Leaders nick points

KELSALL staged a late, late show on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of the Chester & District League Queensferry Sports Premier Division.

The pacesetters were seemingly heading for their first away defeat of the season when they trailed at Waggon & Horses with seven minutes to play – but a quick-fire double brought them a dramatic 2-1 victory.

Chester Nomads 2nds hauled themselves up to third with a 2-0 triumph at home to Groves given to them by Joe Imlach’s brace.

Dan Jones was on target as Cross Foxes won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Saughall Thursday.

Andy Riddell scored Hoole Rangers’ consolation in their 3-1 home loss to Sutton Way Villa (Steve Armatage, Lee Salsbury, Sam Davin).

Ashton were the Olympic Trophies Division One big hitters.

They romped to a 7-0 home win over Frodsham Vets courtesy of Colin Linsey (2), Andy Lewis, Graham Bunting, Chris Pattinson, Tom Vickers and Craig McGuire.

Duddon United were 2-1 winners at Chester Nomads 3rds (Steve Cairns), but Neston Nomads (John Lloyd) went down by the same score at home to Halfwayhouse Celtic.

In the battle of the Wirral clubs, table-topping Manor Athletic won 2-1 at Kelma and second-placed Levers Athletic sent Rangers Breaks packing 7-1.

Uberlube are now just four points off the Moreton Electrical Wholesalers Division Two top after their 4-2 home victory over second-placed Raby Villa.

Anthony Case, Stephen Dodd and Matty Elson (2) did the damage for the third-placed hosts.

The prolific Adi Gough fired four goals and Callum McLachlan one in Cestrian Alex’s 5-1 home cruise over Newton Bears (Gavin Walker).

Sam Henry also found the net four times for Waggon & Horses Reserves in their 6-2 success at Lodge Bar (Neil Tasker, Mike Locker). Dave Hughes and Lee King-McGee complemented Henry’s haul.

Dan Stephenson (3), Jamie Hughes (2), Liam Makin, Steve Camperman and James Darcy fired Peacock 09 to a 8-1 home win over Hoole Rangers Reserves (Arian Ghobadi).

Lache gave their Link Up Division Three promotion hopes a boost by triumphing 5-1 at Barrow Athletic Reserves.

Mike Edwards, Lee McGovern, Sam Buckley, Paul Davies and Dale Gilmartin shared the Lache strikes, with Mike Horan reducing the arrears.

Congratulations go to basement boys Boughton Athletic, who broke their duck at the 16th time of asking by winning 2-1 at Crossway Reserves (Brad Richards).

Zone Fitness (Ross Pringle) lost 3-1 at leaders Newton Wirral. Second-placed FC Village won 3-0 at Groves Celtic.

New club are invited to join the Chester & District League for the 2011-12 season. Contact Paul Graham on 01244 370 116 for more information.

Showpiece beckons

THE top two teams in Chester Chronicle Section B will contest this season’s Chester & District Sunday League Bill Gresty Memorial Trophy final.

Elton sealed their showpiece place with a hard-fought 3-1 home victory over AFC Lache, who led through Joey Waters and passed up the chance to equalise when Peter O’Toole missed from the penalty spot.

Elton finished the last-four clash with 10-men, but goals from Mark Dundon (2) and Billy Sammut saw them through and they will now face a Saltney SC side who had it easier in winning their semi-final 6-2 at home to St Theresa’s PC.

Hat-trick hero Tom Shone, Sam Buckley, Phil Whittaker and Liam McGovern got the goals.

AFC Werburgh’s closed the gap on leaders Saltney in Section B with a 3-2 home win over battling Tattenhall.

The Saints were cruising after Gareth Breeze and Michael Firett struck, but they needed a late effort from David Hall to secure the three points.

AFC Hilton (Charlie Barton 4, Tim Hughes 3, Saul Malpas, Danny Russell) gave their promotion hopes a shot in the arm with a 9-3 romp at home to Piper.

FC Bull & Stirrup were 6-2 winners at Waverton (Jamie O’Brien, Steve Bostock).

There was no change at the top of Concorde Trophies Section A.

Vicars Cross Dynamos (Andrew Lloyd, Mark Thompson, Ben Billington) won 3-2 at Western Rangers to stay five points clear of second-placed Dee Miller Athletic (Simon Andrews 3, Carl Read, David Parker), who triumphed 5-1 at home to Highfield Quinplex, for whom substitute Dave O’Gorman scored with his first touch.

Corner Pin LG matched that scoreline at home to Upton Youth Centre, with James McIntosh, Tom Smith and Lee Highfield (2) finding the net for the dark horses after Lee Stephens gave them the lead direct from a corner.

The hotly-tipped, third-placed Saltney Ferry (Alan Hooley 4, Lee Butterworth 3, Thomas Rowlands 2, Darren Phoenix, Chris Herbert) showed no mercy on rock-bottom Tarvin Rex as they blasted their way to a 10-0 away victory.

Ten-man FC Blacon drew 3-3 at Western Rangers (Rob Kennerley 2, Chris Hayes).