Relegation staved off for town teams
THE final full weekly schedule of the North West Counties League winter fixtures took place last Thursday - and saw a pair of men’s teams from our local clubs ensure their safety from relegation, with another two swapping places for next season.
Prestbury 2, having spent the year battling to survive in Division Three South-East, were among the sides celebrating, after trouncing visitors Alderley Edge 4 to guarantee survival with a match to spare. Chris Dunkerley, Rick Bower, Nick Barker, Mike Quartley and 16-year-old Jonny Murray all won in straight games to produce a 5-0 victory that also consigned Alderley to the drop.
Divisional companions Bollington 2 moved up a position to ninth, one place below Prestbury, but only four points above the relegation trapdoor, following a shock 3-2 reverse at basement side Grove Park 4. Stuart Melia and junior player James Walton (16) were both successful for the ‘Bolly Seconds’, who must nevertheless almost certainly come through a ‘winner-takes-all’ closing fixture this Thursday at fellow strugglers Club AZ 1 if they are to stay up at their hosts’ expense.
In Division Four South, there was joy and despair in equal measure for Macclesfield 1 and Prestbury 4, who were vying with each other to avoid relegation. In the event, both sides achieved creditable victories against mid-table opponents, but a preexisting points-cushion kept Macclesfield up while sending Prestbury down.
Macclesfield’s emphatic home win against Crewe Vagrants 5 - thanks to victories by Martin Hall, Robin Thorpe, Rob Harland, Annika Hall and Ollie Critchley - was only their second 5-0 triumph of the campaign, but could not have come at a better time.
Prestbury’s ‘Fourths’ went down fighting, after beating Knutsford Sports 2 - with Kevin Wynne, Rich Curry, Paul Minshull and and Ben Parker contributing towards a 4-1 success on the road.
Prestbury 4 will be passed by Prestbury 5 on the descent into Division Five South next term, after the ’Fifths’ gained enough points, despite a 4-1 defeat at Knutsford Sports 3, to guarantee the second promotion place.
Junior Rhys AsquithEvans (14) was their sole victor on the night, after sneaking home by the odd game in five – which included a marathon 24-22 score in the first.
Other matches played the same evening included those for the First Teams of Prestbury and Bollington, who will finish their Division Two East campaigns in the respective positions of eighth and ninth - having previously made sure of survival. Prestbury ended on a triumphant note at Congleton 1 - with Paul Lomas, Rob Alcock, Adam Colebatch and Brian Lomas combining to come away with a 4-1 victory.
But the ‘Bolly Firsts’, and in spite of wins for Rick Walters and Brigg Simpson, were pipped 3-2 at home by Brooklands 1.
The same two clubs’ Third Teams fared similarly in the Fourth Division South.
Prestbury 3 clinched third place after beating Alderley Edge 5 at home, and then leapfrogging their visitors for good measure - courtesy of a 3-2 win that comprised victories by Graeme English, Andrew Worsley and Dave Jones. The ‘Bolly Thirds’, meanwhile, already safe in ninth place, lost 4-1 at home to promoted Crewe Vagrants 4 - with Andy Phillips gaining their consolation success.
The Fifth Division South still has a week to run, and both sixth-placed Bollington 4 and Prestbury 6, three positions below, limbered up nicely for a last-night flourish with impressive wins against sides from Grove Park.
The ‘Bolly Fourths’ triumphed 4-1 at GP 7, thanks to Tom Grimes, Will Jordan and 13-yearold juniors George Lomas and Jack Walton.
And Prestbury put the ‘Eighths’ to the sword, as Barry Jupp, Pat Hunter, father and son duo Fara and Keon Raked, as well as a walkover-victory at fifth string, combined to ensure a collective 5-0 rout at Bollin Grove.