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Midweek action, Easter Monday 10/4/23 MSC Express West Cheshire League Division Two title contenders, Ashville Res., shook off the disappointment of their recent Cheshire County FA Amateur Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Division One champions elect, Mersey Royal, and hoisted the Wirral DFA Amateur Cup aloft after they eclipsed Division Three minnows, Hooton, 2-1.
Lewis Clarke and Anthony Gardner found the net for the Wallasey outfit, with Joel Whalley on the mark for the Hoot.
Division Two leaders, Poulton Vics, went ten points clear at the top, after they fell a goal behind to Mallaby‘s Danny McLoughlin, and subsequently posted an 8-1 scoreline over a depleted visitors’ line up. Doubles from Jason Bull and Tom Randall were supplemented by further efforts from Jake Stewart, Ben Kearney, Josh Chu and Joel Kelly.
With significant games in hand, both Ashville Res. and Helsby (pictured) are handily poised to pip Vics for the title, and the latter bolstered their challenge after goals from Charlie Wiggins and Lee Guirado secured a 2-1 win at West Kirby, who scored through Tom Davies.
Despite an effort from Ryan Slater, Poulton Royal were second best against Runcorn Sports who emerged 4-1 victors with Mick O’Neill, Reece Dwyer, Stephen Butler, and Luca Tron on target.
In Division Three, pacesetters Aintree Villa Res. opened up a seven point gap at the top after they dismissed the challenge of third-placed Higher Bebington Kelma. Doubles from Stephen Andrews and Dylan Lawless anchored the Racecourse outfit to a 4-1 triumph. Josh Griffiths netted Kelma’s consolation.
Tuesday 11/4/23 It was business as usual for Division One leaders, Mersey Royal, who made light of their task against Rainhill Town, and now need just two points to make sure of the title they won for the first time last season. Tuesday’s 6-0 rout was confirmed by hat tricks from Jamie Leyland and recent capture from Sutton Ath., Connor Doyle.
Wednesday 12/4/23 Another top flight fixture saw Marshalls in the driving seat against Capenhurst Villa with four-goal Harrison Worden inspiring an 8-0 victory. A hat trick from Jacob Till allied to a Danny May effort completed the statistics.
Only one game took place in Division Three and Cape’s second string had a better night, a Steve Hickson penalty clinching all three points at Poulton Vics Res.
Friday 14/4/23 Mersey Royal‘s Division One title celebrations were deferred for another day, after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at long-time rivals, Newton, who are set to argue the toss for the runners-up medals with second-placed Mossley Hill Ath. Jackson Ellis and Danny Bulayima were Newton’s marksmen with Adam Smith netting for the Royal.
Weekend Action The race for promotion from Division Two gathered momentum, as leaders Poulton Vics, with two games remaining, opened up a thirteen point lead at the top, when a solitary strike from Jason Bull won the day at Mossley Hill Ath. Res.
Nearest rivals, Helsby, can still pip Vics for the title, but must win all of their remaining seven fixtures, and on Saturday, they bagged a further three points after Lee Turkington (2), Charlie Wiggins, and Lee Guirado obliged in a 4-1 decision over South Liverpool Res. who had Cam Dalton in response.
Third placed Ashville Res. who can also still win the title, scored through Derek Taylor and Leighton Clare but saw their challenge go into reverse, after they went down 4-2 at Bootle Res. Alex Fernandes, Isaac Ayolade, Baf Djabi, and Jack Hughes made the scoresheet for the hosts.
At the other end of the table, basement outfit, Marshalls Res., savoured a 5-0 triumph over South Sefton Borough, courtesy of efforts from Brendon Ndlovu, Jude Mante, Callum Hodgkinson, Kane Jackson, and Luc Haralambous, while West Kirby took maximum spoils, after goals from Lewis Boardman, Luca Murtagh, and Tom Davies anchored their side to a 3-0 result over local rivals, Poulton Royal.
Saturday’s Division One action saw fifth placed Vauxhall Motors Res. record their fourteenth win of the season, Ben Wood scoring the game’s only goal at Heswall and it was celebration time for Chester Nomads, Mike Stamper and Dan Delgado finding the net in a 2-1 result over Marshalls, who hit back via Jacob Till.
In Division Three, Higher Bebington Kelma were elevated to second place in the table, after beating Hooton 3-0, with efforts from Kal Herbert, Josh Griffiths, and Harry Moore.
The points were shared after goals from Ellesmere Port Town Res.‘ Kaine Morris and John Skipsey were negated by replies from Chester Nomads Res.‘ Scott Evans and Marco Apollonio and in another 2-2 stalemate, a double from Runcorn Sports Res.‘ James O’Connor was cancelled out by replies from Heswall Res.‘ Harvey Foster and Jack Gibson.
Newly crowned Youth Division champions, Mossley Hill Ath. romped to a 5-1 win at City of Liverpool, thanks to a goal apiece from Asher Duncan, Chris Hapi-Fankam, Cai Jones, Beau Bailey, and Jacob Bowsie. William Harrison was the hosts’ marksman and despite a double from James Fee, Poulton Vics were upstaged by replies from Runcorn Linnets‘ Jake Hill (3) and Jensen Sadler.
Efforts from Liam Procter and Gordon Bennet steered Ormskirk West End to a 2-1 result at Maghull who had Harry Ley in reply.
Elsewhere, Jack Colburn struck twice and was joined on the scoresheet by brothers Dan and Steve Swindells in South Liverpool‘s 4-2 verdict over Vauxhall Motors who answered through a brace of penalties from Denny McHugh.
Image: West Kirby FC (Black and white) v Helsby FC (Green) Credit: Bob Shaw
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