Wilmslow Suffer shock defeat
Wilmslow suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Rochdale
in the first round of the Daily Telegraph Senior Flags.
The Styal Road team were beaten 12-11 by their Lancashire
visitors who are lying at the foot of the table in the North
of England League Premier Division after 10 defeats in 11
outings.
But credit where credit is due, for Rochdale might have had
a disappointing domestic campaign but they still showed plenty
of fighting spirit to edge a memorable victory. Wilmslow led
6-4 after the first quarter but the score remained tied in
the next quarters, 7-7 and 8-8 respectively.
With Wilmslow leading 11-9, with ten minutes to go, the Cheshire
outfit were favourites to book a quarter-final showdown with
Heaton Mersey, the league leaders. However, Rochdale hit back
and Stuart Swithinbank proved the match-winner with a goal
at the death which sealed Wilmslow's fate.
"We thought it was going to be a rout because we were
playing really well in the first quarter, but then we went
to pot," admitted Dan Green, the Wilmslow captain. "We
forced the ball too much and all credit to Rochdale, they
fought back well. We are very disappointed to have been knocked
out of the Flags, but there were plenty of positives from
the game which we haven't seen much of this season. Unfortunately
it just wasn't our day."
Chris Mountney and Ashley Tarran-Jones top-scored for Wilmslow
with four goals each, while John Mountney (2) and England
international midfielder Green added the rest. But hat-tricks
from Chaz Bulera, the American attacker, and Martin Humphries,
as well as other goals from Mark Binns (2), Matt Nugent (2),
Dave Bamford and Swithinbank did the damage for Rochdale.
Timperley, missing three key players, also progressed to
the quarter-finals of the Senior Flags courtesy of a 17-10
triumph at home to Manchester Waconians, the 2001 beaten finalists.
Ryan Garnsworthy, the Australian midfielder, was the hero
with five goals, while Ben Hutchinson (3), James Shuttleworth
(3), Brett Davey (2), Tim Holdsworth (2) and Lee Warburton
(2) were also on the scoresheet as the Stockport Road side
led throughout 6-3, 10-4 and 15-4. Steve Shanahan replied
with four goals for Wacs and Tom Caplin, the England midfielder,
added a double, but it was never going to be enough.
"I think Wacs shoot themselves in the foot," said
Mo Wright, the Timperley manager. "They try and muscle
you out of the game but it leads to them giving away too many
penalties. We played well and were able to take our foot off
the pedal in the last quarter because the game was won."
Weekend results
Men's Daily Telegraph Senior Flags - first round:
Timperley 17, Manchester Waconians 10; Wilmslow 11, Rochdale
12. Junior Flags Trophy: Sheffield Steelers 18, Brooklands
Hulmeians A 3; Norbury 15, Rochdale A 9; Manchester Waconians
A 12, Heaton Mersey A 6. Stockport Cup: Ashton-under-Lyne
23, Manchester Waconians B 0; Boardman & Eccles A 6, Cheadle
B 8. David Beesley Cup: Mellor B 13, Rochdale B 2. Postponed
- Nigel Wayne Trophy: Brooklands Hulmeians B v Stockport C.
Men's North of England League - Division 2:
Sheffield University 5, Cheadle A 11.Division 5: Wilmslow
A 1, Manchester Waconians 0. Postponed - Premier Division:
Boardman & Eccles v Mellor.
Men's South of England League - Premier Division:
Buckhurst Hill 7, Reading Wildcats 9; Croydon 8, Hampstead
17; Hitchin 3, Purley 18; Penarth 1, Hillcroft 20. Division
2: Bath 16, Spencer 3. Division 3: Gloucester University
6, Hitchin A 9; Walcountian Blues A 12, Portsmouth University
12.
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