The fixtures are coming thick and fast now and with every team having played at least one game so far, the 2021/22 ESPFA season is well and truly under way!
The North Division played host to the ‘Key Matchup’ this week where two North West teams in Runcorn Linnets and Skelmersdale United met at Millbank Stadium. The hosts were flying high at the top if the league with two wins from two whereas Skelmersdale United had only played one game so far but came away from that match with a win. It was Runcorn Linnets who kept up their perfect record on this occasion with a solid 5-0 home victory which keeps them at the top of the table. Skem United made life difficult for the hosts in the first half and contained them well, going into the break at just 1-0 down. Runcorn Linnets must have had a rallying team talk at half time from their coach, Steve Chaney, as they looked a different side in the second half and produced a brilliant attacking display whilst also keeping it watertight at the back. Adam Moseley added to his first half tally to score a brace, whilst Kane Hackett found the back of the net twice in the second half and was named as the #PlayerOfTheWeek for #MatchweekThree for his performance. After the game Kane was very happy with his sides performance and remained confident in his side’s ability. He said: “We think we are the best footballing side in the whole programme, we will admit that. [Skelmersdale United] are a good side and I think that was the main thing in the first half, they matched us physically but once we got the ball down and started playing, we were the better side.” You can hear the rest of Kanes thoughts on the game and Skelmersdale United captain Cameron Duxbury in the post-match interview.
Brighouse Town also managed to keep their perfect league start intact after another victory over Belper Town. The West Yorkshire side travelled to Derbyshire and came away with a 1-3 victory with the goals being shared around. Brighouse are still level on points with Runcorn at the top of the table with goal difference separating the sides. In the other game in the North Division, Mickleover picked up their first points of the season in a 1-3 win against Witton Albion. Mickleover opened the scoring and went into the break one goal to the good but shortly after the break Witton Albion levelled things up. Mickleover managed to get their nose in front on 60 minutes before Liam Roberts scored an absolute stunner to earn Mickleover all three points.
Chesham United and Yate Town shared the points in their #MatchweekThree fixture as the game ended 1-1, with goals from Joe Berzins for Chesham and Luis Chappell for Yate Town. Following this result Chesham remain above Yate on goal difference and are just two points off the top of the table. Frome’s season was yet to start due to no game being scheduled in the first week of the season and their #MatchweekTwo fixture being postponed, meaning this was their first game of the season. They started their season in style with a 2-1 victory against Rushall Olympic (Black). Lucas Schwalbe-Goodwin’s goal secured all three points for Frome to cap off a brilliant week for him, where he also made his first-team debut. Kidlington recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory against Carlton, which was their second win from 3 games. Zak Rice scored a brace which earned him a nomination in the #TeamOfTheWeek for the second week in a row. This win for Killington continues to put the
pressure on Rushall (Amber) who are top but only by goal difference.
Team of the Week - #MatchweekThree
Congratulations to the students that made it into this week’s #TeamOfTheWeek and a special mention goes to #ESPFACheshire (Runcorn Linnets) student Kane Hackett, who found the back of the net twice in his North Division match up against Skelmersdale United in a 5-0 victory. This performance helped maintain his sides perfect start to the season and also meant he was awarded the #PlayerOfTheWeek.
The Highlights Show
Catch all of this week’s match action and goals from #MacthweekThree in The Highlights Show. Yet again we saw some incredible solo goals, great team performances and some terrific saves!