AFC Barkode lifted the Crewe FA Sunday Vase as they turned the form book upside down with a 2-0 win over AC Wickstead.

Barry Stalgis scored a peach of a goal in the first half with a looping shot from 20 yards. Although AC Wickstead threatened to equalise in the second half their chances were few and far between and eventually, as they pressed to get on level terms, Mike Walton of AFC Barkode beat the offside trap and bore down on goal with only the keeper to beat.

However, the AC Wickstead keeper tugged the Barkode player back as he rounded him in the penalty area with the goal at his mercy.

The referee had no option but to dismiss the AC keeper and David Barker made no mistake with the spot kick to make the game safe.

In the Premier Division of the Crewe Regional Sunday Football League, Bentley Motors moved into a one-point lead at the top after a last-minute equaliser from John Scarlett salvaged a point against Wickstead, who took the lead from the penalty spot through Darren Varley.

Nantwich Wanderers slipped up against White Lion despite taking the lead through Dave Hanson in the second half. A Peter Griffiths free kick and a strike from Craig Griggs secured victory for White Lion.

Flying Lady (Martin Richardson 2, David Yoxall, Gary Wood, Paul Rimmer) moved out of the drop zone by beating Faddiley (Steve McGohan, Phil Critchley) 5-2, condemning them to relegation.

The other slot for relegation is currently filled by Crewe Corinthians who, despite a valiant effort, went down 5-3 to Betley.

Jez Tagg bagged a pair for Corinthians with Dominic Marshall getting the other goal while John Shaw went one better for Betley, netting a hat trick, with singles from Anthony Yates and Alex Cohen.

In Division One, Railway Hotel (Ben Parker, Dan Cope, Steve Parker) left it late against Fox Elworth (Colin Hemmings, Mike Simmons) but just pinched a 3-2 victory, with the winner coming in the dying seconds of the game.

Beeston Hotel had braces from Andy Clacher, Rob Jones and Shaun Marsh and singles from Will Stewart and Kevin Rogerson to make up their tally of eight without reply, against Cheshire Rangers.

Sandbach Town were the toast of the Crewe and District Division One when they defeated high-flying Premier opponents Curshaws 3-1 in the semi-final of the AJ Cooke Trophy.

Phil Smith scored for Curshaws but a brace from Anthony Evans and a single from Pete Jones secured Town their first ever final place.

The final is scheduled for Seddon Street, Middlewich, on Saturday, May 12 when Town will play Sandbach United.

In the Premier Division, leaders Sandbach United had Chris Jackson to thank as his goal earned his team a 1-0 win over MMU Cheshire on Wednesday evening.

The students got back to winning ways on Saturday when they edged Crewe reserves 3-2 after Sam Birch, Andy Thompson and Matthew Melhuism scored. Adam Lanstrome hit both for Crewe.

Congleton Athletic (Rob Negus and Joe Pollard) followed up their 2-1 midweek victory over Winnington Avenue (Craig Millington) with an emphatic 10-1 thumping of hosts Malpas (Jim Howarth).

James Hewitt, Ed Pollard and Craig Massey got two apiece and James Woodhouse, Nick Bromley, Rob Negus and Mark Shuker singles for the rampant Congleton outfit.

In Division One, Kidsgrove Carpets were confirmed as runners-up after they beat Wheatsheaf 2-0. Martin Smith and Jamie Evans scored the goals which mean Kidsgrove will join Lostock reserves in the Premier Division next season.