B3319 by Champion Newspapers

The Champion l Wednesday 14 August 2019

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SPORT

Lindfield on target as Marine await Dunston in league season opener Marine 1 Witton Albion 1 MARINE warmed up for Saturday’s league opener with a draw in their final pre-season friendly. The Mariners will begin life in the Northern Premier League Division One North West with a home match against Dunston when they will hope to start the season brightly and pick up three points as they begin their battle for promotion. Witton began the game on the front foot on Saturday and had an early chance on goal as when James Murray had an effort well saved by Marine's trialist goalkeeper. Two former Mariners linked up well as Murray played in James Short on the left and the full back's cross was nodded wide by another ex-Marine man Will Jones. The deadlock was broken on 20

minutes as Albion took the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances. A trialist swung in a ball from the right which caught out the Marine goalkeeper, looped over his head and into the top corner. Marine grew stronger in the second half and put the Witton defence until a sustained period of pressure. James Barrigan had an effort narrowly wide of the target and Craig Lindfield came the closest as he saw a powerful driven shot bounce back out off the woodwork. The goal finally came with 15 minutes remaining when Lindfield received a neat cut back and curled a right-footed shot around Renshaw and into the back of the net. The Albion goalposts were struck again in the final stages, a piledriver hitting the underside of the crossbar before Renshaw was able to clear his lines as Marine pressed for a winner.

Remyca win cup thriller after first half goal blitz The comeback for Avro seemed to be complete on 25 minutes when Ryan Hanson fired in a third goal REMYCA reached the next round of after cutting in on his right foot. the FA Cup after they came out on However, Remyca had a comeback top of a seven goal thriller in which of their own to pull off and it starall seven goals were scored in the ted as Jake Connor capitalised on a first half. goalkeeper error with a poke at the Remyca took the lead when Neil ball to make it 3-3 and is was 4-3 to Monaghan curled an effort past the Remyca on 35 minutes when Liam opposition goalkeeper after only six Diggle nodded a fourth after being minutes and Colin Quirk put the left unmarked in the box. team further ahead with an outThere were chances in the second rageous shot from 30 yards out. half, and the hosts came close to an The home side were then awarded equaliser in the final seconds, but a penalty, which was converted by superb defending Paul Foy saw the Liam Ellis and after 20 minutes the chance cleared off the line. score was level at 2-2 after a quality Litherland will now play Sheffield finish from Adam Latham. FC away in the next round. Avro 3 Litherland Remyca 4

Action from Bootle’s home league match with Skelmersdale United which ended in a draw.

Bucks just need to go back to basics: Doran Eccleshill United 2 Bootle 1 BOOTLE manager Joe Doran believes his side must go back to basics to kick start their season. The Bucks remain winless after being dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup by Eccleshill United on Saturday. Despite the hosts playing 85 minutes with ten men, a brace from Antony Brown condemned Doran’s side to their first defeat of the season. Arriving in Yorkshire after another 1-1 draw, this time in the league fixture against Skelmersdale United on Tuesday night, hope was high that the Bucks could finally claim their first win of the season. And those hopes were soon boosted when the hosts were reduced to 10-men after five minutes, with Johnny Irving seeing red for a late challenge on Liam Loughlin. But three minutes later the home side opened the scoring when Brown finished from an acute angle after ghosting through the Bootle defence. The Bucks rallied to the setback and began to carve out openings at will.

But in what is becoming a familiar theme to their season, the Bucks lacked the composure needed when it mattered most. Four minutes later Bootle did finally find the back of the net when a cross from the right found Lee Hughes inside the box before the Bucks number seven unleashed a superb first-time volley into the far corner of the net. Nine minutes later though and Brown struck again to put the home side back in front. Jack McGovern could only parry Matty Stor’s effort, with Brown reacting quickest to fire the rebound home and seal his side’s place in the next round. A disappointed Bucks boss Joe Doran said afterwards that of the three games so far, the only time Bootle have played how he wants them to was in the last 25 minutes against Skelmersdale last Tuesday night. He added: “We played incisive football in that period and got to the byline and put crosses in. “Let’s make no bones about it we’ve had a bad start and we need to put it right soon. “It’s not a case of overreacting I think it’s a case of getting back to basics and doing the basics right, because at the moment I don’t think we’re doing the basics right.”

