AFC Liverpool recorded their first home league victory since September last year and ended a run of seven matches without a win after they beat Cheadle Town 3-2.
The Reds started the brightest and took the lead on three minutes through Tod Bamber. As the Cheadle Town defence looked to build from the back, the Reds’ midfielder picked off a loose pass from Anthony Kirkham, burst through Adam Roberts’ challenge and slotted the ball past a static Anthony O’Keefe.
Following the early strike, the home side enjoyed the majority of the possession but found it difficult to create clear cut chances. Chris Parkes came the closest to extending the lead when he wriggled his way through the Cheadle defence only to see his shot flash past the upright.
Out of the blue though, the visitors were level. The Reds were unable to clear their lines following a rare Cheadle Town attack. The ball ended up with Andrew Lindon at the left corner of the area and his right footed curler flew into the far top corner past a stranded Paul Willis.
Unexpectedly pegged back, AFC Liverpool refused to let their heads drop and continued to force the visitors onto the back foot but couldn’t regain the lead.
Liam Coyne’s header rebounded back off the bar, Dean Thurston was denied by a fine reaction save from O’Keefe and Bamber wasn’t far away from grabbing his second of the match when his half volley from the edge of the area whistled past the upright.
Following the trend of recent games, AFC Liverpool suffered a wobbly start to the second period. A lack of communication between Coyne and Willis presented Joe Yoffe with an opportunity to give the visitors the lead. Fortunately for the Reds, his effort from the edge of the area failed to find the target. Minutes later, Adam Roberts went close with a volley from the edge of the area when the ball dropped to him as the Reds defended a free kick.
Surviving the scares, the home side’s advantage was restored soon after by Chris Parkes. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, he feinted to shoot, selling the dummy to two onrushing Cheadle defenders, before finishing with a low left footed drive into the far corner.
The lead retaken, AFC Liverpool’s confidence visibly soared and they returned to the fast free flowing football that had marked the early part of the campaign.
Parkes’ near post effort was saved by O’Keefe and moments later Bamber clipped the post after being played in by the returning John Kennedy.
The Reds’ dominance eventually paid dividends as Karl Gornell grabbed his first goal for the club on seventy six minutes. A Conor Murphy free kick into the Cheadle area dropped to the winger and he hooked the ball over his shoulder and it bounced in off the far post.
With that, the result appeared to be settled but three minutes later, Cheadle Town pulled a goal back. McCormack’s cross fell right on the six yard box and Lindon sneaked in unchallenged to finish with a simple tap in.
With nervous tension ratcheted up just a little, the Reds managed to see out the final ten minutes as Cheadle Town failed to put them under any pressure. The away side only created one half chance and even then Lindon’s volley went out for a throw in.
A victory that had been a long time coming was finally secured and hopefully will be the catalyst for a concerted surge for the remainder of the season.

Match Report by Papakuz

AFC Liverpool face Cheadle Town on Wednesday hoping to put their recent bad form behind them.

Following on from Saturdays 0-1 defeat to Wigan Robin Park  AFC Liverpool take on Cheadle Town in a match which could very well determine if AFC Liverpool achieve a FA Cup spot for next season.

AFC Liverpool have already defeated Cheadle Town this season when goals from Ryan Wignall, John Kennedy and a goal of the season contender from Lee Mullins secured a 0-3 away win.

Last seasons fixtures saw AFC Liverpool secure a 1-0 away win and a 2-1 home win meaning that Cheadle Town have so far never taken any points from AFC Liverpool and only ever scored 1 goal against AFCL.

Cheadle Town are currently second bottom in the league in 16th place having won just 4 matches out of 19.

However AFC Liverpool have won 8 out of their 19 fixtures, not winning a match in their last 7 games.

Match details:
Valerie Park Stadium, Hope Street, Prescot, L34 6ND (Home)

Admission Prices: Adults £5, Seniors £3, and Under 18’s £2.

Date: 10th March 2010 7.45pm KO

The remaining draw saw Cheadle Town drawn against Stone Dominoes. This season’s semi final will be played over one leg on a date to be confirmed.

Numbers for 6th March

5,6,7,10,12,13

No winner so its 1-17 for £400 on Saturday.

Tickets will be on sale on Wednesday night.

