Another Bank Holiday "Treble Header"

There were plenty of games a long way from home with a lot more riding on them but I simply couldn't be bothered facing up to the the Bank Holiday traffic on the motorways. However I did manage to find myself a treble about an hour from home. Start the engine... 

1100 Warrington & District League Guardian Cup Final @ Cantilever Park, Warrington 
Billinge 2-0 New Street 
Att: 120 (h/c)

The Guardian Cup is the flagship Cup Final of the Warrington and District League. The game was played at Cantilever Park, the home of Warrington Town. This was my first visit there in 12 years.

On a baking hot morning, Cheshire League Billinge were two up at the break thanks to goals from Ryan McCabe (28) and Steve Taylor (30) and they really should have been further in front. After the interval New Street, also from St Helens, applied the pressure but simply couldn't find a way through and gradually wilted in the heat. 

From Cantilever Park it was a straightforward 10 minute journey across town for... 

1400 Cheshire League Premier Div.
Tetley Walker Sports Ground
Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds 0 
Altrincham Reserves 4 
Att: 55 (h/c) 

The fantastically monikered Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds, who were founded in 2003 by a merger of Greenalls FC and Padgate St Oswalds FC, were hosting Altrincham Reserves at the Tetley Walker Sports Ground. It is a great set up with a covered stand on the halfway line. The ground was once home to Tetley Walker FC who were members of the NWCFL from 1994 until they folded in 2001. 

It was a comfortable victory for Altrincham, whose youngsters played some good football and scored some quality goals. Dylan Scanlan put Alty ahead (pictured right) before Joel Swift made it 2-0 with a tap in. Scott Smith then beat four GSPO defenders before slotting home the third goal and a late penalty from Darius Palma completed the scoring.

The final game of the day saw me head back down the M56 and across the border into Wales for...

1830 Welsh National League Div.1
The Gwyn 
Maesgwyn 2-5 New Brighton Villa 
Att: 32 (h/c)

Maesgwyn are in their second season at this level, having been founded in 2002. The ground is on Lilac Way, just down the road from Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, where you can see the floodlights in the distance. The Gwyn is a railed off pitch with no spectator facilities but on a balmy evening there was no need for any cover!

There was a minutes applause pre-match for Martin Ford, the Queens Park manager who died suddenly earlier in the day.

The match was a comfortable win for New Brighton, who in all honesty missed enough chances to at least double their score. The Gwyn goalkeeper was not a happy bunny as despite making several fine stops to keep the score down, he was certainly expressing his displeasure at the defence in front of him!

The New Brighton Villa goals came courtesy of Matty Williams (2), Jordan Dorrington, Ben Hughes and a Pete Morris free-kick rocket. Dan Roberts replied twice for the home side.