HOCKEY: WINNINGTON'S season reaches a climax on Saturday when they meet Macclesfield at Sir John Deane's College for the Cheshire League title.
The showdown starts at 12.45pm and Park are appealing for support in a winner-takes-all game.
For Winnington, victory would mean a return to the North League from which they were ejected at the end of last season on geographical grounds rather than because they were relegated.
They put themselves in with a 50-50 chance of the championship with a goal riot at Brooklands.
Leading scorer Karen Thwaites (pictured) scored two fine solo goals, each time beating three play-ers before scoring; Leona Trimble also grabbed a brace, converting a cross from Thwaites and then coming in at the sharp end of a forward's move; Helen Jones turned a Julie Dunn short-corner into the roof of the net and Eileen Miller converted another Thwaites cross.
Park say they were pushed, trodden on, hit with sticks and generally bullied but they - largely - kept their composure.
The exception was Jane Turley who protested heatedly against Brooklands' strong-arm treatment and was amid a mêlée of arguing players while the home side broke away and scored.
Brooklands had a player sent off for, according to a witness, 'playing the head of a park player with the stick'.
Coach Chris Davies described Park's performance as the best of the season.
Winnington Park 6 Cheetham Hill 2
WINNINGTON'S performance was as sunny as the weather.
They went on a goal spree, but only after twice going behind early on.
It was a masterclass from Rob Booth but despite this it required character early as Cheetham converted an early penalty.
Mark Leigh levelled, but Cheetham looked confident and scored their next goal from open play.
However, it was the second equalising goal that set the tone. Booth picked up the ball deep in the Cheetham half and then went past three players before lifting the ball delicately over the prostrate keeper.
In the second half the breach in the Cheetham defence widened and the goal torrent became a flood as David Hunt, then Dennis Topping, Booth and Leigh again all scored. Park even had the luxury of having one of their penalties fly high over the bar.
Throughout the game the hungry strikers were well fed by the energetic midfield among whom Andrew Jackson stood out.
