HOULIHAN'S
BIRKENHEAD SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEKS MATCHES:
With the mid week fixture programme in full flow, we were out and about this week watching more Finals, in which the standard of football has been fabulous, and I would say well done to all players involved.
On Tuesday night New Brighton Youth were pitted against Heswall Youth in the Cleveland Cup Final at West Kirby FC. Both teams battled hard to take home the Cup but it was decided by an unfortunate own goal by a New Brighton player, gifting the silverware to Heswall Youth. This in no way deflects the ability of the Heswall Players. Both teams probed and defended their hearts out and as the result suggests, it was hard to break each other down and take the advantage.
Elsewhere, Victoria Lairds lost valuable points when they drew 1-1 against Vauxhall Motors Youth. Mark Nokes scoring for Lairds, but if they want to finish Division Champions they will have to step it up as New Brighton have that Title in their sights.
In Division Two, the Sandbrook and Ultraseal arrived for their match to find the changing rooms locked, but keen to get the match played they changed outside and readied the pitch. However, the Ref was a little modest and refused to take on the spirit of the game, refusing to get ready without changing rooms, the teams were left in a quandary. Thankfully, sense prevailed and they agreed to a stand-in Referee, the match passed without notable incident and they drew 1-1. Well done, lads, its good to see that there is some gamesmanship about!
On Thursday, the Dock got back to winning ways when they beat the Shaftesbury ‘A’ 3-1. Alan Morton scored for Shaftesbury, but it wasn’t enough and they lost valuable points in the leadership race. The Docks’ Mike McGra bagged a brace and Tim Bigland sealed the victory. Also in the race for the title is the Queens Park, and they strolled home with a 1-8 scoreline against Stirrup Sports & Social. Darren Eaton scored for Stirrup, but the regulars for Queens once more adorned the score sheet, with goals from Rob Courtney (2), Liam Atherton (2), Lee Gibson, Mike Burke, Matty O’Shea and Dennis Baker.
In Division One, Rock Ferry continued their assault, with Jamie Kenyon scoring a hatrick against Royal Sun Alliance. Rock Ferry are now confirmed as runners up in the Division after a strong run in the final few weeks of the season. Division One’s fixtures are now complete.
The Youth Division saw New Brighton underachieving with a 4-0 win over Ashville Youth, goals coming from Tom Riley, Carl Murphy, Dan Sargent and Liam Jameson. We’re used to much higher results, so Ashville must have worked hard in defence to put a stop to a routing. Neston Nomads had a feisty match against Stork, but even though Tom Broughton scored, their opponents took the points with a penalty by Andy Williams and two goals from Mike Nevitt.
Friday, 2nd May, Cup Final number two, again our Hosts West Kirby FC did us proud and the Stephen Dean Trophy got underway between Poulton Victoria Youth and Victoria Laird Youth. An eventful match that saw Poulton Vics score within 4 minutes from a free kick. It took Victoria Lairds a further 40 minutes to break down their opponents and score an equaliser, again the opportunity coming from a free kick. Half-time saw the teams go in level. Some sharp words were obviously dished out, it took 6 minutes into the restart to see Poulton Vics second goal, 6 minutes later Lairds scored a header to make it even once more. Both teams worked hard, but Lairds indiscipline cost them the match, 3 players were dismissed from the field and Poulton Vics capitalised on the advantage scoring the winner in the 90th minute to take the Trophy. Scorers for Poulton Vics were Graham Fleming, Steve McGettrick and Gary Knight.
Our penultimate Sunday fixtures went ahead with no matches lost considering the heavens opened once more, and threw in a bit of thunder and lightening for fun! The Stirrup turned their Thursday night results around and beat the Bidston 6-1. Nathan Jones scored for the Bidston, but Lee Wharton (2), Lee Smith (2), Jamie Kelly and Michael Carol all scored for Stirrup. The Docks Tim Bigland netted again to share the points in their match against Hoylake Athletic. This completes the Docks’ fixtures for the season, their final placing being 4th in the Table.
Division Two’s only match saw the Argyll beat Sandbrook (M Southall) 3-2, with goals from Joe Curran, Lloyd Ithell and Danny Clague for Argyll.