AFC Liverpool’s poor run of results continued as they went down 1-0 to Wigan Robin Park at home, which was compounded by being reduced to ten men late on in the second half. An early strike by Neil Swift was enough to give the visitors all three points and once again ensured that they left Valerie Park the victors.
A little less than two minutes were on the clock when Wigan RP took the lead. A long throw in from Sam Rimmer into the AFC Liverpool box was helped on by Jon Corcoran. The ball fell into the path of Swift and he struck the ball first time past Paul Willis into the far corner.
This explosive start was almost instantly matched by the Reds as they immediately went on the attack. Chris Parkes’ near post shot was well held by Jason Foulds and needed to be with Ian Orme ready to pounce.
Having gotten the early advantage, the visitors were then quite content to sit on their lead and only once seriously threatened AFC Liverpool’s goal. Running onto Ryan Small’s lay off, Andrew Neafcy shot unchallenged from the edge of the area but couldn’t direct his effort on target.
At the other end, AFC Liverpool were finding it difficult to break down the well organised defence. On the couple of occasions that they did find their way through, last ditch interventions kept the visitor’s lead. Matty Williams was denied by Neafcy as he was about to unleash a shot from twelve yards and Dean Midgeley did just enough to prevent Andy McCoy latching onto an Orme flick on.
Only as the half time interval approached did the Reds finally have a clear chance to equalise. McCoy robbed Midgeley as he tried to bring the ball out of defence and raced into the area before unleashing a powerhouse of shot. Foulds could only parry and the rebound fell to Parkes but his effort was too close the Robins’ keeper, allowing him to make the save.
Having won at Valerie Park last season, Wigan were determined to repeat that result and in the second half formed two defensive lines in front of their box and invited the home side to find a way though.
AFC Liverpool lacked the width to get in behind the Wigan defence and too often found themselves forced to shoot from distance without finding the target. Only a Parkes shot from the edge of the area forced Foulds into making a save.
The day’s frustration was epitomised when substitute and debutante Karl Gornell was sent off, reacting when Swift threw the ball at him after being fouled. Wigan RP’s goalscorer received a yellow card.
Ironically, down to ten men, AFC Liverpool finally found some width and perhaps could have snatched an equaliser. Parkes’ cross found Williams in space eight yards out. The ball bobbled on the uneven surface just as the midfielder was about to strike and his effort was going wide even as Midgeley headed clear. Then Tod Bamber broke to the bye-line but his pull back went straight into the arms of Foulds.
With Atherton Collieries the only side in the top six managing to achieve a win, the Reds will be rueing a missed opportunity to close the gap in the race for qualification for next season’s FA Cup.

AFC Liverpool 0-1 Wigan Robin Park
Swift 2’

Attendance: 142

AFC Liverpool: 1. Paul Willis 2.Phil Stafford 3.Darren Torpey 4.Conor Murphy 5.Liam Coyne (C) 6.Lee Mullin (15.Karl Gornell 64’) 7.Tod Bamber 8.Matthew Williams 9.Chris Parkes 10.Ian Orme (16. Lanre Giwa 74’) 11.Andrew McCoy (14.Dean Thurston 64’)

Unused Subs: 12.Patrick O’Driscoll GK.Sam Wilkinson

Wigan Robin Park: 1.Jason Foulds (C) 2.Adam Whittle 3.Dean Midgeley 4.Dean Robinson 5.Darren Mullen 6.Andrew Neafcy 7.Neil Swift 8.Sam Rimmer 9.Ryan Small 10.Jon Corcoran (14.Michael Kirby 88’) 11.Dean Callaway

Unused Subs: 12.Paul Vermiglio 15.Jamie Lee 16.David Blakeney

Match report by Papakuz

We now have 2 new siginings.

Paddy O’Driscoll is a 25 year old right-sided defender, who has had spells at Burscough, Runcorn and Formby.

Karl Gornell also joins us, having spells at Burscough, West Cheshire and Formby.

The news all AFC fans will be excited to learn, is that Dynamic Midfielder John Kennedy has returned to the club, and have now international clearance for him, which means he is now eligable for selection.

Another returning cult hero is Andy Olsen, but we are still awaiting clearance before he is available.

Mark Bloxham also returns to training, and should be available for the game against Wigan RP.

Wigan Robin Park currently lie 3 points behind AFC Liverpool in 9th place although they have played 1 game less than AFCL.
Out of the 3 games played between these 2 clubs during the last 2 seasons AFC Liverpool have won 1, drew 1 and lost 1 with the only win coming earlier this season in a 2-1 win to AFC Liverpool.

With both sides showing poor form of late this match is sure to be entertaining and unpredictable.

Match details:
Valerie Park Stadium, Hope Street, Prescot, L34 6ND (Home)

Admission Prices: Adults £5, Seniors £3, and Under 18’s £2.

Date: 6th March 2010 3pm KO

See you there!

Wigan Robin Park was founded in 2005, initially the idea of Mike Woodruff (manager of Robin Park Arena) as part of the trust’s drive to increase participation at all levels at the borough’s sporting facility.

In their first season Wigan Robin Park eventually finished in a respectable 8th position in the Manchester League Division 1 having won 17, drew 4 and lost 13 out of their 34 games and finishing on 55 points. However the season proved to be the perfect foundation for their second season in which having won 21, drew 6 and losing just 3 out of their 30 games saw them finish in 2nd position in the league, earning them a well deserved promotion place.

