Gino’s header gives Avenue winning edge

RIVALS Avenue and Queen Anne went head-to-head in a thrilling showdown in the Sun Chemical Division One.

Avenue made the first decisive move when centre-back Niall Lewis tucked the ball home from a third minute free kick.

In the second half, Carlton Norford had a clear-cut opportunity, as he broke one-on-one with the keeper, but dragged the ball narrowly wide.

Both sides had standout players in the midfield; Stuart Mercer was at the heart of Avenue with a fantastic engine, whilst Craig Schumann was the orchestrator of Queen Anne’s creativity.

With only ten minutes left on the clock, The Queen Anne ventured further forward, committing a defender into a rash foul. Adam McNally stepped up for the penalty and sent the Avenue keeper the wrong way, 1-1.

Both sides went close; Avenue through Mercer and Queen Anne through Schumann, whose thirty-yard strike, rattled the upright.

However, it was Avenue who stole the points after a long ball over the top, Gino Nicholson’s brave header finding the net.

Avenue manager Adam Thomas said: “We started well in the first 20 minutes. They came into the game and put us on the back foot, but we stuck in there and were resilient, which got us the result today.”

Rochdale Nomads welcomed Wardleworth in a quick-paced encounter in the Newbold Tyres Premier Division.

It was Wardleworth in the ascendency in the early part of the game, their quick movement and slick passing caused Nomads all kinds of problems.

Nomads took the lead against the run of play, a sublime pass from Jamie Williams opened up the Wardleworth back line to find Rushton who rounded the keeper and put the home side 1-0 up.

Within 10 minutes of the second half, a long ball found Alton, who was then fouled inside the penalty area.

Rushton dutifully dispatched the resulting penalty for his second of the game.

Wardleworth were resilient and managed to claw one back early on in the second half.

Rushton completed a phenomenal hat trick, after going one on one with the keeper and cleverly slotting it past him.

Despite a late consolation for Wardleworth, the final score ended 3-2.

Nomads manager Michael Thomas said: “Fair play to Wardleworth, they have some great players and caused us all kinds of problems and with more composure in the final third would have won the game.

“Rushton and Williams up front played the game plan to perfection, this coupled with our excellent defensive display and organisation made it a good day at the office.”

Horse and Jockey came from 3-2 down to overcome Littleborough Seconds 4-3 in the Sun Chemical Division Two.

With Littleborough commanding the first half, spectators didn’t give Heyside much hope despite goals from Antony Heywood and Daragh Henderson.

However, an inspiring half-time team talk, a tactical switch and a change of mind-set allowed Jockey to get back into to the game.

With the help of a strong mentality, Horse and Jockey clawed themselves back to make it 3-3.

The underdogs continued to battle and went ahead through an own goal by a Littleborough defender.

Following a tense encounter, Horse and Jockeys’ manager praised his team: “I am really pleased with the lads that turned up and made an effort for the side.”

Heyside beat Littleborough CCFC 5-3 in the Sun Chemical Division Two, despite being 3-1 down at the interval with braces from both Dave Buckley and Chris Valentine.

Heyside manager Paul Shea said: “A great game of two halves. But Heyside dug deep to grind out the win.”

Heyside’s first win of the season lifts them from the bottom of Division Two.