the game with nine players. AC Bollan perhaps should and could have scored more but in the end they ran out comfortable victors. Simon Bush grabbing a third.
Baths continued their excellent start to the season with yet another victory this time against Westlands from Congleton . In a tight game the tie was decided by a Craig Millward goal in the eightieth minute. But credit must go to Bath's centre half and man of the match Liam Casey who was quite oustanding.
There were no surprises at Back Lane as Unicorn were swept aside by Mark Sutton’s Three Crowns as they scored four times in each half. With rivals Packhorse going out this victory will give the visitors real hope of an extended run in this seasons competition , that is, of course providing they don’t meet Brewers in Round two!!
On the score sheet for Three Crowns were Greg Mathers, Johny Mercer and Nathan Hulley who all scored twice and James Gaskell and the mercurial Jason Blythe. Nick Mullins hit a consolation for Unicorn.
Jim Evison Fields proved an unhappy hunting ground for Foresters as they were thrashed 8-1 by an impressive looking Alderley Royal Oak side. Referee Brian Clowes took charge as Royal Oak proved far too strong for the visitors scoring eight times before Foresters eventually found the net with a minute remaining with the result never in doubt. Scott McGowan helped himself to four goals with Alex Kemp, Duncan Warrinder and substitute Stephen Boardman with two, all adding to the scoresheet. Steve Byram hit a consolation for the visitors.
An Andy Martin goal two minutes from time decided this exciting tie as North West Fire just edged out Vale Hoppers to make it to Round Two. With the scores level at 2-2 going into the second half the final 45 minutes were always going to be tight and with the game seemingly heading for extra time up popped Martin to break Hoppers hearts barely two minutes from the final whistle . Scorers for NW Fire were John Hopkinson and Simon Hallow whilst on the score sheet for Vale Hoppers were Jake Moss and David Pickles.
Referee Peter Gregory had his work cut out in a quite extraordinary game between Poynton and Disley 1sts. The game was eventually decided by a John Critchlow strike in extra time but it had threatened to boil over as both teams had two players dismissed in an ill disciplined second half. Leon Eadsforth had given the hosts the lead only to see Mike Ward, with two and John Critchlow turn the game back in the visitors favour at 3-1. Poynton came back to draw level through Lee Stubbs and Jon Chesters but in couldn’t quite hold on as Critchlow’s second goal sent the visitors through.