As the new team in the Manchester Premier Division Wigan Robin Park could be considered to have little chance of being in the race for promotion at the end of the season however at the end of the 2007-2008 campaign and having improved on their previous season winning 23 games, drawing 5 and losing 8 having scored 95 goals in the process they finished in 1st place in the league. This meant that Wigan Robin Park had achieved their goal of being in the North West Counties Division within 3 seasons of their creation after achieving successive promotions.

Their first season in the North West Counties League coincided with the debut season of AFC Liverpool. On the 6th September 2008 Wigan Robin Park recorded a 2-1 win away against AFC Liverpool in what would be the first encounter between the 2 clubs and the first loss in league football for AFC Liverpool.
In what proved to be an impressive first season in which Wigan Robin Park won 18, drew 5 and lost 11 Wigan Robin Park finished the season in 5th place on 59 points.

Numbers drawn were: 3,5,7,9,16,17.

This week will be 6 numbers from 1-18 for £350

It was a match in which they dominated, even after they were reduced to ten men in the second half following the dismissal of Lanre Giwa.
The Reds raced out of the blocks and took the lead on three minutes. Matty Williams met Dean Thurston’s flick on from twelve yards and guided his deft header into the bottom corner.
Spurred on by the instant success, AFC Liverpool went in search of a second goal. Darren Torpey broke from inside his own box, eventually feeding Tod Bamber down the left. The midfielder’s cross was scrambled clear in desperation by the Blackpool defence.
Shortly after, the Reds went even closer. Lanre Giwa, always a constant menace to the Blackpool defence, picked up a loose ball inside the box and his shot was parried by keeper Daniel Allen into the path of Andy McCoy. The winger shot first time from the tightest of angles and was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the inside of the post. Giwa followed up but Allen stuck out his leg to deny him.
In this hectic opening period, aside from a Ciaran Donnelly effort from distance that whistled of Paul Willis’s bar, AFC Blackpool had barely managed to get out of their half.
Then on 26 minutes AFC Blackpool were awarded a hotly contested penalty. McCoy bundled into the back of Ben Rothwell as he was heading out of the area. Rothwell tumbled over and after some hesitation and confusion the referee eventually pointed to the spot. Mark Ashall stepped up to the mark and dispatched into the corner to level the scores.
The Reds didn’t let the setback affect their level of performance as they continued to dominate. Giwa shot wide from close range and another Bamber cross was palmed away by Allen
Captain Liam Coyne also got in on the act. Firstly, from a corner, he showed some neat ball juggling skills as he turned and shot through a crowd of players from the edge of the area. Then he was inches away from connecting with another wicked Bamber cross.
The second half continued to follow the same pattern as the first with the majority of the play inside the AFC Blackpool half.
A Giwa cross had to be intercepted otherwise it would have been a simple tap in for Lee Mullin. Andy McCoy’s direct free kick from the corner of the box was parried by Allen and the hosts were fortunate that it didn’t fall to a Reds player.
With a Reds breakthrough looking increasingly likely Giwa received his second yellow card of the game on the hour. Attempting to chase down Bamber’s long ball, the AFC Liverpool striker caught Allen as he raced out of his box to clear. Red’s boss Derek Goulding was clearly frustrated by the decision, one of many that appeared to go against his team throughout the match.
The hosts wasted a good opportunity to take the lead shortly after when Marc Beattie raced through into the box. He tried to chip the ball over the advancing Willis but the Reds number one was able to turn the effort behind for a corner.
Though suffering from the numerical disadvantage, AFC Liverpool were still intent on looking for the winner and seemed the team the most likely to achieve this. However, they lacked a cutting edge in the final third and long range Bamber effort was the closest they came to grabbing the victory.
In the end this match will be seen as two points dropped rather than one gained and sees AFC Liverpool’s promotion hopes fade further still.

AFC Blackpool 1-1 AFC Liverpool
Ashall (p) 27’                 Williams 3’

Attendance: 76

AFC Liverpool: 1.Paul Willis 2.Phil Stafford 3.Darren Torpey 4.Conor Murphy 5.Liam Coyne (C) 6.Lee Mullin 7.Tod Bamber 8.Matty Williams (Chris Parkes 63’) 9.Lanre Giwa 10.Dean Thurston (12.Ian Orme 63’) 11. Andy McCoy.

Unused Subs: 15. Karl Bell GK Jack Button

AFC Blackpool: 1.Daniel Allen 2.Craig Bunkhorn 3.Ben Rothwell 4.Martin Baird 5.Christopher Days (Kieron Rimmington 30’ 6.Matthew Muscroft 7.Paul Carroll 8.Mark Ashall 9.Marc Beattie (14.Robert Edwards 80’) 10.Ciaran Donnelly 11.Joll Cowell

Unused Sub: 12. Steven Betteridge