Prestbury add to woes for Bowdon
LAST Thursday, for the first time in three weeks, all 13 local men’s teams had North West Counties League fixtures to fulfil – although, as had been the case on all three previous Thursdays, only five of the sides ended up victorious (and, in one case, without actually playing!).
Among their number were Prestbury’s ‘Firsts’, who got back to winning ways in Division Two East by triumphing 5-0 at early-season pacesetters, but now-struggling, Bowdon 3. Paul Lomas, Rob Alcock, Nathan Mayers, Mike Lomas and Adam Colebatch ensured the collective rout that saw their side inch up a place to sixth.
In doing so, Prestbury swapped positions with Bollington 1 - following a home defeat for the ‘Bolly Firsts’ by the odd match in five against third-placed Brooklands 1. Christian Ogden and Lyndon Stonier claimed two hard-earned wins over five games for the hosts.
While Bollington’s First Team eased any relegation fears some time ago, they remain very real for the ‘Bolly Seconds’, whose 4-1 reverse at Village Hyde 1 has left them just one point above the drop-zone in Division Three Central South. Neil Garner picked up their consolation victory.
In the Third Division South-East, Prestbury 2 completed a successful January by further consolidating fourth place, after a 4-1 victory at home to Alderley Edge 4. Brian Lomas, Chris Dunkerley, Graeme English and - on the eve of his 17th birthday - junior player Jonny Murray all won for the ‘Seconds’, who suffered defeat on just one occasion during last month.
The same can be said of Prestbury’s ‘Thirds’ - although their 3-2 reverse at Alderley Park 2 brought to an end their 11-match unbeaten run in Division Four Central South, despite 3-1 victories for Mike Brauckmann and Andrew Worsley. Prestbury 3 remain in second place, albeit now with a reduced five-point advantage over fellow promotionchasers Monton 3.
Divisional companions Prestbury 4 also lost, but the 11 points that the ‘Fourths’ collected in the course of their 4-1 defeat at home to Cheetham Hill 2 took them up a position to 12th and five points away from the relegation places. Paul Bartle was their sole victorious player on the night.
In Division Five South, fourth-placed Macclesfield 1 achieved a sixth straight win by edging out Hyde’s Third Team 3-2 at home - thanks to wins by James Douglas, Simon Evans and Robin Thorpe. Bollington 3 remain three positions lower, following a second successive 5-0 triumph - on this occasion, at home to Alderley Edge 6, with Andy Phillips, Malcolm Kendrick, Rob Harland, Gareth Ainsworth and 14-yearold George Lomas all victorious. And Prestbury 5 stay 10th after losing 3-2 at Grove Park against Stockport 1 - in spite of successes for captain Rob Thorneycroft and junior Harry Mattocks (17).
Macclesfield 2’s scheduled match at Glossop 2 did not, in the event, go ahead, as the hosts could not raise a team - resulting in a walkover-victory for Macc. And that was the best news from Division Five South on an evening when the two local representatives who took to the courts both failed to win. Bollington 4, one position below fifth-placed Macclesfield, suffered a 3-2 defeat at fellow mid-table side Alderley Park 4 - despite triumphs for Tom Grimes and Phil Colville - while winless Prestbury 6 went down 5-0 at home to divisional form-horses Alderley Edge 7.