Purples survive scare to reach next round

Maghull lose at windy South Liverpool

City of Liverpool 3 Campion 1

South Liverpool 2 Maghull 1

CITY of Liverpool survived a scare in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round to come from behind to beat Bradford-based Campion. Despite the opposition playing two steps below the hosts in the football pyramid, they took the

lead on 24 minutes as Andy McGreadie nodded home from close range with a free header. The Purps levelled on 57 minutes through a 25 yard freekick from John McGrath and took the lead when Karl Clair showed nice feet to back heel the ball over the line after good play by McGrath again.

Substitute and Purps’ record goalscorer Tom Peterson wrapped up the victory on 81 minutes with a header. A home tie in the next round was just reward for City Of Liverpool, who open their Northern Premier League campaign with a trip to Marske in the North East this Saturday.

Bootle stay top after washout WET weather once again ruined another round of league fixtures in the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition Premier Division Bootle remain 31points clear at the top after their eagerly anticipated home clash against second placed Ormskirk was abandoned on Saturday without a ball being bowled. Formby’s home match against Northern was called off after 23.4 overs with Formby on 82-0. Southport & Birkdale’s match at third placed New Brighton ended in a closely fought draw after S&B were bowled out

for 98 with Ashraf Nawab taking 6-22 with the ball and the hosts had 19 overs to reach their target and ended on 88-8. In the Second Division, Burscough’s home fixture against Maghull and Hightown St Mary’s home match against Sutton were abandoned This weekend’s local LDCC fixtures (noon start): Formby v Orrell RT, Northern v Lytham, Ormskirk v Colwyn Bay, S&B v Bootle, Ainsdale v Birkenhead Park, Rainford v Fl’d Hesketh, Maghull v H’n St Mary’s, Norley Hall v Burscough and Southport Trinity v Liverpool.

MAGHULL’S opening game of the West Cheshire League season ended in defeat in awful conditions on the banks of the River Mersey last Saturday. The near gale force wind dominated proceedings with all the

goals being scored in the first half. The hosts took a two goal lead before Jordan Holmes reduced the arrears but despite having chances Joe Burns team could not get back on level terms. Meanwhile in Wallasey Maghull’s youthful Reserve team came back from a goal behind

before running out 4-1victors at Ashville in their opening Division Two match. Dave Lynch Connor Rankin and substitute Charlie Taylor with a brace were on target for Mike Cummins outfit. On Saturday Maghull play their first home game when Capenhurst Villa are the visitors, kick off 3pm.

Belles are looking to play hardball FIRWOOD Belles Women’s team travelled to St Peters School, York to make history by playing their first hardball cricket tournament in the Kia Smash after only being launched this February. The Belles entered the tournament following their Liverpool District League good early season form where they had overcome rivals Colwyn Bay, Liverpool, Old Xaverians, Maghull and HIghtown St Marys with bowler Jackie Westhead showing good form having claimed a treble-wicket

Clare House, 166 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0QA

01704 392 392

maiden earlier in the year at softball cricket. Captain Jackie Rose and her team needed to push their nerves aside as they moved onto the next stage of development encouraging the women to play full hardball cricket. The girls did not disappoint after accepting the challenge especially when they came up against such strong, well established women’s teams from both Leyland and Wrenthornpe who each had a number of county players in their side.

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The Belles where beaten in both games, Wrenthorpe then progressed to the Northern area final where they were then beaten by Sessay Emeralds. Firwood Belles are now looking for other women’s teams locally who want to make the transition from softball to hardball by organising friendly games without having to travel to another county to enhance their knowledge of the game. Any teams wishing to arrange a game to play should email info@firwoodbootlecricketclub.com