Park thirds still looking for first point after defeat
WEST End Park’s third team’s struggles continue after their heart-breaking 5-3 defeat to Burscough Pioneers II in their third division match in the ‘Master Lock & Safe’ Southport And District Badminton League.
That result makes it their third 5-3 defeat of the season and they are still without a point to their name.
It was a bright start however for West End Park, as they took an early 2-1 lead.
It started with a three-set win for top mixed doubles pair Jack Hales and Chris Livesly against Ian Hulse and Barbara Moore 21-15, 17-21, 21-15.
Then Burscough quickly levelled with a dominant 21-16, 21-7 win for second mixed doubles pair Andy Broadbent and Sandra Wain over Sam Wright and Darby Harrison.
West End reclaimed their lead, as third mixed doubles pair David Morris and Sheila Neary overcame the test of Phil Rimmer and Marie Melling 23-21, 21-11.
Sadly for the home side, Burscough managed to tie the match up before the break as Neil Haywood and Pam Wilde comfortably saw off Alan Williamson and Chloe Gearie 21-13, 21-12.
Burscough began strong in the second half of the contest by winning both men’s doubles matches.
While Rimmer and Haywood quickly ousted Morris and Williamson 21-8, 21-13, it was a much tougher test for Hulse and Broadbent.
Despite a minor slip-up when losing the second set, they came through and defeated Hales and Wright 21-9, 22-24, 21-14.
In the ladies doubles, West End Park kept their hopes alive of a match victory as first pair Livesly and Harrison defeated Moore and Wain in impressive fashion 21-15, 21-11.
The final contest of the match was certainly a tight one.
It ended up going the way of the visitors as Burscough’s Melling and Wilde came from a set down and toppled Gearie and Neary 19-21, 21-18, 21-14 to give them a valuable three points.
West End Park’s next league match will see them take on fellow strugglers Mawdesley IV in what will be seen as a relegation ‘six-pointer’.
As for Burscough Pioneers, they will be facing off against a Hesketh Bank side that are having a season to remember, as they have won all but one of their matches so far.
Meanwhile, in the league’s bottom division, Formby Methodist II just fell short of capturing their first win of the season in their 5-3 loss to promotion hopefuls Southsands VI.
A disappointing start gave Formby Meths too much to do to turn the result around.
But a valiant comeback made the end result a close one.
Southsands came out of the blocks well and they raced to a 3-0 lead.
A hat-trick of straight sets wins in the mixed doubles almost had their opponents at the point of no return.
But a valuable three-set win in the last of the mixed doubles by Jacob Whiteside and Margaret Lambert against Mike Wright and Lou Iddon, gave Formby Meths some hope.
A straight sets win for Southsands’ first men’s doubles Jamie and Jack Senior against Michael Lempereur and Tony O’Boyle pushed their side into a 4-1 lead.
But convincing wins in both the women’s doubles gave Formby Meths some much needed confidence to pile the pressure on their opponents going into the final contest.
In the end, those results did not seem to phase Southsands’ second men’s doubles pair of Andrew Johnson and Mike Wright.
They comfortably brushed aside Jordan Owen and Jacob Whiteside 21-15, 21-19.
In the next round of league matches, Formby Methodist II clash with St. Cuthberts V, who like their opponents are looking for their first three points of the season.
Southsands VI will be looking to keep up with the leaders as they take on Southport IX.
The league will be taking a break next week as the first round of the Watkinson Trophy will take centre stage.
If you want to keep up to date with the latest news, results and league tables, then be sure to check out the league’s official website, www. southportbadminton.com.
Also, make sure you like the league’s official Facebook page.