Woodley FC 1 Barnton 0
BARNTON turned in another disappointing performance after their opening flattered - and deceived.
They seemed to have shrugged off a recent run of poor displays as Dave Tasker (twice) and Kyle Dyson went close within the first 15 minutes.
But then slack defending from a corner in the 17th minute saw the home side take an undeserved lead.
Soon after Lee Grannell pulled off a fine save to spare the Town-fielders further blushes.
After the goal the home side settled and while they had more of the ball it was still Barnton who created the better chances with Tasker again threatening on a couple of occasions.
Mark Came made positional and personnel changes at the start of the second half but the game in general was ragged and tempers began to fray.
In the 52nd minute the referee decided tough action was called for and sent off Barnton's Lee Sproats for a second yellow card and issued a straight red for a home team player, though both players can feel unlucky to be singled out.
The only meaningful attempt on goal came in the 90th minute when John Hurst looked to have grabbed a deserved equaliser but the keeper scrambled the ball away for a cor ner.
Manager Mark Came said: 'We created five chances in the first half. We needed one to go in when we where playing really well, while they had half a chance when not in the game, scored and turned the game.
'We have players missing over the next few weeks so it's a good chance for those on the fringe to show me what they can do.'
Lostock Gralam 3 Monk 0
NEIL Bithell, the former Middlewich Town and Congleton Town coach, took charge of his first game as Lostock manager as his side ended their dismal run of defeats in some style.
On a difficult pitch, the football was surprisingly good and Steve Carter and Peter Gibbon brought the best from Monk's goalkeeper.
Chris Crawford was giving the left full-back a torrid time and his cross was headed onto the post by Gibbon and Carter was lurking to slot the rebound home, to put the Grey Lambs in front.
Another Crawford cross saw Gibbon win a penalty but James Bird-sey's spot kick was easily saved.
However, another Lostock surge forward saw Monk panic and concede an own goal just before the break.
The final goal was the best, Mike Harrison smashing an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.
John O'Sullivan needed to make a superb save late on to protect his clean sheet.
Bithell said: 'I'm pleased with the effort and there was some excellent football played as well. I shall be looking to bring players in over the coming weeks but I'm pleased with what I've seen so far.'
In the Reserves Division Middlewich Town won 5-2 at Gamesley, but the first team meeting between the club at Seddon Street in Division One was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Saturday: One - Middlewich v Crosfields, Witton Res v Barnton; Two - Stalybridge Res v Lostock Gralam; Reserves - Golborne v Middlewich.
