North West Counties Football League Division One South

Ellesmere Rangers 2

St Martins 0

Ellesmere Rangers claimed the bragging rights after picking up a win against St Martins in the north Shropshire derby on Saturday.

Rangers climbed out of the relegation zone after scoring a goal either side of half-time to comfortably beat bottom-placed Saints, who are now seriously facing the possibility of relegation.

Former St Martins man, Karl Bailey, opened the scoring for Ellesmere to give the hosts an early lead.

And it was another former St Martins player who came back to haunt the visitors in the second half, when Tawanda Melusi scored Ellesmere’s second of the afternoon to double their lead and claim the win.

It was a match of huge importance for both sides, who at the start of the game were both in the relegation zone.

Early in the afternoon, it was the hosts who looked the stronger of the two sides, with a chance for player/manager Connor Courtney going close in the opening 10 minutes.

Rangers had a great chance to put themselves ahead when Saints stopper George Austin brought down Bailey inside the 18-yard-box, giving away a penalty.

Jack Briscoe stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted his effort over the crossbar, giving the away team a lifeline.

However, the home team got the lead just a matter of minutes later when a dangerous corner sailed towards the back post and into the path of the onrushing Bailey who bundled the ball over the line to make it 1-0.

There was controversy after the goal, with the St Martins players and staff on the sideline adamant that there was a handball in the build-up to the goal.

The goal stood and Saints looked to draw level before half-time, but some strong defending from the Meresiders meant they were unable to do so.

After the break, the game turned on its head with St Martins enjoying a handful of chances early on.

They came close on several occasions, but some good last-ditch defending from the Ellesmere men denied them an equaliser.

Out of nowhere, Rangers sprung back into life and were denied by the woodwork after Melusi’s strike just after an hour on the clock passed.

Just minutes later however, Melusi found himself with another good opportunity, and the tricky winger made sure he did not spurn this one. A long-range effort from Dave Howarth bounced back off the woodwork and into the path of Melusi who passed the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

Aside from a late chance for Briscoe, the game lacked any exciting action late on, and Rangers took the three points to move up to 18th.

They face New Mills away on Saturday. Meanwhile, St Martins remain bottom with eight points between them and safety. They host Cheadle Heath Nomads on Saturday.

Cheshire Football League Division One

Malpas FC 1

Winstanley Warriors 3

Malpas FC were unlucky in defeat on Saturday, as they fell to Cheshire Football League leaders Winstanley Warriors 3-1 at home.

With much of the professional game called off on Saturday thanks to the coronavirus, Malpas looked forward to welcoming visitors of the amateur game to the Oxhays in Wrexham Road.

It was the Warriors that spoilt the host’s party though, taking all three points.

The Warriors led 1-0 at half-time, and despite a goal from Malpas, held that lead to the end of the game, to keep their slight lead at the top of the table.

Malpas meanwhile remain in sixth place, with Cheadle Town Reserves in an advantageous position in seventh.

The reserves have a game in hand over Malpas, yet sit just a point behind, meaning Malpas could slip down the table as the season continues.

Malpas currently sit on 24 points, but just three points separate sixth and ninth, with various numbers of games played.

With around 10 games left to play, there could be plenty of change in the table.

Malpas’ next fixture is away to 13th placed Moore United on Saturday.