Airbus UK Broughton will be given ‘a major lift’ by the return of club captain Ian Kearney this weekend after a miserable 14 months on the sidelines.

Kearney, described as the best defender in the Welsh Premier League by boss Andy Preece, hasn’t made a squad since being carried off on a stretcher against Rhyl last October.

The Wingmakers travel to bottom club Haverfordwest County on Saturday (2.30pm) and will take a big step towards securing a top-six spot at the split with a repeat of their recent Welsh Cup win at New Bridge Meadow.

“Having Kearns back is massive for us. He’s our captain, our leader and one of our key organisers on the pitch,” said Preece.

“We’ve coped well without him and got into Europe, and the lads who have played at the back have done really well, but getting him back will give everyone a major lift.

“He leads by example, especially when things get tough. He gets people going and he pulls us together because he’s massively respected by the other players.

“We’ve missed him in training, too, because he sets high standards for himself and everyone else. Things have got to be done right and if they’re not he’ll have his say!

“You take someone like him out of our squad and it leave a huge hole. All credit to him because he’s work so hard to get fit, and we’re delighted to have him back.”

Airbus travel to South Wales without Lee Owens and Mike Pearson still fourth in the table after last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to Rhyl. Wayne Riley should return.

Preece said: “We’ve only got four games left until the split, so each one is vital.

“The good thing for us is that we haven’t got to win them all, so if we can get five or six points it’ll probably be enough to make sure we’re in the top six.

“Hopefully then we will have a bit of time to get everyone fit for the first time this season and we can regroup and be at full strength for the final 10 games.

“Going to Haverfordwest in the cup was tough and the conditions were terrible.

“They’ve had a load more rain this week so I don’t think we can expect it to be any different on Saturday, so it’ll be very testing again.”

Lodge Bar Reserves
Lodge Bar Reserves

West Cheshire League and Chester & Wirral League

The wet weekend weather wreaked havoc with both the West Cheshire League and Chester & Wirral League programmes, with just four games played in total.

Lodge Bar Reserves missed out on a spot in round three of the Tom Gerraghty Memorial Trophy after falling to a 3-2 home defeat to Ellesmere Port Town 3rds. Goals from Cory Blaylock and Joey Jones proved to be in vain for the home side as strikes from Rob Greenway, Lewis Anderson and Charlie Jones secured the spoils for the visitors.

In the Vets Division, Tarvin went down 2-1 at home to Ashton. Stuart Mackie and Paul Stubbs bagged for Ashton while Tarvin’s goal came courtesy of Kevin Richardson.

In West Cheshire League Division Two, Willaston went down 8-2 at Hale Reserves.

Chester & District Sunday League

Sutton Casuals moved top of Chester & District Sunday League Section B after a Lee Ludgate hat-trick brought them a 7-2 home success over AFC Tattenhall.

Paul Butler’s brace, Peter Barnet and James Fletcher accounted for the rest of Sutton’s goals while the Tattenhall efforts came courtesy of Colin Mutete and Joe Summer.