East Cheshire Football League
Mary Dendy go top as they thrash Club AZ 5-1, High Lane's unbeaten run continues as they draw at Poynton.
By Matt Eagles
Sep 13, 2009, 20:33

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EAST CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

League Table

Boarhound    4   Poynton Kings      2

Boarhound started the season as they finished off last with a victory  but despite taking all three points manager Maurice Sutton admitted his team’s performance had been ‘rusty’. Dave Barratt gave the champions a first half lead but Andy Wright brought the visitors right back in the game as he levelled the scores at 1-1 . An unfortunate own goal gave Boarhound a slender first half advantage before Jack Butterworth again ensured parity early into the second period. Dec Fletcher, a young striker with a big reputation made it 3-2 before substitute Simon Gibbons came onto to secure the points with a fourth.

Juno United    4    Old Alts      1

A change of venue seems to have done Juno absolutely no harm at all as they comfortably disposed of Old Alts at William Scholes Fields. Following a pedestrian first fifteen minutes  the game sprung to life when debutant Greg Hayward let fly from 25 yards to record his first goal in the ECL. As Juno pressed forward  another debutant ,  Sam Dewil  doubled their lead before half time. Alts best chance came on thirty five minutes  when a smart set piece  was brilliantly saved by seventeen year old keeper Jake Lenahan.

Juno wrapped up the game with twenty minutes  remaining with an outstanding finish from fully thirty yards, skipping past two players then unleashing an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner. Sam Dewil grabbed his second to make it 4-0 before Tony Dawson grabbed a consolation for the visitors with two minutes remaining.

Mary Dendy     5      Club AZ     1

Paul Cronshaw’s Dendy side left  Club AZ shell shocked  as they demolished their visitors 5-1  despite going 1-0 down to a   Chris Connors strike on fifteen minutes. The omens didn’t look good for the home side as full back James Curbishley laid prostrate on the ground after a sickening collision with his own goalkeeper on the edge of the penalty leaving  Connors with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net but Dendy , who’d had the better opportunities until that point , came back strongly and Chris Hadfield equalised midway through the half after great work from Mark Parker down the left wing.

Dendy's Mark Parker takes on Ryan Hayes

 A minute before half time a long punt up field by Jamie Gibson found Matty  Morris on the edge of the eighteen yard box he outmuscled his marker, turned and shot powerfully low past  Gareth Hughes to give Dendy the lead.

AZ were still very much in the game  but with several new faces in the side lacked confidence and barely twenty seconds into the second half were caught out again as full back Matt Martin battled his way forward down the right wing to send a delightful cross over for Neil  Hodkinson to nod home at the far post to make it 3-1. Man of the match Jamie Gibson kept Dendy in the game with three outstanding saves and goals from Mark Parker and a delightful second from Chris Hadfield  ensured the victory and and an unlikely  early  berth at the top of the ECL  table.

Neil Hodkinson (4) and Club AZ's Matt Finnerty

Poynton   2    High Lane    2

High Lane’s unbeaten start to the season continues as they got a well deserved point at Deva Close . Forced to play all  their games away from due a circumstances beyond their control  they held a 1-0 lead going into the second half before Mike Pearson , a graduate from Poynton’s U17 academy team making his senior debut popped up to grab a deserved equaliser. With both teams keepers, Steve Hardicre and Nick Winstanley getting plenty of practice it came as no surprise there were further goals. High Lane took the lead direct from a set piece before a Kieran Foulkes header tied the game at 2-2. On the score sheet for the visitors were Dave Wild and George Mitchell.