Chester & District Sunday League

Dee Rangers are up and running in the Chester & District Sunday League.

After six straight defeats to start the Section B season, Rangers got off the mark with a vital 4-3 victory at home to fellow strugglers Holdi.

But they had to do it the hard way after Holdi raced into a 3-1 lead courtesy of goals from Dazz Brocklehurst, Chrissy Edwards and Sean Hunter, who benefited from a defensive mix-up.

However Rangers roared back after the restart and strikes from Andy Harrison (2), Jonny Aplas and Joe York secured three vital points.

Tarvin Rex took over top spot with an 8-2 win at West Park Rangers given to them by Ryan Cartwright (2), Robbie Plank (2), Alex Carlton (2), Dan Evans and Liam Parker.

Previous pacesetters, The Cat, were busy booking their place in the semi-finals of the Granada Gas Services Bill Gresty Memorial Trophy.

A 75th-minute effort from Ryan Pleavin ensured they ran out 1-0 winners at home to title rivals Spital Vaults.

Action from the Dee Rangers v Holdi clash in the Chester & District Sunday League.
Action from the Dee Rangers v Holdi clash in the Chester & District Sunday League.

The Cat are joined in the last four by AFC Tattenhall who won 6-4 at home to Purple Olive thanks to a brace of extra-time goals by Joe Sumner.

It had finished 4-4 after 90 minutes with Collen Mutete (2), Ben Cooke and George Dodson on target for Tattenhall and Matty Concannon, Jamie Gibson, Tony Wedge and Ian Powell netting for Olive.

Two goals apiece for Josh Hazeldene and Steve Finley ensured Waverton of a 4-2 win at Custom House, who missed a penalty to go in front after Andy Hornsby and then Andy Riddle had restored parity.

Groves Athletic ripped apart a depleted Handbridge Lions side to complete the semi-final line-up, Jordan Saunders, Tom Douglas, Sam Moore (2), Daniel Woodcock, Josh Wonderley and Joe Jeffs doing the damage in an 8-0 home romp.

Westminster moved into pole position in Concorde Trophies Section A with a 5-2 success at FC Blacon.

Carl McLeod (2), Regan Barlow, Nicky Moynihan and Luke Edwards put the new leaders in complete control before Alfie Cheers and Sam Davies reduced the arrears late on.

Aaron Hinchcliffe was the 85th-minute matchwinner as AFC Bears Paw edged out fellow championship challengers FC Hickory’s 4-3.

It was Hinchcliffe’s second goal of the game for the hosts, for whom Josh Gannon and Ryan Chatburn also struck, with Hussein Fawzi (2) and Paul Bormann going close to earning Hickory’s a share of the spoils.

Paul Butler, Matty Cavendor and James Fletcher got their names on the scoresheet as Sutton Casuals hauled themselves up to fourth with a 3-0 triumph at Axis United.

And Ellis Moore (2), Luke Jones and Shaun Arathan found the net as St Theresa’s twice came from behind to win 4-2 at Upton Youth Centre, who had led through Dean Ratcliffe and Zack Gadir.

Chester & Wirral League

A 35-yard free kick, screamed into the top corner by Warren Roberts, and a debut goal for Matthew Jones, helped Blacon Youth Club to a 3-1 win at home to Higher Bebington Kelma in the Queensferry Sports Premier Division.

Adam Stening was also on target for Blacon with Paul Roberts replying.

Newton Athletic kept up the pressure on leaders Birkenhead Town, who won 5-0 at Ellesmere Port Town Reserves with strikes from Chris Hughes, Kevin Oats, Mike Parnell, Ryan Atherton and Wade Sword, with an 8-5 victory at Kelsall.

Dan Christian (2), Lewis Davenport (2), Mark Richards (2), Ben Woodman and Will Hannigan got the goals for second-placed Newton.

Third-placed Christleton Celtic (OG, Will Collins, Cal Bratley) won 3-1 at MBNA (Sam Russell) while Chester Nomads 3rds went down 3-2 at fourth-placed Ellesmere Port (Ian Johnson, Mike Cooper, OG).

Lodge Bar (Lewis Carter) slipped off the pace with a 2-1 home loss to Shaftsbury Youth (Ian McGraa, Danny Smith).