In Division Three, the Title rested on the final match of the season for both Wavertree Wanderers and Bushell Athletic, and they were drawn to play each other. It was a good match with very little for the Referee to deal with. Both tried hard to push home the advantage and in doing so cancelled each other out, until Neil Morgan scored for Bushell. Bushell closed ranks hoping to keep the Wanderers at bay, which they did successfully, as Wavertree had a few shots, some very unlucky misses, and were unable to find that extra bit of luck to carry them on to the top. Congratulations to the Bushell lads, commiserations to the Wanderers.
Bushell FC Division 3 Winners
Prenton Park have been languishing at the bottom of Division Three for some time, but they pulled out all the stops today and walked away with all three points, leaving Claughton Village Hotel stunned. Scorers for Claughton were David MacDonald, Michael Gallagher and Ben Hoyle. The George beat AFC Mississippi with a 2-1 result. Scorers Ste Morgan and Mark Sloan securing the win, with Gary Brabander in return for Mississippi.
Youth Division fixtures are still in full flow, as many of the Youth Teams supply players for the successful Wirral District Representative Team, therefore holding the League fixtures up on occasions, which means some of the Youth Teams still have up to 4 matches outstanding and very little time to fit them in. Today, however, Heswall were under strength and just fell short of beating Victoria Lairds in a 3-4 final result with goals from Matty Kerr, Rick Mulholland and Rick O’Sullivan. Lairds scorers were Keiron Delaney (3) and Stephen Cane.
Neston Nomads’ Dominic Holden managed a goal against a strong Ellesmere Port, who put 8 in the net in reply – goals coming from Tom Craig (2), Tom Ward (2), Tom Loveworth, Steven Sass, Sam McCloud and Ben Lewis. New Brighton were back on form with a 9-1 battering of Newton Athletic (Paul Head). The usual suspects were on the sheet for New Brighton – Dan Sargent (3), Carl Murphy (2), Jack Hammond, Josh Duress (2) and Tom Riley. Finally, Vauxhall Motors Youth beat Ashville Colts 3-2 with goals from Danny Wilson, Craig Wharton, and Chris Fairhust for Vauxhalls, Joe Boden and Darren Parry in reply for Ashville.
The Final match of the day was a 2pm KO at Heswall FC, who again did us proud with their facilities. Queens Park v Rock Ferry Social in the Houlihans Memorial Challenge Cup Final. The first half was relatively uneventful with Queens Park taking the lead after 35 minutes. After the break, both teams came out ready to put on a show. Rock Ferry scored an equaliser after 71 minutes and four minutes later took the lead. It was looking ominous for Queens as Rock Ferry were working hard and results were coming in. Queens made a couple of substitutions and rejuvenated their attack, the tactics paid off and they found the equaliser on 85 minutes.
This forced the game to extra time, something nobody wants at this stage of the season where legs tire easily and injuries are picked up as a result. But 7 minutes into extra time Queens Park found goals number 3, and caught napping Rock Ferry couldn’t stop goal number four 3 minutes later. In their haste to stop the Cup from slipping away, Rock Ferry conceded a penalty and Captain for Queens, Lee Gibson slotted it home.
In the second half of extra-time Queens Park put the result firmly out of the grasp of Rock Ferry with goal number 6. However, Rock Ferry, still desperate to salvage something got a penalty of their own and put the ball in the net to make their total 3. With only 4 minutes to play they had a mountain to climb and it was just too far on this occasion. Both Teams worked hard and it was a pleasure to watch, the result did not do justice to the game, however, Congratulations to the Queens who take home their 3rd Trophy of the Season, commiserations to Rock Ferry who were unfortunate not to have the Cup in their cabinet. Scorers for Queens were Lee Gibson (3), Mike Burke, Dennis Baker and Liam Atherton. Rock Ferry Scorers were Jamie Kenyon, Danny MacNicholas and Chris Hesketh.
Our next Cup Final is Monday, 5th May at Heswall FC once more. 2pm Kick Off for the Veronica Conway Cup Final – Brow v Shaftesbury ‘A’.