WITH several key players missing, Barnton boss Mark Came showed he has assembled a squad with depth as Barnton gained their first Mid-Cheshire League win in a month.

The home side played some neat football but it took them 20 minutes to create their first chance, when Ben Carrigan should have done better after being set up by Michael Sandbach.

Carrigan looked to be having one of those days, missing four good chances before grabbing a well-deserved goal on 36 minutes, Tom Swann being the provider after showing some lovely skills.

Daten's strikers were well-marshalled by Paul Allen and Mark Came who look to be forging a good partnership at the heart of the de-fence.

Carrigan wasted another good chance on the stroke of half time as the home side went in feeling they should have had better reward for their first half performance.

The second half drifted a bit as Barnton wasted two more good chances and Barry Crellin pulled off a super save on 85 minutes.

The home side managed to squander a couple more chances before Jay Crellin's looping header made it 2-0 in the fourth minute of time added on. Daten's best chance came two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty but the kick was hit high over the bar.

Broadheath 2 Lostock Gralam: 0: The Mid Cheshire Cup hangover continued as Lostock slumped to defeat.

The visitors started slowly and went behind early following poor defending from a corner. The goal sparked Lostock into life and they began to dominate the midfield and moved the ball well despite not creating many chances.

They began the second half in bright fashion and forced two excellent saves from the Broadheath stopper - Webber looked dangerous and flashed a shot narrowly wide and Fullwood came close with a 25-yard free kick. McGahern produced the shot of the match with a vicious 35-yarder that the keeper just tipped over, but as Lostock pushed everything forward in the final minutes, Broadheath countered from a corner to seal the game in injury time.

Fans would have been hoping for better in the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup tie at Congleton Town last night.

Lostock Reserves 4 Winnington Reserves 2: Lostock got back to winning ways and secured second place with a comprehensive win over their local rivals.

Winnington opened the scoring but Bugg produced a spectacular 35-yard strike to level the game going into half time.

The second half saw Winnington take the lead again but Bryning levelled with a deflected free kick. Lostock took the lead for the first time in the game when Sullivan scored from a well-worked free kick. Lightfoot was unlucky to see red on 75 minutes and Lostock capitalised when Stainless converted a simple chance to round off the scoring.

* Winnington Avenue gained a hard-earned point in the Premier Division of the Crewe & District League with a 1-1 draw at home to Curshaws, Dave Ashley scoring their goal.

In the First Division, Lostock Gralam Reserves closed up on lead-ers Sandbach with a 4-2 derby win at home to Winnington Avenue Reserves. Nick Bugg, John O'Sullivan, Jack Bryning and Stuart Sharman scored for the Grey Lambs, with Chris Moore and Phil Cooper replying.

Cuddington did well to win 2-1 at Sandbach Wheatsheaf, courtesy of Gareth Harwood and Ali Lee goals.

On Saturday, Winnington travel to Bunbury, Winnington Avenue Reserves are at Kidsgrove Carpets and Lostock Gralam Reserves play Cuddington.