West Cheshire League: Big Division One for Upton AA over Castrol Social

Feb 11 2010 by Paul Wheelock, Chester Chronicle

West Cheshire League: Big Division One for Upton AA over Castrol Social

UPTON AA boosted their Division One survival prospects with a vital 1-0 victory at relegation rivals Castrol Social on Saturday.

Top-scorer Simon Andrews’ ninth goal in his last eight games hauled Dave Wright’s side six points above the drop spots and brought their four-match losing run to an end.

Despite their poor form since the turn of the year, Upton have been improving game-on-game, and they had too much for Castrol despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men after Ben McKean was sent-off in the 40th minute for two bookings.

It was left up to the on-fire Andrews to settle the contest with a typically cool close-range finish.

Free-scoring Helsby made it 20 goals in their last three league outings as they won 4-2 at home to Maghull.

Gary Lunt and James Bignall bagged braces for the fifth-placed Green Machine, whose five-game winning sequence has moved them within nine points of top spot.

Basement boys Blacon Youth Club lost 4-0 at Cammell Laird Reserves on Tuesday night.

Blacon welcome top-flight neighbours Christleton to their Cairns Crescent home on Saturday for a Chester & District FA Senior Cup third-round clash. Helsby are in Runcorn & District FA Challenge Cup second-round combat at home to Smiths SD (1.45pm), with Upton the only Chester team in league action at home to Ellesmere Port (2pm).

Helsby resume their title challenge at Halton on Tuesday (7.30pm).

Chester Nomads stretched their unbeaten Division One run to 13 matches on Saturday after fighting back to beat Capenhurst Villa 3-2.

Ryan Nicholl and Jamie Johnson fired the rock-bottom visitors in front before strikes from Ilya Haycock, man-of-the-match Kieran Smith and hot-shot Dale Harris turned the tables for fourth-placed Nomads, who are now just five points behind leaders Southport Trinity, who they travel to on Saturday (2pm).

Division Two promotion pushers Christleton Reserves returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 6-0 home success over Mersey Royal given to them by Nick Cushing (2), Steve Morgan (2), Steve Finley and Rob McDowell.

Improving Blacon Youth Club Reserves won 2-1 at Manor Athletic, courtesy of Damian Rowley (2), as did Upton AA Reserves at home to Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves, thanks to Nathan Freeman and Jake Warne.