Macclesfield and District FA
Round up of First Round matches in the Macc and District FA Sunday Cup sponsored by Gradus
By by Matt Eagles
Oct 12, 2008, 21:10

A review of this weekend’s action from the

Macclesfield & District F.A. Sunday Cup.

Sponsored by Gradus Ltd

By Matt Eagles

1^st 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Albion Rovers' hat-trick hero Ian Potts

A second half  brace from Tim Hammond ensured AC Bollans’s safe passage through to the 2^nd 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.