Irby lose in cup final

Apr 15 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

DIVISION One of the Houlihans Birkenhead Sunday football league saw the Saddle Club beat Parkside 4-0, thanks to Chris Hawthorne, Lewie Chesters, Craig Spence and Karl Morgans.

Division Two, and FC Armchair continued their current form taking the points from Bromborough in a 1-4 result. Steve Brookes netted for the Brom, but Stuart Toner was in fine form and bagged a hat-trick, with Glen Comber in support adding to the final tally.

Division Three saw the Wellington add to their points total at the top of the table after a 5-0 win over Pollards Inn. Scott McCready, Joe Robinson, Joe Cotgrave, Ben Davis, and Kevin Thomas (Pen) were all on the score sheet.

In the Premier Division, the Brow were at home to Heygarth FC and after 90 minutes there was only one goal to decide the match, which went to the visitors thanks to Ben Crossley. The Dock went home happy after a 4-1 win over Neston Nomads, which sees them holding their place in the top half of the table. Gary Reay netted a hatrick and Sam Herbert also slotted home a shot to complete the win. Mark Lui was in reply for the Nomads.

In Division Two, current division leaders AFC Mississippi continued their strong-hold after a 4-1 win over Shaftesbury B. Kevin Delaney (3) and John Clampitt both scoring for Mississippi with Chris Devlin getting a consolation goal for Shaftesbury.

In the Youth Division, Castrol Athletic hosted Victoria Lairds and were lucky to take all three points as the Lairds team battled to drag themselves off the bottom of the table. Mannaford and Ellis netted for Castrol, and Dean was in reply.

With the lovely weather hanging around on Sunday, it was great to be out for a change

In the League fixtures, the League backed a suggestion from Chris Clarke of Division Two’s Comecon FC to hold a minutes silence prior to kick off in remembrance of the Victims of Hillsborough and I believe most teams joined in this mark of respect.

Queens Park pulled away from the pack after another win. This week it was Rock Ferry Social who fell foul of the Queens ability to battle mentally, physically and verbally!

Chris Hesketh and Steve Jones both scored for Rock Ferry giving them a 2-0 lead, however the Queens battled back with goals from Lee Gibson (2) and Alan Bull to over turn the score and take the points.

The result being all the better as Woodchurch once again failed to bring home the bacon in their bid to top the Division. In a close fought match against Hoylake Athletic, Adam Bennett, Daniel Watterson, and Matty Easterbrook all found the back of the net for Woodchurch, but Hoylake were the stronger team and had goals from Matty Horton (3) and Leigh Carter to give them an Easter treat.

Bidston Hotel took advantage of a weakened Neston Nomads and put eight past the Nomads, Tommy Baker (2), Peter Woods (2), James Atherton (2), Ray Cox, and Andy Forster were all on the score sheet for the Bidston, with Gary Jones in reply for Nomads.

The Dock’s Gary Reay also scored again today along with team mate Ray Redmond, making it a 2-0 win over Houlihans Variety Club who have struggled since their last win back at the start of January.

John Harrison (3) and Dave Lee were both on the mark for the Brow today, giving the team to a 3-0 lead over Stirrup Sports & Social, however, the Stirrups’ recent form gave them the boost to continue to challenge and clawed back two goals thanks to Danny McGill and Mike Andrews, and were unlucky to take a share of the points after a last minute leveller was cleared off the line.

In Division One the Lions were given a game by Argyll, with Craig Parry (P) and Mike Newton both netting for the Lions, and John Cubbins getting a late equaliser.

Lloyd Ithell, Sam Dooley, and Dayne Murphy netted for the Argyll. Royal Sun Alliance were the stronger team and beat Shaftesbury ‘A’ 3-0 (Charles Kearns, Barry Symons, Ian Bonner). Simon Rowlands (2) and an OG was the order of the day for Wirral Liberals, however Rangers Breaks have had a late surge in results and scored five in reply, courtesy of Chris Clampitt (3), Mark Fitzpatrick and Adam Birkett.

Division Two sees the battle ongoing for the table honours. WCS kept up the pressure on Mississippi after beating Shillings Bar 4-2.

Darren Eaton (2), Josh Hooper, Steven Simmons were the scorers for WCS, and Neil Bennett and Jamie Ferguson were in reply for Shillings.

This leaves WCS three points behind Mississippi with a game in hand. FC Armchair were also successful again, making it five in a row, after beating Wavertree Wanderers 5-2.

Ian Evans scored a fine header and James Ackroyd also found the back of the net for the Wanderers, but Liam Jameson (3), Carl Aldred, and a late stunner from Simon Butterworth sealed the win for Armchair.

Shaftesbury ‘B’ hosted Bromborough and were drawn 1-1 up to the final minutes when Shaftesbury fired home the winner to take all the points. Steve Devlin and Mark Lawler netted and Martin Naylor scored for Bromborough.

The George were hoping to turn their fortunes around this week after goals from Josh Denson and Sam Hare, however AFC Houlihans had a different plan and with Graham Walklett netting a brace and Andy Byrne coming on as a second half sub and doubling the tally it was just left to Steve Kendrick to put the final nail in the George’s coffin.

Division Three started with Shore Villa again showing no mercy and putting seven past a struggling AFC Railway. Mark Ryan managed a goal for the Railway, but goals came from all over the pitch in the form of Liam Stephens (2), John Paul Wheedon (2), Tom Taft, Jerry Kennedy, and Mark Stewart for Shore Villa. Comecon lost their flow to Sea Dog with only a Wayne Palethorpe goal to separate the two teams, the win going to Sea Dog. FC Vaults put a spanner in the works for Halfway Prenton, after a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Andy Neil, Gareth Cooper and Wayne GeddesPollards Inn were back to winning ways after starting the match 1-0 down after a Mike Mosedale goal for Nomads, until Gary Doyle popped up to head home the equaliser before half-time.

The second half started with Paul Dunn adding another goal to go in front only to have Mosedale pull one back to level the scores once more, but it was a first touch from Stephen Brennan ten minutes later that put Pollards back in front where they stayed, the final score remaining 3-2 to Pollards Inn.