Houlihan's Press Report 10th September

Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League

60th Anniversary Season

Press Report for Sunday 10th September 2023

Almost 17 months since Neston Nomads were finalists in the Cheshire County Football Association Sunday Challenge Cup and an early exit last season, went goal crazy in the round 1 defeating Bramhall Athletic 14-2 after Luke Blondel led the way with a 6 goal blast, also on the mark were Joe Foster with a treble, a Jacl Darlington double added with singles from Dean Jones, Rob Marrs and to finish it off was a 40 year old player/manager Lee Cairns, Eastham Rangers Colts did not quite manage to equal them but they did hit 10 without reply, 8 different scores found the net with Nath Saunders completing a hatrick, the remaining 7 other scorers were Jim Ludbrrok, Andy Rogers, Cole Saunders, Nick Wakefield, Dillon Thomas, Zac Tyler Holland and Aaron Hughes, it was an away trip to FC Torkington, Eastham Ranger now have another away tie at Hartford U/21’s while Neston Nomads also have an away trip but ot to far against fellow Houlihan’s Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League Premier Division rivals Great Float S&S

The first round of The Tony Houlihan Memorial Challenge Cup commenced with only one home win and that was AFC Shaftes (Joel Brown) who beat Oval FC (M Simpson) 5-4 after both sides finished all square at 1-1 in normal regulatory time, also in the hat after a 4-4 draw are Division Two newcomers Upton Willows who took the tie 4-2 on penaties at Maxwell’s Barber Division side Prenton FC (Dean Wylde 2, Lewis Ward, Tom Hoather), Eagle Stirrup continued their fine early season form cementing a place in round two witha 3-1 win at Glenavon Athletic (Alex Weston), Ben Ryan was on hand with a brace allied to a Ciaran Atkinson effort for Eagle Stirrup, Athletic VH also recorded the same 3-1 result at West Kirby United (Henry Martyn), Lions FC resurgence continues 5-0 at unbeaten Division Three leaders Wirra Athletic, Paul Ryan 2, Ameel Al Gamri, Steve Dutton nd Gareth Craven all obliged for Lions, Derby Jets flew in to round two thanks Adam Larway, Kevin Day, Luke Burns and Kiaren Woods, 4-1 at Saughall FC who replied via Owen Wharton, Whitby Rangers registered the same result thanks to Matty Vickers, Dom Hoppe and a pair from Leo Young to secure their passage into the next round at the expence of Old Parks FC (Daryl Hellon)

Game of the day in The Premier Division saw two of the legue’s giants clash with Dock AFC taking a 2-0 lead through Cam McGregor and Matt Carlin just after halftime but Queens Park fought back to take a share of the spoils with a strike each from Fenton Cavanagh and Jack Bentley, points and goals were traded between KRCT Bidston ((Ben O’Neil) Cheshire Cheese (Sean Wilson), Woodchurch Hotel moved into pole position with a comfortble 5-2 result over Corsair (Jamie Scarisbrick & Nathan Fehily) and have a two point advantage on nine points with six other clubs all on 7 points and have games in hand

A worldie from Ben Glover for Bushell Athletic was all that was needed to head the Maxwell’s Barber Division One 1-0 over Clipper FC, Rig Move recorded their first points and win of the season after sealing a strong 4-0 result at Barcode FC, on the scoresheet for Rig Move were Shaun Weaver, Phil Jones, Lee Ludgate and Josh McEwan

A solitary goal from Lewis McKnight gave AFC Rangers their first maximum points haul in The Martin Gallier Project Division Two 1-0 over Barkers Armchair FC, Wirral Radio Newton inflicted a first reversal on strongly fancied Eastham Rangers, Josh Ross with a smart double and Kieran Donahugh called the tune for the Radio guys while Andy Simpson replied for Eastham Rangers

Among the early pacesetters in Division Three are Feeneys Fc who were victorious 3-1 over Victoria Colts (Gaz Dickenson) thanks to Mark Rand witha brace added to a Nick Amos effort and Oxton Celtic 2-1 at Parkgate St Germain, four clubs all on 10 points only separated by goal difference