Stelfox enhances England claim
WILL Stelfox enhanced his claim for England selection with
a starring performance for Lancashire as they broke a long-standing
hoodoo by beating Cheshire in this year's Regional Challenge
match.
The Manchester Waconians goalkeeper, who is hoping to play
for his country at next year's World Championships in Canada,
kept Cheshire at bay at Georges Road as Lancashire caused
a real upset.
The Red Rose county had not beaten their rivals for a number
of years, but triumphed 6-5 with Stelfox saving a staggering
23 shots during the course of the match.
"Will Stelfox was fantastic," said Lancashire manager
Allan Collingwood. "He made so many saves and frustrated
Cheshire.
"I'm so pleased for all the players. We've not beaten
Cheshire for at last 6 or 7 years by my reckoning. We controlled
the match."
Stelfox was England's substitute goalkeeper at the European
Championships in Prague last summer, but rarely featured for
the gold-medal winners with Ben McAllister, the Mellor goalkeeper,
a preferred choice between the posts.
"In my opinion Will Stelfox is the best goalkeeper in
the league (Men's North of England Premier Division),"
said Phil Greenwood, the Manchester Waconians manager.
John Mountney, Tom Gosnay, Andy Pelletier, Paul Fullerton
and Daniel Hodgson all scored for Cheshire, but two goals
each for Steve Green and Paul Simpson, with Chris Battersby
and George Laflare also on the mark saw Lancashire triumph.
Heaton Mersey have won the Women's Clubs and Colleges Tournament,
a consolation for missing out on the North of England Premier
League crown. The Oakley Villas side remained unbeaten in
five matches to clinch honours on the Wirral.
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