Prestbury put end to winless run of fixtures

LAST Thursday’s schedule of North West Counties Squash League matches resulted, for the second week running, in a very healthy return of nine wins, with only four defeats, for men’s teams from clubs in and around our town.

One of the victories - for Prestbury’s Sixth Team in Division Five South - was achieved without a ball being hit, after hosts Club AZ 2 were unable to field any players.

But the other eight all saw local sides either continue recent good form or rediscover the winning habit after long losing runs.

The Prestbury ‘Firsts’, who had not won in four Division Two East matches, provided an example of the latter - brushing away the cobwebs in fine style by thumping fourth-placed Alderley Edge 2 5-0 at home.

Paul Lomas, Rob Alcock, Mike Lomas, Adam Colebatch and - making a welcome return after his four-month injury lay-off - captain Nathan Mayers ensured the collective rout.

Prestbury 1 duly rose a place to eighth, swapping in the process with Bollington 1 who lost 4-1 at home to Congleton - with Stuart Melia securing his team’s sole victory on the night. The ‘Bolly Firsts’ can, however, rest relatively easily - enjoying a 38-point advantage above the drop-zone.

In Division Three South-East, the Second Teams of both Prestbury and Bollington continue to make concerted efforts with a view to avoiding Fourth Division squash next term. Prestbury remain ninth, one position above Bollington and the relegation positions, after winning 4-1 at Grove Park 3 - thanks to victories by Brian Lomas, Chris Dunkerley, Rick Bower and Mike Brauckmann. But the ‘Bolly Seconds’ also triumphed away, as Stuart Arnold, 16-year-old James Walton, Olli Stewart, Mark Collins and Malcolm Kendrick all won to ensure a 5-0 thumping of second-to-bottom Alderley Edge 4, and to go within nine points of their Prestbury counterparts.

Prestbury 3 achieved a fifth successive win in Division Four South to move up two places to third. Andrew Worsley, Paul Bartle and junior player Jonny Murray (16) were victorious on their trip down to Alsager 2 - the team which had suffered defeat by Prestbury’s ‘Fourths’ a week previously.

As for the ‘Fourths’ this time around, they found life a good deal tougher at home to second-placed Crewe Vagrants 4, and slipped a place to 11th after losing 5-0.

Macclesfield 1 leapfrogged them out of the drop-zone after wins for Daz Glazer, Annika Hall and Ollie Critchley secured their team’s first victory since midNovember at basement side Grove Park 5.

Bollington 3 stay ninth, but are increasingly clear of danger, despite losing 3-2 at Crewe Vagrants 5 - with Martin Ogden and Gareth Ainsworth picking up valuable points through their individual triumphs.

Division Five South promotion contenders Prestbury 5 remain second, following their seventh win in a row - on this occasion a 5-0 thrashing at Bollin Grove of former tenants Radbroke Hall 2.

Rich Curry, Gareth Evans and Alan Whiston, together with 16-year-old juniors Greg Ralley and Harry Mattocks, all prevailed in straight games for the ‘Fifths’.

And current Prestbury tenants Radbroke Hall 3 were edged out 3-2 at ‘home’ by the ‘Sevenths’, who claimed their third victory running courtesy of two walkover-wins and a successful comeback from two games down by Chris Murray.

Bollington 4’s winning run, which had extended to six matches, came to an end at the village’s leisure centre against thirdplaced Crewe Vagrants 6 - with junior player George Lomas (13) being the only winner for the home side. Macclesfield 2, meanwhile, stay ninth - two positions below the ‘Bolly Fourths’ and one above Prestbury 6 - after bringing a five-match string of defeats to an end at home to bottom team Grove Park 8. Russell Stagg, Simon Fisher, Bader Khan and Jon Stoker were all successful - and a walkover-win at fifth string completed a 5-0 triumph for Macc.