Competition kicks-off with cracking clashes
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THERE were some excellent football matches to be seen last weekend when the 15th annual Derek Roylance Widnes Challenge Cup kickedoff
Further super clashes are promised in the eight-team summer tournament with the final scheduled to take place on Friday, August 25, at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes.
The competition has a different fresh look about it this year with a forced change at the start.
Wellington FC withdrew from the tournament at the last minute due to player unavailability. They were replaced by another new outfit, Widnes Development FC.
Group One features Avon Athletic, Moorfield, Cronton Villa and Halton Borough.
The first game of this year’s competition saw holders Cronton Villa travel to local rivals Halton Borough FC.
Both teams were missing a few players due to holidays and injuries. The game started at a rapid pace with Cronton Villa looking sharp trying to turn the Borough defence with some good movement in the centre of midfield.
And they opened the scoring when a Villa player found space to whip in a inviting cross straight into the path of winger James Perryman who coolly finished into the bottom corner of the net.
Cronton Villa caused more panic as they kept finding the space and soon made it 2-0 when a through ball sliced open the Borough defence for striker Jack McCann to stroke it home.
The second half was a much more even game as Borough looked more like themselves. And they cut the arrears in half when a free-kick was parried straight into the path of Carl Fonterigo to tap in.
Borough battled away to try and find an equaliser but Villa held on to record the victory.
In the second match in the group, Avon Athletic took on Moorfield and found themselves a goal down inside the opening 60 seconds. The goal came when Ben Price ghosted into the Avon box to hit a cross ball from the right wing past the stranded opposition goalkeeper.
Avon appeared to be still asleep in the opening quarter of the match and another quick break by Moorfield saw them add to their lead with an astute finish by Craig Simm.
Avon finally got themselves into the match when Aaron McGarvey powered a header into the Moorfield net just before the interval.
And they drew parity early in the .second half when Michael Burns did well to nod in Avon’s leveller.
With 20 minutes still to play new manager Peter Whiston made a pair of substitutions and both players changed the game with fresh legs.
In the 78th minute, young Mike Farrell ran through and slotted the ball past the Moorfield goalkeeper to net what was to prove to be the winner.
In Group Two, Daniel Whalley returned to form with Halebank by hitting a hat-trick in their match against Widnes Development.
Teammate Kevin Dunning added a brace in Halebank’s 5-1 success.
Widnes replied through Sam Rawstorne who hit a superb volley from outside the box which eluded Daniel Whitley in the Halebank goal.
The only sour note was when one of the Halebank substitutes was dismissed for dissent. The player will now miss their next fixture against Parklands on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the group, St Michael’s and Parklands shared the points and six goals in a thrilling encounter.
St Michael’s went ahead through a well-worked goal down the right hand side which saw Paul Derbyshire hit a low cross for Adam Arkell to guide the ball past the Parklands goalkeeper.
Parklands levelled when they were awarded a penalty for handball and Jay White duly netted from the spot.
Derbyshire restored St Michael’s advantage lashing the ball home from the left hand side.
But back came Parklands and a brilliant strike from substitute Charlie Burdican saw them level the contest once more.
St Michael’s went ahead for a third time via a fine finish from Ryan Burge following a pass from Daniel Lovett.
However, in the final minute of an outstanding encounter, Parklands broke down the right hand side and Callum Barrow pulled the ball across the St Michael’s goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net to rescue a point for his team.