Celtic close on final

CHESTER Celtic booked their place in the semi-finals of the Chester & District League Cayzer Shield on Saturday with a thrilling 6-4 home victory over Cestrian Alex.

Joe Flynn’s hat-trick was complemented by Tom Pickering, John Collins and Will Collins strikes, with Adie Gough, Jay Sinnott, Andy Stockton and Ryan Gallaway taking the Alex close.

Joining Celtic in the last-four are Peacock 09 and Zone Fitness. Adam Kelly (2), Jamie Hughes and Joe Williamson ensured Peacock of a 4-3 home win over FC Village while Zone won 4-2 on penalties at Barcode Athletic after the tie finished 3-3 after extra-time.

Sam Henley and Lee King-McGhee were among the goals as Waggon & Horses Reserves set up a quarter-final clash against Crossway Reserves with a 4-3 second-round home success over Newton Reserves.

Kelsall are through to the semi-finals of the Printroom League Cup after beating Crossway 4-3.

Sean Page, Daz Holmes, Edward Lennie and Jamie Thompson were on target for Kelsall; Phil Goss, Danny Brown and Paul Thomas for the visitors.

Groves (Adam Hughes 2, Lee Chadwick) are also one game away from a showpiece place after they sent Waggon & Horses (Chris Williams) packing 3-1.

The two-remaining last-eight clashes were decided on spot-kicks after they ended 2-2 after extra-time.

Cross Foxes (Josh Jones, Jamie McElwaine) kept their cool to win 5-4 at Manor Athletic, but Saughall Thursday lost their nerve and fell 4-2 at Kelma.

A Kev Leach treble and Dave Fisher single brought Tarvin 2000 Athletic a 4-3 victory at Ashton (Graham Bunting 2, Craig Maguire) in Olympic Trophies Division One.

Chester Nomads 3rds drew 2-2 at Neston Nomads (Alex Clare, Jack Rowlands) as Barrow Athletic went down 3-0 at leaders Levers Athletic.

Peacock 09 Reserves won the sole Link Up Division Three game 4-3 at Barrow Athletic Reserves (Joel Rodgers 2, Mike Horan).

Railway Athletic cruised into the third round of the Chester & District FA Senior Cup on Saturday.

Jake Harrison (3), Dave Richards, Paddy Bleakley, Matt Darlington, Adam Jones and Adam Braun did the damage as the Helsby hosts hammered Chester & District League neighbours Frodsham Vets 8-0.

Obi sticking around

ON-LOAN hitman Obi Anoruo will attempt to fire Vauxhall Motors into the Blue Square Beth North promotion play-offs after the club secured his services until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old Wrexham striker, who netted the winner for Motors in their 1-0 home victory over Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday, has been given permission to remain at Rivacre Park until May by Dean Saunders.

Dragons boss Saunders has even set the livewire forward the challenge of bagging 20 goals.

Vauxhall boss Carl Macauley, who has seen top-scorer Anoruo net 10 times already this term since signing him in August, said: “He’s not quite ready for Wrexham’s first team but we believe that he has a big future in the game and he’s been a major help.”

Motors, who have lost just once in their last 11 leagues outings, took on Gainsborough for the second time in four days on Tuesday.

After captain Josh Wilson broke the deadlock with his ninth goal of the season, Macauley’s men had to settle for a point after former Chester City striker Luke Beckett struck from the penalty spot.

Vauxhall, who are up to 11th, travel to struggling Stafford Rangers on Saturday (3pm) before hosting Corby Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Airbus double blow

AIRBUS UK Broughton’s first Welsh Premier League game since losing influential midfielder Ashley Williams to Chester FC ended in defeat.

Having gone down 4-3 at home to Prestatyn Town on Friday, the Wingmakers were beaten 2-1 at Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday.

The back-to-back losses leave Craig Harrison’s side with a facing a real fight to finish in the top six.

Come February 5 the Welsh Premier ‘Super 12’ will be split down the middle, with the top six and the bottom six playing each other twice to make a 32-game season.

Teams finishing in the bottom six can finish no higher than seventh no matter how many points they get after the split.

Teams finishing between third and seventh will then take part in a play-off to determine who gains the third Europa League spot. Should the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top seven, the eighth-placed team would be invited into the play-offs.

Airbus, who have signed centre-back Gavin Cadwallader from Newtown, sit seventh going into Saturday’s S4C live clash at third-placed Neath (3.45pm).

New boys Eddie Hope and Ian Sheridan were on target for the Wingmakers against Prestatyn along with top-scorer Andy Moran, who also netted against Aberystwyth.