Altrincham 4 Marine 1

Monday 28th December 1998
Altrincham 4 Marine 1
Unibond League Premier Division
At: Moss Lane
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £6-50 (seat); Programme: £1-20 (36 pages)
Attendance: 1001
Weather: cold, dry


Altrincham (red and white stripes / black / black): 1. Stuart Coburn, 2. Simeon Hodson, 3. Danny Adams, 4. Chris Timons, 5. Paul Ellender, 6. Paul Robertson, 7. Ricky Harris, 8. Phil Power, 9. Mark Ward, 10. Mick Carmody, 11. Leroy Chambers. Subs: 12. Neil Hardy (for Ward, 75), 14. Jason Gallagher (for Ellender, 54), 15. Jason Donnelly (for Carmody, 69).

Marine (yellow/blue/yellow): 1. Danny Embleton, 2. Chris Price, 3. Mark Nulty, 4. Terry Fearns, 5. Mark Schofield, 6. Michael Douglas, 7. John Morgan, 8. Jim Blackhurst, 9. Adriano Rigoglioso, 10. Rick Bainbridge, 11. Robbie Lawton. Subs: 12. T Murphy (for Blackhurst, 72), 14. R England (for Douglas, 81), 15. L Ayres (for Lawton, 75).

Referee: P Gerrard.

Man of the Match: Phil Power.

Goals:
1-0 Paul Ellender (38)
2-0 Ricky Harris (40)
3-0 Leroy Chambers (51)
4-0 Phil Power (72)
4-1 Mark Nulty (76)

Stafford Rangers 6 Bilston Town 3

Saturday 26th December 1998
Stafford Rangers 6 Bilston Town 3
Dr Martens League Midland Division
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £1
Attendance: 640
Weather: cold, strong wind


Stafford Rangers staged the most amazing of amazing comebacks to recover from a 3-0 half-time deficit to eventually win 6-3.

Visitors Bilston got off to a perfect start with an opening goal in the 3rd minute. Former Stafford winger Danny Williams crossed from the right to the far post where unchallenged Scott Voice headed home.

Attacking the Social Club end and playing with the advantage of a strong wind, Bilston doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Brett Barlow handled a shot from Stuart Jones in a goalmouth scramble ensuing from Mark Clifton’s long throw. Voice despatched the resulting penalty past Paul Hayward.

On the half-hour Craig Love was inches away from reducing the deficit with a curling free-kick before Bilston made it 3-0 courtesy of a bizarre own goal. Stuart Leeding headed a backpass towards goalkeeper Hayward who slipped in the mud to allow the ball to roll quietly into an empty net. Marston Road was stunned.

Stafford were awarded a penalty just before the break from handball by but Bilston goalkeeper Richard Williams produced a great save to keep out Emerson’s spot kick.

Bilston must have thought ‘job done’ at half-time before an amazing turnaround.

Rangers pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart when Dean Emerson’s corner fell for Richard Mitchell to blast home.

Love’s 25-yard shot in the 75th minute gave Stafford more hope and they drew level eight minutes later when Barlow forced an Emerson corner over the line.

Stafford then took the lead a minute after the equaliser to send Marston Road hysterical. Tony Eccleston chested down a flick on by Emerson and shot past Bilston goalkeeper Richard Williams.

If 4-3 wasn’t enough for the Boxing Day crowd, Stafford finished things off in style with a fifth goal from Mitchell and a sixth from Eccleston’s header.

Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Paul Hayward, 2. Darren Boughey, 3. Stuart Leeding, 4. Dean Emerson, 5. Brett Barlow, 6. Nicky Law, 7. Jason Smith, 8. Craig Love, 9. Tony Eccleston, 10. Richard Mitchell, 11. Steve Jones. Subs: 12. Ian Perry (for Boughey, 81), 14. Jon Williams Not used), 15. Philip Tongue (for Mitchell, 90+2).

Bilston Town (orange/white/white): 1. Richard Williams, 2. Danny Williams, 3. Gary Osbourne, 4. Lee Rollason, 5. Eric Smith, 6. Mark Clifton, 7. Ian Brown, 8. Darren Evans, 9. Scott Voice, 10. Roy Taylor, 11. Stuart Jones. Subs: 12. Chris Sault, 14. Willie Tranter, 15. Stuart Birt.

Referee: H. Singh (Kidderminster).
Assistants: M. S. Hayward and P. M. Tilsley.

Goals:
0-1 Scott Voice (3)
0-2 Scott Voice (14 pen)
0-3 Stuart Leeding (32 og)
1-3 Richard Mitchell (50)
2-3 Craig Love (75)
3-3 Brett Barlow (83)
4-3 Tony Eccleston (84)
5-3 Richard Mitchell (87)
6-3 Tony Eccleston (88)

Cards:
Stafford: Richard Mitchell (YC, 37), Tony Eccleston (YC, 56)
Bilston: Lee Rollason (YC, 37), Darren Evands (YC, 45), Gary Osbourne (YC, 69), Ian Brown (YC, 77)

Handrahan Timbers 1 Dudley Sports 0

Saturday 26th December 1998
Handrahan Timbers 1 Dudley Sports 0
Endsleigh Midland Combination Premier Division
At: Mileflat Sports Ground
Kick-off: 11-30 pm
Admission: none; Programme: 50p (24 pages)
Attendance: 30 (headcount)
Weather: wind and rain


Premier Division leaders Handrahan Timbers recorded their tenth win of the season with the only goal of the game scored as early as the fourth minute against bottom of the table Dudley Sports. The goal resulted from a long wind-assisted free-kick from keeper Tony Rides to the edge of the area. The ball found Hew Lewis on the left and he sent a low drive into the bottom-right corner which the diving Kevin Johnson failed to hold.

