Match reports Saturday 28th January 2012 The North West Counties Division 1 Eccleshall 4 Ashton Town 1 Early stages of the game were even with both keepers being called on to keep their sides in the game. Eccleshall's Ryan Moss blocking a shot from Harry McGill as the forward raced through and then Ashton's Kevin Fairbrother came out to block Josh Lane's shot as calls for a penalty were waved away as Lane appeared to be pulled back. Eccleshall took the lead on 14 minurtes when Lane's cross was met by Danny Hughes to rifle his shot into the net. McGill for the visitors was allowed to race away from a static defence but Moss came out and saved well, palming his shot away. Hughes went close again for Eccleshall curling a shot just wide. Then Lane had a header cleared of the line as Eccleshall started to dominate. Moments later Eccleshall went two up when Tom Wakefield opened up the Ashton Town defence on the right and crossed to give Danny Hughes the simplest of tasks of side footing home. Hughes and Matthew Herd were running things in midfield as Eccleshall threatened to add more goals. Wakefield ran through but his shot was held by Fairbrither at the second attempt. Then Daniel Counter blasted over from a free kick. Eccleshall took their foot off the pedal and allowed Ashton Town back into the game and just before half time Harry McGill pulled a goal back for the visitors when he ran through and placed his shot into the corner of the net. Half time 2-1 An even start to the second period. However Eccleshall added to their lead on ther hour when Josh Lane went on a run which finished with Tom Wakefield tapping in from Lane's cross. Ashton Town responded and gained a free kick, James Rushton-Wood's kick being held by Moss. Two minutes later Eccleshall made it 4-1 when Hughes completed his hat trick. Luke Davies headed wide for the visitors has they tried to get back into the game.Changes were made by both sides but the game never lost it's pace. Rushton-Wood had a shot blocked by Eccleshall's Ryan Grocott. Adam Jones screwed a shot wide of Ashton's goal, with his first touch of the game. Ashton had a chance but the sheer weight of Eccleshall players in the box blocked the opportunity then at the other end Mark Hall had a shot blocked for a corner. Right on full time Ashton's Dean Wilkinson blasted one over. Eccleshall full value for the win, as their recent good continues. Staffs County Senior League Hanley Town 5 Eccleshall AFC 1 Eccleshall going all out for an equaliser were finished off in last seven minutes of the game as Hanley scored their last 3 in that time. Goals from Josh Hall and Michael Moreton for Hanley, Jimmy Wildman goal for Eccleshall being sandwiched in between the two and Eccleshall being finished off late in the game by Danny Tainton who scored a hat trick.
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Match reports Saturday 21st January 2012 The North West Counties Division 1 Atherton Collieries 2 Eccleshall 2 Manager Keiron Hammett added new signing Daniel Colclough to the bench and also Ryan Miszkiel returned to the squad for the trip to Manchester. Atherton applied the early pressure and were rewarded on 3 minutes when they took the lead when Joe Fielding fired home past keeper Ryan Moss. Moss was beaten again a minute later when Gary Burnett found the net as the shell shocked Eccleshall team looked on. Eccleshall changed up gear after the initial onslaught with Josh Lane runnning through onto a ball but the advancing Atherton keeper Lee Novak managed to get there first. Then Tom Wakefield had an attempt which went just wide of Atherton's goal. Ryan Grocott sent in a cross for Lane but the forward headed just over. Wakefield brought a great save out of Novak as Eccleshall looked to get back into the game. Eccleshall managed to pull a goal back on 16 minutes when a through ball from Danny Hughes led to Mark Hall shooting under the diving Novak. Eccleshall playing with determination up the slope on a heavy pitch had a Hughes shot blocked. As the game moved into the last 15 minutes of the half Eccleshall had a scare when Atherton hit the post from a corner. However Eccleshall finished the half by putting pressure on the Atherton goal. Half time 2-1 Eccleshall started the 2nd half how they finished the first with atherton clearing an effort off the line Novak saved the home side when he tipped a Tom Wakefield shot round. Then Danny Hughes tested the keeper, who made a save. Josh Lane was denied by Novak, just after the hour. Eccleshall were making the changes but were struggling to make the pressure pay, as Atherton clawed their way back into the game. However it was Novak saving from Wakefield as Eccleshall endeavoured to gain an equaliser. Ryan Moss was forced to turn a curling shot from Gary Burnett round for a corner, as Atherton responded. With time running out Tom Wakefield made a run before sending in a cross for Ryan Miszkiel to turn the ball home for a much deserved equaliser, on 88 minutes. Eccleshall showed resolve and were well worth a point and perhaps with a little luck might have taken all three. Staffs County Senior League Eccleshall AFC 4 Biddulph Town 7 Tom Madden opened for visitors Biddulph Town on two minutes with Madden adding a second on 11 minutes. Nathan Dyer pulled a goal back on 14 minutes with a screaming shot from a free kick and the equaliser followed on 17 minutes from Dan Jones. The referee waved play on as Mark Mapperson was pushed in the back by Shaun Mountford who ran though to score for the visitors on 39 minutes and Mountford curled a shot into the top corner on 41 minutes to make it 2-4 at half time. Just befor half time Eccleshall were reduced to ten men when the referee deemed, for some reason, Liam Kerrigan had made a dangerous challenge but when a Biddulph player reacted and pushed Kerrigan to the ground did nothing. Mountford rubbed salt into the wound to score his hat trick on on 55 minutes with Dyer following pulling one back on the hour. Michael Keates made it six for Biddulph on 77 minutes before Dyer completed his hat trick on 84 minutes from the spot. Mountford signed off for Biddulph on 82 minutes as the battling 10 men ran out of steam.
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Football Club Isolation. To get from the local hamlet of Pershall (and the Eccleshall Football Ground) into Eccleshall town, any intrepid pedestrian has to take their life in their hands for the short hike (just over a mile). There is no footpath, only alternating grass verges to stagger along, until you reach the existing path about two thirds of the way into town. Traffic-wise, the road is fast and bendy, and attracts budding T.T. racers, and any walkers can create unexpected hazards to drivers. A few months ago, local residents compiled a petition, requesting that the footpath be extended for the full distance. Besides the obvious advantages to the locals, EFC would benefit greatly. Regulars at the club keenly signed-up, as it would hopefully mean more 'townies' would consider coming to the ground to increase the gate. With the juniors now established just over the lane, maybe even more could be attracted if safe access was available, without their parents driving input. In the present arguments of 'global warming', it could be said the path would obviously also be very 'Green', lowering the mystical carbon footprints (?) and getting a few of the local 4 x 4's off the road for a few minutes (highly doubtful). Unfortunately, the relevant Council departments have now rejected the application, on the usual grounds of 'too expensive'.
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