Leading duo secure victories with excellent performances
REDGATE Clayton secured a 4-2 home victory over Ball Haye Green to maintain their lead at the top of the Staffs County League Premier Division.
Oliver Griffiths put Dave Bailey’s Leek-based visitors ahead in the 15th minute, only to see that advantage cancelled out by a Sam Finney goal 10 minutes later.
Three minutes before half-time, Mike Mackintosh put the league leaders ahead to give then a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Just a minute into the second half parity was restored when Harrison Birch equalised for Green although that lead only lasted six minutes as Gate retook the lead through Louis Downs.
That narrow advantage was only extended five minutes from time when Sam Finney bagged his second of the game to ease any comeback fears from the Moorlands outfit.
Second-placed AFC Alsager gave last season’s champions Wolstanton a hard day in the office with a notable 4-0 win at the Alsager Sports Hub.
Kieran’s Mear’s hosts went ahead on 23 minutes through Eden Bullock with Adam Holford adding a second for the South Cheshire outfit on 38 minutes.
Two minutes into the second period Holford was once more on target for Alsager’s third and just after the hour mark Jordan Rigby added a fourth to round off a good day for the Tangerines.
Brereton Social returned to winning ways with a 6-1 success at Audley.
George Gilmore netted for the hosts, but Brereton hit Audley for six with a brace apiece from Owen Clark and Charlie Jessup, while James May and Rhys Baker also found the net for Matty Ainger’s Rugeley-based side.
Ashbourne put visitors Silverdale Athletic to the sword after recording a 4-1 home victory.
Jacob Edge-lucas hit a hat-trick with Arron Russell adding another in the win.
Visitors Rocester put four past hosts FC41 at Northwood Stadium where Jake Walklett scored a hat-trick with a fourth goal coming from Jordon Dodd five minutes from time.
Newly-appointed Leek CSOB manager Dan Cope tasted victory for the first time when his charges won 3-1 at Lichfield City Casuals.
Former Witton Albion student Isaac Shaw put the Old Boys ahead shortly before half-time with Charlie Jones adding a second 10 minutes into the second period.
Charles Lucy then added a third for the Staffordshire Moorlanders on 74 minutes but just two minutes later Callum Niven netted a consolation goal for the hosts.
Fourth-placed Kidsgrove Athletic moved level on points with Foley Meir in third after their 2-1 away victory over in-form Madeley White Star at Manor Road.
Joe Morris gave the hosts the lead on the half-hour, but a 50th minute Dan Lancett strike pulled the sides level with Callum Middleton sealing the points for Grove with a 60thminute penalty.
Keele University booked their place in the semi-finals of the Macron Trophy after two goals in the first 10 minutes in the second half from Nathan Day saw off rivals Stafford Town.
The first half had been very even with both sides trying to keep the ball down as the wind became a factor in proceedings, but striker Day was the main difference on the park and his strength, guile and tenacity made all the difference.
Dave Dale’s Newcastle Town thrashed Florence 5-1 with Ethan Vale, Callum Collis and Jenson Guest among the scorers.
In the Macron Cup group stages, Kyle Goodwin’s Division Two South Cannock narrowly squeezed past Division One side Redgate Clayton Reserves 3-2.
Matt Tolley put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute, only to see the lead cancelled out five minutes later by Martin Jackson.
Jack Partridge regained the lead for Cannock just before half-time which lasted up until the 71st minute when evergreen Tim Bowyer popped up with an equaliser.
The points were finally secured for Goodwin’s men five minutes from time when Daniel Bowes netted the winner.
A brace from Tom Wytcherley and further goals from Ben Shirley, Jake Regan and Thomas-jay Martin Carl Hughes secured a fine 5-1 away victory for Craig Shepherd’s City of Stoke side at Thorley Drive where they defeated Cheadle Town.
Elsewhere, over in Cheslyn Hay, hosts Hawkins Sports were held 2-2 by Audley Resereves who had Oakley Day on target with a brace.
In Division Two North, AFC Alsager Reserves were 4-2 victors when they travelled to Keele University Reserves.
Nikhil Cleary put the South Cheshire side ahead in the fifth minute and that’s how the score remained until Keele netted in the 50th minute through Daniel
Ogundele and the 58th minute through Dominic-kai Buck.
Lewis Walley then equalised for Alsager on the hour with Callum Leese netting in the 65th minute to regain the advantage.
The scoring was rounded off with a fourth for the visitors once again coming from Lewis Walley.
Thomas Oxford gave hosts Milton United Reserves a third-minute lead at home to Staffordshire Moorlands outfit Leek CSOB Reserves, but Keegan Thomas equalised for the Old Boys shortly before half-time.
Liam Wilson then put the visitors ahead just after the hour with Jayden Binns adding a third for the Leek side, nine minutes from time.
Ball Haye Green Reserves moved into fifth spot after smacking lowly Madeley White Star Reserves 5-1 over in Waterhouses.
Fletcher Massey put Green ahead after three minutes with Max Hill and James Hollins adding a further two before the interval, Mitchell Partington netting for White Star in the first period also.
Jake Gordon bagged a fourth for the Leek outfit before a fifth was scored by Rikki Cumming just two minutes from time.
In Division Two South, Stone Dominoes defeated stablemates Stone Athletic 2-0 at Wellbeing Park.
Callum Foxley-dean and Samuel Olaleye netted for Dominoes who moved into fifth place.
Three Spires United shared the spoils with Burton-based AFC Real Medina following a 2-2 draw when the sides met at the Shenstone Country Club.
Kyle Hill and Jon Bould netted for Spires while Josh Ward and Mike Wilson were on target for Medina.
Cresswell Wanderers Reserves are giving chase to Division Two South leaders Cannock Dynamos when they finally saw off promotion hopefuls Albrighton 3-2 at 5’s Pavilion Sports Centre.
Third-placed Newhall United were able to catch up on the fixture pileup by demolishing Lichfield-based Whittington 11-2 and 12-0 in a league double header.