Adie Gough fired four goals and Luke Peaker, Mike Taylor and Andy Roundtree one each as Cestrian Alex stormed to a 7-0 success at Eastham Athletic in Olympic Trophies Division One.

Clubbies AFC (Jake Johnson 2, Mikey Edwards) won 3-1 at home to Whitby Athletic while Hoole Rangers (Ash English, Ben McMahon) triumphed 2-1 at home to Ellesmere Port Reserves (Paul Williams).

Table-topping Franklyns (Mike Watson 2, Nana Emeh 2, Colin Singleton, Ben Sutton, Andrew Taylor, Josh Williams) were 8-0 winners at Neston Nomads 3rds while second-placed AFC Essar won 2-1 at Elton Athletic (Adam Brawn) courtesy of a Si Whelan brace.

FC Uber (Luke Chard 2, Jack Rowland, Andrew Whitton, Matt Williams) lost 7-5 at home to New Ferry Rangers.

Professional boxer Paul Butler helped Link Up Division Two leaders Sutton Athletic to an emphatic 14-2 win at Hoole Youth.

Paul Butler swapped boxing gloves for football boots last weekend - with the same devastating results.
Paul Butler swapped boxing gloves for football boots last weekend - with the same devastating results.

Butler and Tom McGill bagged four goals each with Dan Higginson helping himself to a hat-trick and Alex Foulkes, Maurice Doyle and Callum Clark also getting in on the act. Hoole’s strikes were own goals.

Shaun Arathoon saw Blacon Youth Reserves to a 1-0 victory at home to Orange Athletic Chester.

But there were heavy defeats for Upton Rangers (Teddorescu Mihai Florian), who lost 20-1 at home to Princes Villa, for whom Andy Grimes scored 10 goals, Jack Roberts five, birthday Anthony Ferguson and Kyle Huish two each and Adam Smith one, and for Upton JFC, who were beaten 7-0 at home by St Saviours (C Wynne 2, Jack Sheppard, Joe Burns, Sam McLeod, James Atkins, Tom Bloodworth).

Chester Argyle fell 3-1 at AFC Quays United (OG, Adrian Botley 2).

Elton Rigger’s were winning their match at Crossway 1-0 when it was abandoned in the 60th minute after Ashley Antcliff suffered a broken leg.

West Cheshire League

Chester Nomads maintained their free-scoring form with a 7-1 success at home to Division One basement boys Mallaby on Saturday.

Joe Imlach (2), Jack McGovern (2), Dan Lloyd, Edd Moss and Louis Moss shared the strikes as Nomads made it three wins and 16 goals in as many games.

Upton AA came from behind to draw 3-3 at Redgate Rovers with goals from Alan Dorrian (2) and Luke Finch.

Helsby lost 3-1 at Newton while Capenhurst Villa (Lee Ludgate) drew 1-1 at home to South Liverpool.

Nathan Mapletoft and Sam Spidgeon bagged braces as Upton AA Reserves won 4-2 at home to Neston Nomads Reserves in Division Three.

Chester Nomads Reserves lost 2-0 at City of Liverpool Reserves, Capenhurst Villa Reserves (Iain Forster) drew 1-1 at fellow high flyers Rainhill Town Reserves, while Helsby Reserves (Charlie Roberts) went down 2-1 at home to Cammell Laird 1907 Development.

Airbus' James Murphy in action against Aberystwyth's Daniel Alfei.
Airbus' James Murphy in action against Aberystwyth's Daniel Alfei.

Welsh Premier League

Andy Thomas was left ‘embarrassed’ after Airbus UK Broughton slipped to a self-inflicted 3-1 defeat at Aberystwyth Town in the Welsh Premier on Saturday night.

Individuals errors in the S4C live clash ensured the second-from-bottom Wingmakers’ winless Welsh Premier League run stretched to four matches.

Afterwards a desperately disappointed Thomas joked the errors were so bad his side could have been accused of ‘match-fixing’.

The Airbus boss said: “We were in total control of the game. I think if anyone has been watching our games lately they’ll think we were probably match-fixing because of the goals. They didn’t win it, we gave them it.”

Airbus face a big basement battle this Saturday when they welcome rock-bottom Newtown to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium (2.30pm).

Cheshire League

Malpas returned to winning ways in the Premier Division with a 2-1 victory at Styal.

But Tarporley Victoria were beaten 5-2 at St Helens in Division One.