Second and rising

CHESTER Nomads 2nds hauled themselves within a point of top spot in the Chester & District League Queensferry Sports Premier Division on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at AFC Bebington Athletic Reserves.

Scott Phillips hit a hat-trick for second-placed Nomads with Jack McCallum completing their scoring.

Helsby moved above defending champions Highfield Athletic into pole position with a 7-1 success at City Bar (Neil McCarrick).

Waggon & Horses are very much in the title race and they won 3-2 at home to Kelsall with goals from Louis Mackin, Paul Hazeldene and Scott Chard.

Sutton Way Villa (Nathan Eccles 3, Mike Williams) and Newton Bears (Joey Waters 2, Matty Depius, Leon Whitley) are also in the hunt after winning 4-2 at home to Crossway (Danny Brown 2) and 4-3 away to Parkgate (James Jaggard 2, James Wearing) respectively.

Hoole Rangers gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 4-2 win at Tarvin 2000 Athletic. Rich Eccles, Pete Wheeler, Josh Drummond and Billy Thompson did the damage.

A James Dickson double saw second-placed Saughall Thursday to a 2-1 home triumph over Rangers Breaks in Olympic Trophies Division One.

Duddon United could not do their neighbours a favour as they fell 5-0 at home to pacesetters FC Pensby.

Ashton (Matty Jones) drew 1-1 at home to Chester Nomads 3rds (Dave Tinsley).

Neston Nomads were the big hitters in Drury Electrical Wholesalers Division Two.

They won 7-0 at home to Vicars Cross Doves thanks to John Lloyd (2), Alex Clare (2), Mark Bentley, John Shaw and Martin Coan.

Lodge Bar (Dave Broadhurst) lost 3-1 at home to Halfway House Celtic.

There was a 2-1 victory for Frodsham Vets at Boughton Athletic (Chris Lavender).

Peacock 09 remained nine points clear at the top of Link Up Division Three with a 4-0 home success over Blacon United.

Luke Williamson, Joe Williamson, Richard Coultard and Daniel Stevenson shared the strikes.

Chester Celtic, through a Tom Pickering effort, won 1-0 at Barrow Athletic Reserves to cement fifth spot.

Fourth-placed Newton Bears Reserves, through Kevin Dutton (2), Terry Ellams, Jim Baker and Dave Tinsley, edged a thrilling encounter at home to Uberlube 5-3.

Union Vaults crashed 5-0 at Shaftesbury Youth and rock-bottom Vicars Cross Vets fared even worse at Raby Villa, going down 16-0.

Cestrian Alex, 6-3 at Pinwoods, and Railway Athletic, 1-0 at Talbot Athletic, were knocked-out of the Northern Cup.

Nathan steals show

NATHAN Mapletoft fired five goals as Chester & District Sunday League Concorde Trophies Section A leaders Lache Park BA underlined their class with a thumping 8-3 win at Dee Miller Athletic.

Joey Waters (2) also got in on the act for Lache with Danny Andrews (2) and Simon Andrews reducing the arrears for the Miller men.

Vicars Cross Dynamos (Paul Sweeney 2, Ryan Finch) are still 10 points off the pace in second after they won 3-2 at home to Tarvin Rex.

Frodsham are three points further back in third following their 6-3 success at Dee Rangers, who paid the price for having a man sent-off. Graham Search (2), Phil Bryon, Adam Newbolt, Scott Abraham and Dave Robinson (pen) did the damage.

Saltney Ferry are three points clear at the top of Chester Chronicle Section B after they won a hard-fought contest at Watergates (Jonathan Davies 2) 4-2.

Second-placed Corner Pin LG condemned Greyhound Inn to their first defeat of the season as they came away from Fiddlers Lane with a 5-3 victory. Robbie Dean (2), Stu McIntosh, Craig Rush and Paul Armor netted for Corner Pin, who, like their hosts, were reduced to 10 men.

Hot-shot Carl Fowley struck four times and Geraint Thomas once as Oaklands Athletic sent Piper packing from Hoole Park 5-1.

Upton Youth Centre won 8-1 at Waverton (John Farrell).

Elton’s 100% winning start to Dale Recycling Solutions Section C was ended as they were held to a 4-4 draw at St Theresa’s PC.

Ray Cheers, Louis Mackin, Simon Quinn and Steve Sandbach were on target for the Saints.

There were wins for Anchor (Nathan Jones 2, Josh Kier, Jason Lucas, Sam Buckley), 5-1 at home to Bromfield Arms (Nathan Bradshaw), and AFC Lache (Chris Donnolly 2, Jamie Kelly, Scott Beech), 4-1 at home to Boughton Hall.