Before kick-off, Dudley Sports took the field wearing orange and navy striped shirts and were forced to change into green and white hoops. A strong wind assisted Handrahan during the first half but by-and-large ruined the game.

Handrahan Timbers (red and black stripes / black / black): 1. Tony Rides, 2. Paul Taylor, 3. Simon Pinfold, 4. Carl Taylor, 5. Andy Speake, 6. David Wild, 7. Steve Gwilliam, 9. Neil Perks, 10. Hew Lewis, 11. Paul Baker. Subs: 12. Chris Howard (for Speake, ht), 14. Chris Harvey (not used), 15. Andy Lally (not used).

Dudley Sports (green and white hoops / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Kevin Johnson, 2. Andy Watkins, 3. Daniel Fisher, 4. Vincent Patterson, 5, Philip Cadman, 6. Tom Johnson, 7. Peter John, 8. Kevin Duckworth, 9. Clifton Lambert, 10. Noel Haye, 11. Adam Eveson. Subs: 12. Christopher Jones (not used), 14. John Cleaver (for Watkins, ht), 15. James Foster (not used).

Referee: Sean Booth.

Goals
1-0 Hew Lewis (4)

Cards:
Handrahan: Neil Perks (YC, 16), Carl Taylor (YC, 45+2)
Dudley: Andy Watkins (YC, 42), Vincent Patterson (YC, 45+2), Peter John (YC, 63)

VS Rugby 2 Stafford Rangers 3

Saturday 19th December 1998
VS Rugby 2 Stafford Rangers 3
Dr Martens League Midland Division
At: Butlin Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £1-10p (36 pages)
Attendance: 199
Weather: cloudy, dry


Goals:
0-1 Tony Eccleston (4)
0-2 Gary Smith (12 og)
1-2 Darren Beckett (45+2)
1-3 Richard Mitchell (51)
2-3 Ashley Warner (68)

Corsham Town 3 Wellington 1

Saturday 12th December 1998
Corsham Town 3 Wellington 1
Screwfix Direct League Division 1
At: Southbank
Kick-off: 2-15 pm
Admission: £1-50; Programme: 50p 24 pages
Attendance: 65 (headcount)
Weather: rain


Corsham Town (red/red/red): 1. Craig Chaplin, 2. Chris Weeks, 3. Jerry Carey, 4. Gerald Heywood, 5. Chris Jones, 6. Mark Godley, 7. Stuart Skinner, 8. Nigel Curtis, 9. Steve Healy, 10. Rob Humphries, 11. Nathan Grant. Subs: 12. Wayne Munday (for Grant, 74), 13. Luke Chapman (for Healy, 63).

Wellington (orange/orange/orange): 1. S Parris, 2. Steve Jenkins, 3. Nick Bowrah, 4. Kevin Bryant, 5. M Burfield, 6. S Maunder, 7. S Towler, 8. M Jenkins, 9. N Stone, 10. Darren Bryant, 11. Steve Trevelyan. Subs: 12. Mark Wescott (for Trevelyan, 71), 14. Robert Lowe, 15. Ian Blake (for Jenkins, 82).

Referee: Ian Whitehouse.

Goals:
0-1 S Towler (39)
1-1 Chris Jones (52)
2-1 Rob Humphreys (72)
3-1 Wayne Munday (78)

Prestwood 1 AFC Newbury 9

Saturday 5th December 1998
Prestwood 1 AFC Newbury 9
Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy Second Qualifying Round
At: Honor End Lane
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: £1 including 20-page programme
Attendance: 7 (headcount)
Weather: cold, showers, snow


Prestwood (claret with sky blue sleeves / white / claret): 1. Gary Fowler, 2. Mark Tompkins, 3. Paul Tomlins, 14. Stuart Booker, 5. Richard Pontin, 6. Danny Bennett, 7. John Holdcroft, 8. Richard Mabey, 9. Wayne Dolby, 10. Brian Stotter, 11. Anthony Stotter. Subs: 12. Kevin Riley (for A Stotter, 81), 15. James Henry (not used), 16. Scott Carroll (not used).

AFC Newbury (green with white sleeves / white / green): 1. Mick Cummins, 2. Paul Chandler, 3, Paul Hargood, 4. Glen Damen, 5. Craig Angell, 6. Dave Wilkinson, 7. Tony Thirlby, 8. Jason Brizell, 9. Paul Odey, 10. John Gomersall, 11. Mick Durkin. Subs: 12. Richard Sayer (for Odey, ht), 14. Simon Wiltshire (for Hargood, ht), 15. Darren Angell (not used).

Referee: J. Walker (Slough).

Goals:
0-1 Paul Odey (2)
1-1 Brian Stotter (4)
1-2 Paul Odey (37)
1-3 John Gomersall (41)
1-4 Paul Chandler (45+2)
1-5 Mick Durkin (58)
1-6 Mick Durkin (65)
1-7 Jason Brizell (79)
1-8 John Gomersall (80)
1-9 Mick Durkin (89 pen)