Ten teams took the field in Cheshire League Division Two last weekend – and not one of them picked up three points!
The chances of all five games ending in a stalemate must have been similar to Leicester City winning the Premier League. (Or Talk Sport giving an honest assessment during their call in shows).
First up, table toppers Stretford Paddock were held to a 1-1 draw away at Haydock. Haydock took the lead on the stroke of half-time, but despite a series of impressive saves from young keeper Joe Draper, Paddock finally found the equaliser with 25 minutes remaining. Paddock pushed for the winner, but couldn’t find it – honours even at the JMO in Skelmersdale.
This tightest game on paper saw promotion chasers (and 100%’ers) Lymm Rovers and St Helens Town face off. With both sides riding high in the league and still unbeaten, it was no surprise to see 94 in attendance in St Helens at the Ruskin Sports Village. Harry Quarmby opened the scoring for the away side after just ten minutes, only to be pegged back by St Helens when Dale Whitehead stepped up to fire in direct from a free-kick. Not to be discouraged, Quarmby bagged his second of the game in the second half to give Lymm the lead which they felt would maintain their 100% record in Division Two. However, with 90 minutes on the clock, Charlie Simpson scored to rescue a point for St Helens and preserve their unbeaten start to the season.
The fourth remaining unbeaten side in Division Two – Halton Farnworth Hornets – also maintained their unbeaten status with a 2-2 draw at home to Newton Le Willows. Ben Hines opened the scoring for the Hornets after 16 minutes after latching onto a long ball forward to powerfully strike right-footed into the net. The lead lasted just two minutes as a resilient Newton equalised and then took the lead before half-time with goals from William Bickerstaffe and Matthew Hart. Halton stole a point with 15 minutes remaining when the referee awarded them a penalty and Curtis Langton made it count.
Hartford picked up their second 2-2 draw in a row, this time at home to Wigan Town. Goals from Josh Pacitto and Ashlet Bottrill not enough to defeat Wigan Town. Wigan’s point was only their second of the season, but it was enough to lift them off the foot of the table.
Last – but definitely not least – a 5-5 (yes, five-five!) thriller played out between Newton Athletic and Maine Road Reserves. The goal fest in Chester was a back and forth encounter with Newton racing into a healthy early lead but Maine Road undeterred fought back gallantly. Before this game, Maine Road had only scored three goals this season, so to score five times within 90 minutes showed a real spirit to turn things around and earn a share of the points.
Five games, Ten Teams, One Point each. No real changes to the league table, Paddock , St Helens and Lymm leading the charge at the top, with. Maine Road, Wigan Town and Warrington Rylands at the bottom and still awaiting their first wins of the season.
Full table can be found here.
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