Cheshire League: review of the week (From Crewe Guardian)

Rylands ruin Whaley Bridge's chance of closing the gap to Cheshire League leaders Knutsford

8:30am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport By Sports correspondent

WHALEY Bridge missed a chance to close the gap to champions Knutsford when their four-matches winning run ended on Saturday.

Phil Harrison netted the game’s only goal for hosts Rylands, who became only the second team this term to shut out Division One’s top scorers.

Denton Town climbed to third place in the standings after a single-goal success at Garswood United, where Marti Bentley was on target for the visitors.

Fourth in the final standings last season, the victors have lost only to in-form Knutsford in the league to date.

Greenalls inflicted a fifth successive league defeat on neighbours Grappenhall, who remain anchored to the foot of the table without a win in nine attempts.

Ben Slater’s hat-trick was a highlight, while further goals from Luke McCoy, Lee Deakin and Mark Hughes swelled their tally.

Leaders Barnton protected their perfect record in Division Two, but they were run close by visitors Malpas at Town Field.

Twice they restored parity in response to strikes from the hosts’ player manager Kevin Towey, who put his side ahead for a third time with 20 minutes left.

Two goals in quick succession, scored by Billy Webb and Anthony Wynne, ended Malpas’ resistance as Barnton recorded a seventh successive win.

Rudheath matched their neighbours’ points tally, from one more match, following a 3-1 win at home to Maine Road’s reserves.

Sam Didsbury’s drive from distance followed a brace from Stuart Tulloch to make safe the points for Steve Capper’s men.

Runcorn Town reserves are four points further back following a 5-2 success at home to newcomers Egerton, also on Saturday.

Cheshire League
Saturday September 29
Division One
Garswood United 0 Denton Town 1
Grappenhall Sports 1 Greenalls Padgate St Oswald’s 6
Rylands 1 Whaley Bridge 0

Division Two
Barnton 5 Malpas 2
Rudheath Social 3 Maine Road reserves 1
Runcorn Town reserves 5 Egerton 2