Shropshire Premier League

St Martins Village 3

Gobowen Celtic 5

Gobowen Celtic took the bragging rights in this treat of a north Shropshire derby as they put five past their nearest rivals St Martins Village in the Premier Division on Saturday.

After a morning pitch inspection under the watch of both teams, it was the Villagers who struck first, taking the lead on the half hour.

But Celtic – who remain fourth in the table – soon struck back to make it 1-1, while a goal from Ben Pierpoint soon put the Green and Whites ahead.

The Villagers were briefly down to 10 men when their captain was sin-binned for over expressing an opinion to the referee regarding how his goalkeeper came to be hurt through a challenge from a Celtic player.

It was soon 4-2 as goals from Sammy Nash and Jack Hughes gave Celtic a two-goal cushion following a goal from the Villagers, which they maintained to the end.

There was a further goal from Hughes, while the Villagers added a third to push Celtic all the way, despite missing the chance to put on fresh legs.

The win keeps Celtic a point ahead of Wrockwardine Wood Juniors in fifth spot, while they are a point behind Madeley Sports in third.

St Martins Village were in ninth spot, courtesy of a superior goal difference. They are one of the teams sitting on seven points but the Villagers have played up to two games more than Hopesgate United and Telford Juniors, while Brown Clee remain bottom on six points.

They were set to bounce back against Shrewsbury Juniors in the Divisional Cup but have now resigned from he league following the weekend meeting.

Celtic travel to Hopesgate on Saturday hoping to keep the pressure on the top three.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Shrewsbury Juniors took one step to defending their title with a mammoth thrashing of Stoke Heath, beating the north Shropshire side 11-0.

Wrockwardine Wood beat Brown Clee 4-1, while in the cup Madeley Sports defeated Wellington Amateurs Development 3-2, causing a small shock against the side one spot above them in the league table.

Madeley face Telford on Saturday, with Prees United play Stoke Heath, and Brown Clee hosting Albrighton.

North West Counties Football League

First Division South

Alsager Town 1

St Martins 0

St Martins’s hopes of a point to close the gap on their relegation rivals were dashed by a late free-kick winner against Alsager Town On Saturday.

The First Division South basement side were on course for a deserved point but Callum Collinson’s 87th-minute winner was enough to break their hearts.

St Martins would have been worth their point as well, with home manager Stuart Tulloch full of praise for their hard work.

He said: “St Martins frustrated us and had two or three chances throughout the 90 minutes to go ahead but our keeper kept us in it.”

Alsager also spurned an opportunity to take the lead in the first half which was missed by Collinson, who bounced back to give the home side all three points in front of the 56-strong crowd, with visiting keeper George Austin once again named the star man as St Martins came under pressure.

There were yellow cards for Sean Holt and Joe Foster, while the defeat will keep St Martins four points adrift of Barnton at the bottom of the table.

The Yellow and Blacks were straight back into the mix last night (Tuesday) as they travelled to face Wythenshawe Amateurs at the Hollyhedge Community Stadium.

Then on Saturday, they face a third away trip in the space of seven days when they travel once again along the M6 corridor to face Sandbach United at the Sandbach Community Football Centre.

On February 1, it’s a quick turnaround for the Saints as they are back at The Venue in Park Hall but will again face Wythenshawe Amateurs for a 3pm kick-off.

Their nearest relegation rivals, Barnton, are home to Maine Road – from Manchester – on Saturday and St Martins know a victory for them and defeat for the north Shropshire side could see the gap stretch to seven points.

St Martins are already seven points behind Ellesmere Rangers after Saturday’s games.

NEWFA Horace Wynne Cup

Round One

Chirk Town 9

Airbus Under-19s 0

Chirk Town debuted in the Horace Wynne Cup in style on Saturday as they put a slow start to 2020 behind them to thrash a spirited, young Airbus side.

Goals from Tom Freeman, who scored four, a hat-trick from Shaun Morris, plus one apiece for Anthony Jones and Cam Roberts fired the newly-formed side into the second round.

It’s more cup action on Saturday as they travel to Brymbo Victoria in the President’s Cup preliminary round for a 1.30pm kick-off.

Welsh National League (Wrexham Area)

Premier Division

Cefn Albion 6

Chirk AAA 1

Chirk AAA’s troubled season continued as they were hit for six by Cefn Albion on Saturday.

The Holyhead Road club remain third-from-bottom but their goal difference took a hit, although they remain nine better off over Brickfield Rangers, who they face on Saturday away.