Weekly Round Up - 16th December 2023

The highlight fixture of the weekend showcased the thrilling clash between Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs and Standish St Wilfrid's, where Southport emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.

This match brought together Standish, currently sitting top of the table, and Southport who were third going into the fixture. Both teams had also recently won their Lancashire Amateur Cup ties in getting into the last 16 of that competition.

The weather was pretty near perfect with a bit of a crosswind and the pitch was in excellent condition given the recent bad weather.

The match got off to a great start with Southport opening the scoring after 2 minutes. Tom Taylor Hampson (Trigger) chased down a long ball on the left wing and beat the fullback in the challenge before crossing into the penalty area. The ball was only partially cleared and fell to Christy Devlin on the edge of the area who used his experience to place the ball firmly into the net.

Both teams gave it everything in a very competitive game and Standish fought their way back into the game with an equaliser after 30 minutes . Marcus Kirton picked the ball up on the left wing and cut into the penalty area before beating the keeper with a low shot into the net.

The scoring wasn’t over though in the first half. Southport left back Richard Wincer sent a peach of a cross into the penalty area which seemed to catch the goalkeeper in two minds and Rhys Graham scored with a superb header.

A cracking first half and could the two teams match it in the second half.

The second half was very tight with several half chances but no clear opportunities to score . Both teams tired as the game went on and both made a number of substitutions to try and freshen things up. Southport held firm and saw the game out with some posession football .

The game was well handled by the three officials with the referee Mark Fitzpatrick keeping the game flowing.

Final Score : Southport 2 - 1 Standish .

Standish remain top with Bickerstaffe in second and Southport closing the gap in third but having games in hand. This promises to be a very competitve Premier Division this year and don’t write off newly promoted Tarleton Corinthians who with a very youthful team sit in fourth place.

Premiership

Shevington FC 4-2 Walmer Bridge
Shevington FC secured a thrilling 4-2 victory against Walmer Bridge in a high-scoring affair. Joe Wilson was the hero for Shevington, netting a hat-trick alongside a goal from Alex Green. Despite a valiant effort, Walmer Bridge managed two goals courtesy of Zak Deaves and Keyton Henry, showcasing their attacking prowess. Referee Ethan Fletcher managed the game with precision, overseeing an intense battle on the field.

Tarleton Corinthians vs. Highgrove
The fixture between Tarleton Corinthians and Highgrove concluded with a home walkover, securing the win for the home team, although specific details surrounding this result remain undisclosed.

Division One

Broughton Amateurs AFC 2-0 Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves
Broughton Amateurs AFC claimed a solid 2-0 victory against Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs Reserves. Zachariah Adeoye and Liam Bell found the net for Broughton, showcasing their team's offensive capabilities. Referee Michael Bonage presided over a well-fought encounter between the two determined sides.

Cherrybrook 2-1 Appley Bridge
Cherrybrook secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Appley Bridge in a closely contested match. Goals from Jack Crowther in the 25th minute and Robbie Heaton in the 65th minute led Cherrybrook to victory, while Jordan Gore managed to net one for Appley Bridge. Referee Ian Whiteside ensured a fair and competitive game between these spirited teams.

Division Two

Astley FC Reserves 6-0 Middleton & Overton Sports FC
Astley FC Reserves displayed dominance with a commanding 6-0 victory over Middleton & Overton Sports FC. Despite a goalless first half, Astley emerged victorious with goals from James Knot (x2), Luke Robinson (x2), Callum Hall, and Samuel Stocks. Referee Phil Howarth supervised an exciting match filled with thrilling moments.

Bickerstaffe Reserves 1-1 Gables FC
Bickerstaffe Reserves and Gables FC settled for a 1-1 draw in a closely contested encounter. Daniel Huyton's goal for Bickerstaffe was met with an unfortunate own goal for Gables. Referee John Britton managed a competitive game between these determined teams.