North West Counties Football League Division One South

FC Oswestry Town 2

Vauxhall Motors 1

FC OSWESTRY Town quickly responded to their loss to Sandbach United on the weekend with a Bank Holiday Monday win over early challengers for the top spot, Vauxhall Motors.

The top-of-the-table clash lived up to expectations with both teams producing chances at either end of the pitch from the first whistle.

It was Town who took the all-important three points after two first half goals.

The Motormen responded with a goal in the second half but Town held on to take the win.

Matt Burton’s defence was looking back to its best after the loss at Sandbach on Saturday with Oswestry captain James O’Reilly leading by example.

It took just 10 minutes for the hosts to get off the mark with Harry Bower powering down the left wing, cutting the ball back for Simon Smith to deliver straight onto the head of Mike O’Reilly who put enough power on his header to give the Vauxhall keeper no chance.

The visitors sparked back into life and had several chances after the opener.

However, after soaking up the pressure and settling down, Town doubled their lead in the 35th minute.

Dave Howarth released Bower with a defence-splitting pass, who left two defenders in his wake before slotting home to put his side two goals to the good before half-time. The second half saw the visitors come out fighting and on 51 minutes, they won a penalty as their tricky number seven was tripped. The spot kick was converted by Karl Noon.

Despite having some hope of a comeback, Vauxhall were unable to break the sturdy back line of Oswestry.

Town held on for the victory and sit joint top of the division alongside Vauxhall.

The win came after a 4-0 defeat away at Sandbach United on Saturday which broke their 100 per cent win record in the league.

Next up for FC Oswestry Town is a home FA Vase game against Bustlehome on Saturday (6pm kick-off).

North East Wales Football League

Chirk Town 3

Borras Park Albion 2

NEWLY-FORMED Chirk Town have made a good start to the season after claiming their second win in as many games by beating Borras Park Albion.

The Chirk side stay second after winning their first game of the season 15-0 against Bellevue FC.

Chirk hosted a youthful Borras side who started the game well when they went a goal to the good in the opening five minutes.

A penalty was fired home comfortably to set Town back early on.

Things got worse just before the half-hour mark when Albion grabbed a second.

However, a spirited performance from the hosts saw them claw their way back into the game.

Naz Farjat reduced the deficit to just one goal in the 33rd minute, before Josh Langford equalised just before half-time.

A well-fought second half could have gone either way, but it was Town who prevailed when midfielder Lewis Penrose struck his free-kick under the Borras wall and into the net with three minutes left to play.

The win puts Chirk second after two wins from two.

They will look to keep up their 100 per cent win record tonight with a home game against Mold Town United.

North West Counties Football League Division One South

Cammell Laird 1907 4

St Martins 2

AN ACTION-packed first half featuring six goals was a great watch for the neutral football fan, but it was another frustrating afternoon for Paul Moore’s St Martins side.

Cammell Laird inflicted a fourth straight defeat on the Saints after losing their weekend fixture on Saturday against Stockport Town.

St Martins were quick off the mark against Lairds when Dave Easthope opened the scoring after three minutes.

The club’s top scorer for the season so far broke through early in the game and finished neatly to put his side a goal to the good.

The lead lasted just six minutes however when the hosts drew level through Luke Blondel who found the bottom corner with his effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Parity was only restored for eight minutes before Lairds grabbed their second – great work by skipper Colm Lynch resulted in the goal of the game as he struck his effort over keeper Jack Perry, off the crossbar and into the net.

The home side were not finished there however; Ricci Neill’s free-kick took a cruel deflection off the St Martins wall and left Parry stranded to make it 3-1.

Moments later Neill turned provider for Blondel to grab his second and his team’s fourth with another deft finish.

Saints did end the half on a high when Callum Graybrook’s cross was met by James Durman who finished comfortably past visiting keeper Richard Cowderoy.

Neither side threatened the goal too much in the second half which ended up being a lot quieter than the first.

Easthope nearly made it 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining, but Cowderoy stood strong and diverted the ball away.

The loss in Saints’ second in three days after they were beaten 3-2 by Stockport Town on Saturday.

They will look to get back to winning ways on Friday night with a home FA Vase qualifier against Shifnal Town (7.45pm kick-off).

North West Counties Football League Division One South

Ellesmere Rangers 0

Abbey Hulton United 2

A DISAPPOINTING start to the new season for Ellesmere Rangers continued on Monday after they suffered their seventh loss in as many games against Abbey Hulton United.

Rangers looked to be heading towards their first point of the season until two goals in the final 15 minutes of the game meant their wait continues.

It was a slow first half for both sides as they struggled to make clear-cut chances at both ends of the pitch.

The tempo changed after the break with United looking the more likely of the two teams to score.

They were rewarded for their efforts later in the second half when Kevyn Davies broke the deadlock in the 78th minute.

The setback for Rangers prompted them to get forward more in search of an equaliser, but United were able to soak up the pressure and eventually double their lead.

In added time, Keeylin Thomas rounded off a well-worked move and made it 2-0 to confirm defeat for Rangers.

The Meresiders were also in action on Saturday when they were beaten 4-0 by Stone Old Alleynians after a standout solo performance from David Ablewhite who scored all four goals.

Rangers remain bottom of the table and are still one of the two sides in the division to not have any points.

They take a break from league action on Saturday to face Hinckley in the FA Vase (3pm kick-off).