Stockport can't afford any more losses
Stockport are under no illusions that any more losses this
season will all but end their chances of winning the North
of England League Premier Division crown. And with Heaton
Mersey setting the pace at the top of the table the pressure
is really on the Beech Road club to pick up maximum points
from every one of their remaining games as the race for the
title intensifies.
Therefore it was timely that Stockport found top gear this
weekend as they crushed Rochdale 21-3 and cut Mersey's lead
to four points.
"It was a very convincing win," admitted Anton
Bryant, the Stockport chairman. "All we can do now is
win our remaining games and keep the pressure on Mersey. We
just hope they slip up."
Chris Bland and Paul Fullerton, the England midfielders,
did the bulk of the damage for Stockport with four goals each,
while Dave Bryant and Owen Jones also weighed in with important
hat-tricks as the home side led throughout 5-1, 11-1 and 13-3.
Father and son, Martin and Keith Gosnay, both added doubles
and Anthony Murphy was also on the scoresheet as Rochdale
could find no answer to the onslaught.
Cheadle, last year's treble-winners, have already blown their
hopes of retaining the Premier Division title they won so
handsomely last term. But the Kingsway Sports Club outfit
are still playing with plenty of pride, and it showed with
a gutsy 9-7 win away to Brooklands Hulmeians. Phil Lynch,
the experienced attacker, led the way with four goals, while
doubles from England Under-19 players Gareth Wilkinson and
Andrew Beard, as well as a goal from David Baythorpe completed
the scoring for the visitors who led 3-1, 7-3 and 8-5.
Ryan Garnsworthy, the Australian international midfielder,
was the hero for Timperley as they maintained their push for
a place in the top three courtesy of a comfortable 16-8 triumph
against Wilmslow. Garnsworthy was on target six times and
Ben Hutchinson (5), John Hammond (2), Lee Warburton and James
Shuttleworth also scored as the Stockport Road club remained
in control with quarter leads of 5-0, 7-2 and 10-5.
Mark Hodkin (4), Chris Mountney (3) and John Mountney replied
for Wilmslow, but their efforts were in vain.
Mellor, the 2001-2002 league winners, had Daniel Hodgson to
thank for five goals and Matt Marsh four, as they defeated
Boardman & Eccles 16-12 at Longhurst Lane. Jon Lowe (3),
Alistair Wallace (2), Dave Vickers and Scott James added the
rest, with Chris Stott (6), Eric Perez (4), Rob Mitchell and
Simon Whitehead on the mark for the visitors.
Results (Sat 10 Jan)
Men's North of England League - Premier Division:
Brooklands Hulmeians 7, Cheadle 9; Timperley 16, Wilmslow
8; Stockport 21, Rochdale 3; Mellor 16, Boardman & Eccles
12. Division 2: Sheffield University 7, Manchester
Waconians A 16; Poynton 7, Heaton Mersey A 8; Rochdale A 4,
Stockport A 15; Norbury 12, Brooklands Hulmeians A 8; Cheadle
A 14, Oldham 6. Postponed: Sheffield Steelers, Nottingham.
Division 3: Ashton-under-Lyne 10, Cheadle
B 2; Boardman & Eccles A 9, Cheadle Hulme 9; Manchester
Waconians B 9, Mellor A 11; Heaton Mersey B 3, Poynton A 7.
Division 4: Oldham A 3, Heaton Mersey Guild
10; Leeds University 12, Rochdale B 13. Division 5:
Cheadle C 1, Boardman & Eccles B 9; Manchester Waconians
C 6, Brooklands Hulmeians B 11. Women's North of England Premier
League: Stockport 9, Harrogate 4.
Men's South of England League - Premier Division:
Purley 14, Hampstead 7; Hillcroft 11, Hitchin 4; Reading Wildcats
6, Penarth 9. Division 2: Bath 10, Buckhurst
Hill 9; Croydon 11, Walcountian Blues A 20; Spencer 10, Southampton
University 1; Walcountian Blues 20, RMAS 0. Division
3: Bath University 14, Gloucester University 0; Hitchin
A 7, Northampton University 6.
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