Review of games played week commencing 06/05.

With their influential midfielder Kris Fawcett out with an hamstring injury sustained in the semi-final Offerton Green knew they faced an uphill task against Newall Green in the final of the NEC DFA Sunday cup.

In front of a large crowd at the Park Road Stadium the home of Cheadle Town the game took a little while to really light up, with Newall forcing the pace from the start, but good defending kept them at bay. The speed and trickery of Newall’s Ashley Leather was causing problems on the left flank. It was his run and square ball into the box that broke the deadlock on the half hour, Spencer Cunliffe coolly slotting the ball home.

Only a superb tackle on the edge of the six yard box by Dieter Downing denied David Brown a goal, minutes later only Brown could explain how he managed to miskick the ball a yard out from another Leather ball into the area.

Then Leather hit the angle of Offy’s goal with a curling free kick. Just before half time following a good run down the left Brandon Byers brought a good save out of Richie Torkington.

A couple of early second half attempts on the Offy goal came to nothing but woke them up and entered their best spell of match taking the game to Newall who were pushed back on the defence.

For the first time in the match Newall’s keeper Callum Whittingham was forced into a good save from Aiden Dwyer’s curling shot. It became a more open game with both teams putting pressure on their opponents defences.

Newall became a bit over confident and sloppy in their approach play which made it a little easier for Offy. Leather looking for a goal should have done better after a good run down the left but shot wide. Torkington had to be on his toes to deny Ellis Graham a success. At the other end Jonny Hurst headed wide from a free kick. With virtually the last kick of the game Remi Williams shot straight at Torkington.

The MOM was Newall’s Ashley Leather, a constant threat throughout the ninety minutes.
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There were only a couple of midweek League games. In Division One

Mountfield who were already confirmed as runners up to the departing Winston beat Stoconians 3-1. Bobby Smith was on target for two of the goals and Jack Hodkinson got the other with Ollie McFadyen the architect of the three goals.

The only game played in Division Two ended in a two all draw between Stockport Vikings and Northenden Town the result ensuring that Hillgate are champions.

Dylan Moloney from the penalty spot put Vikings in front. A ball over the home defence saw Scott Joyce slot the ball home at the near post. In the second half Northern took the lead when Ben Pollard ran on to a misplaced back pass. It was another penalty that crushed their hopes, Kieran Norris netting from the spot.

With the League drawing to a close only six league games took place on Sunday, two of them were in Division One, Northenden FCat at home to Cosmos was an entertaining game throughout with good football played by both teams. Thirty minutes into the game a corner by Sean Radford saw captain Callum Haig rise above everyone else and find the bottom left hand corner of the goal with his header. Cosmos put the home team under a lot of pressure which was relieved when Oscar Lingard laid the ball off for player/ Chairman Tim Harvey who for the last two seasons has had the honour of scoring his team’s final goal of the season.

The other game between Stoconians and Bramhall ended in a 2-0 win for Bramhall.

Hillgate FC who still have two games to play clinched the title with a narrow win over Railway who took a surprise lead six minutes into the game Ben Spibey beating Leighton Brigano with a low shot. Railway kept out a couple of free kicks with good defending. At the other end only the fingertips of Brigano denied Frankie Dean from scoring. Lewis Behan then rattled the Hillgate bar. Rail’s keeper James Latham who had earlier made a great save from Leon Murphy, misjudged Adam Gardiner’s free kick which hit the post and went out of play. The woodwork was certainly getting involved, this time another Gardiner free kick flew off a defenders head and hit the bar. The second half belonged mainly to Hillgate Dale Hester levelled the score with his goal. Leon Murphy muscled his way through the Rail defence and put his side in front. Minutes from half time, Matt Smith Jnr put his penalty kick wide of Latham’s right hand post. I had the honour of presenting the Trophy to captain Adam Gardiner after the game.

The runners up spot is still up for grabs, Northenden Town got over their mid-week draw with an odd goal of seven win in a cracking game with Orion who took the lead with Harry Burns’s goal his twenty seventh of the season. A Luke Evans equalised with a free kick that went in via the post. Scott Joyce put Northenden in front when a George Murray shot got deflected to him giving them the half time lead. Not to be outdone Zak Grainger’s equaliser also levelled the same goal tally of team mate Burns. There was a was nightmare moment for Northenden’s keeper Neil Eastwood when he allowed a back pass from Callum Scarry to bobble over his foot to give Orion the lead again. But all was not lost, team mate Theo Coley saved his blushes by equalising from Ben Pollards pass, then from good work by Harry Hope, beat the keeper to the ball and slot home the winner. Phew.

Hr. Poynton were 5 up at half time away to Bosden Farm, Marcus Graham with two and one each for Rob Stokoe, Dan Kirkham and Rob Sheeran. Graham completed his hat trick in the second half and in the final minute Dan Slater scored for Bosden after a shot that had come off the bar.

Edgeley Villa scored three in each half at home to Cheadle Hulme Galaxy. Oli Burgess ended his solo run to put them in the lead. Jordan Cunningham, side footed the second one in and from a Dave Herbert free kick headed over the keeper for the third. Barnes got his second from a long clearance by Herbert. Burgess after beating a couple of defenders laid the ball off for Rick Kelly to net the fifth. Tom Hannan ended Villa’s scoring with his goal. A counter attack by Galaxy late in the game brought their only success Cameron Leigh dinking the ball over the Villa keeper.
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This report contains the words, thoughts and opinions of Keith Coates and not necessarily those of the SDSFL.