Weekly Round Up - 6th January 2024

The first weekend of 2024 saw Standish St Wilfrid's steal the spotlight with an impressive 5-0 victory over Tarleton Corinthians.

Following the recent bad weather this game was played on the new 3G pitch at the Bamber Bridge Sports Hub. Leaders Standish playing fourth place Tarleton. The first game of the new year.

After a cagey opening period Standish took the lead in the 39th minute with a neat finish by Tom Warren. On the stroke of half time a second from Samir Soebeih gave Standish a 2-0 lead at the break. Unfortunately Tarleton were hindered by an injury in the first five minutes which meant they had to use their only substitute early on.

Tarleton had a further blow early in the second half with another injury which meant they played the rest of the game with 10 players. This gave Standish the impetus and to go on and score 3 more through Johan du Toit and 2 more from winger Tom Warren giving him a superb hat trick. The first was a low shot into the right hand corner for the edge of the area but he saved the best till last when he cut in from the right hand side with a fierce shot into the top left hand corner.

Tarleton kept going to the end and with such a young side they have plenty to look forward to . They were clearly handicapped with the injuries and Standish took full advantage with some clinical finishing.

PREMIERSHIP
In the Premiership, Bickerstaffe showcased their prowess with a resounding 6-1 triumph over Eccleston & Heskin. Daniel Huyton emerged as the star of the match, scoring an outstanding four goals, complemented by Shaun Smyth's brace. Eccleston & Heskin managed to notch a single goal through Ryan Thompson. Referee Ethan Fletcher oversaw the game, highlighting Bickerstaffe's dominance on the field.

Newburgh Harrock United faced a 1-3 defeat against Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs in a closely contested fixture. While the goal scorer for Newburgh remains undisclosed, Thomas Taylor-Hampson, Jack Barton, and Rob Langley, both coming off the bench, secured the crucial goals for Southport & Ainsdale Amateurs. Referee Callum Edgar managed the game, witnessing a commendable performance from both sides.

DIVISION ONE
In Division One action, Astley FC suffered a 1-3 defeat against Broughton Amateurs AFC. Charles Young found the net for Astley, but goals from James Charlson, Oliver Jones, and Jack Jemson secured Broughton's victory. Astley's Aidan Townsley earned recognition as the Player of the Match, showcasing an exceptional individual performance. Referee John Britton oversaw the game, emphasizing Broughton's strength on the field.

Fleetwood Hesketh and Sir Tom Finney FC engaged in an enthralling 4-4 draw, providing spectators with a captivating contest. Hal McHugh's hat-trick for Fleetwood, alongside Frankie Pearson's goal, saw both teams share points. For Sir Tom Finney FC, Kiran Collister, Conor Garrett, Bryan Gilbert, and Zechariah Smith found the net in a thrilling encounter. Referee Anthony Alty managed the game, witnessing an intense and high-scoring affair.

DIVISION TWO
AFC Ainsdale emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Shevington FC Reserves in Division Two. Liam Mackie, Zack Baggaley, Kyle Ball, and Connor Jamison, coming in as a substitute, secured the goals for Ainsdale. Shevington managed goals through Joseph Winstanley and substitute Michael Jones. Referee Robert Kearley officiated the match, highlighting AFC Ainsdale's successful outing.

Broughton Amateurs AFC Reserves claimed a 3-1 victory over Middleton & Overton Sports FC in another Division Two fixture. Mohamed Abdalla Hashim and a brace from Declan Hilton sealed the win for Broughton, while Jordan Newton netted a consolation goal for Middleton & Overton Sports FC. Referee Michael Blackledge supervised the game, acknowledging Broughton's solid performance.

The weekend's fixtures unfolded with a blend of dominant victories, thrilling draws, and notable individual performances, showcasing the competitive spirit across the various divisions as the new year's football action commenced.