LAST Saturday saw the curtain come down on another Carlsberg West Cheshire League season, but it proved to be a sad finale, as the League's representative side not only conceded the Cooper Smith Inter League trophy to their Mid Cheshire League counterparts, but suffered a double whammy inside five days, after being eliminated from the FA National League System Cup competition at the first hurdle, by the Isle of Man League.
Both results came as big disappointments to manager Ken Meadows and his assistant Steve Jones, but in all fairness, with injuries, last-minute cry-offs and ineligibility problems, the squad was not as strong as it might have been, and both opponents were better prepared for the occasion.
Both games took place at Mond Rang-ers ground, and in Tuesday's annual clash with the Mid Cheshire League, the West Cheshire were left to rue several missed chances, three of them falling to Vauxhall Res striker Kevin Davies, before capitulating to a 2-0 defeat.
Terry Nestor opened the Mid Cheshire's account on 30 minutes directly from a free-kick and on 65 minutes, the issue was sealed with Craig Ward converting from a well-delivered corner.
Saturday's FA National league System Cup first round tussle with the Isle of Man League proved to be an uphill task for the West Cheshire with 11th-hour withdrawals depleting the squad further.
The Manxmen were a well drilled side, who have played no less than 50 representative games in eight years under the same manager, and had just returned from a tournament in Scotland.
The first 15 minutes of the game saw both sides trying to secure a foothold in midfield, but the West Cheshire were then rocked after Heswall's inspirational defender Andy Barker was forced to withdraw following a shoulder injury.
Soon afterwards, the Isle of Man drew first blood, Barry Gaffney applying the finishing touch after Daniel Lace had seized on a defensive lapse and delivered a pin-point cross.
Ten minutes later it was 2-0, this time the West Cheshire midfield gifting a shooting opportunity to Lace whose 30-yard ground shot deceived Castrol Social's keeper, Paul Smith.
With Poulton Victoria's Dave Huyton keeping firm control at the back, the West Cheshire came more into the game after the interval and the introduction of Capenhurst Villa's Jordan Brierley and Heswall's Jamie Halligan gave the side more balance, and with 20 minutes remaining, Heswall's Mike McGraa curled in a superb free-kick, after McNicholas had been upended in full flight.
West Cheshire then through caution to the wind, but were found out on the counter as Nick Hurt ran through unchallenged on 82 minutes to beat the despairing dive of Smith to make it 3-1.
