Review of games played week commencing 29/04.

The final of the NEC DFA Cup this season will be an all District League affair at Cheadle Town on Thursday 09th May with a 19:45 kick off.

At Stockport Sports Village on Monday night and Tuesday night both Newall Green and Offerton Green won their semi finals to go through to next week’s final..

On Monday champions Newall Green faced Cheadle & Gatley Eagles from the East Cheshire League, Cheadle had most of the possession in the opening few minutes until Ladi Oseni dribbled into their half and unleashed a shot that rattled the bar. Oseni’s next effort was deflected away for a corner. Two more efforts narrowly flew wide of the Cheadle goal before Ellis Graham with a cross field ball from the left picked out Wesley Miller who took the ball in his stride and bulged the net with his shot that would have brought the crowd to its feet at every football stadium. The only reply Gatley could muster was a curling corner from the left that hit the top of the bar just before half time.

Gatley were now finding it hard to repel Newall who doubled their lead with a Louis Brown tap in after Gatley failed to clear the ball. Ladi Oseni then put the tie to bed with his second goal. Ash Leather a shot cleared off the line. With only minutes left on the clock Brandon Byers with a lung bursting run from his own half managed to stop the ball going out for a goal kick, then somehow still had the strength to pick out Ash Leather who smashed the ball into the right hand top corner.

Credit to the Gatley team in the closing minutes, Sam Deering hit the bar and Harry Shipton had his effort cleared off the line by Byers.

The following evening two of Stockport’s best footballing teams Queens Bredbury and Offerton Green our League runners up and finalists in this season’s Harold English Memorial Trophy produced ninety minutes of high octane cup football which kept supporters from both teams highly entertained throughout the ninety minutes.

Both teams found it hard to get past top class defending at both ends. The first keeper brought into action was Richie Torkington of Offey who made a good save to his right to push away Liam Millen’s goal bound shot. Then just before half time the industrious midfielder Aiden Gardner found Kris Fawcett free on the right who then sent a low shot into the Queens box for Jonny Hurst to gleefully sweep home his shot.

Two minutes into the second half Ashnie Harvey put a shot just over the bar. At the other end Sam Jon brought the best out of Torkington with his effort. At the other end Fawcett should have found the net but jack Benson made a terrific goal line clearance with his keeper stranded. Fawcett then rattled the bar with a great effort which was his last bit of action due to a slight hamstring pull. With time running out Queens sent on a couple of substitutes, one of them Denis Sheriff thought he had equalised but his goal was ruled offside. In another attack Queens jubilation was once again blunted due to an handball infringement. With tensions high on both teams, Offy’s could have been calmed in the last minute when Jonny Hurst outstripped the Queens defence and with Goodhall out of his goal somehow managed to put the ball wide of the open net. But that was forgotten when the final whistle was blow by referee Ian McGuiness who had an excellent game.

Three league games were also played on Tuesday night.

Stockport County Supporters ended their season with an 8-0 win over Stoconians, Josh Guiver giving them the lead with his penalty. Nathan Thomas added the second, Luke Andrew with his fifth goal in the last three games got the third. Danny Cheung direct from a corner made it 4-0. Ryan George, James Bailey celebrated his fortieth birthday with a goal after missing a couple of good chances earlier along with Karl Atkinson and Thomas with his second, netting the other four successes.

In Division Two Cheadle Hulme Galaxy ended their season on a high with a fine 3-2 win over fourth placed Stockport Vikings. Luke Hanratty (2) and Cameron Leigh the scorers.

Edgeley Villa were beaten at home by Northenden Town who were three nil up with goals from Fabrizio Avendano with good control and shot, Remy Forge then gave the Villa no chance with his shot for the second. Forge then became provider to Calem Pakey for his goal. A mistake by the Town’s keeper gave Villa’s Paul Barnes to pull one back. Scott Joyce ended the scoring with his goal.
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This report contains the words, thoughts and opinions of Keith Coates and not necessarily those of the SDSFL.