Alderley Edge Men's first team continued their fine run of form with a fourth win in four games with Durham Uni the visitors.
As the game settled Alderley were on top and won a string of corners with McCormick and Mattingly having efforts saved. Warburton was working hard to link play and Sanders and Bryant were busy in the midfield.
Against the run of play Durham took the lead when hesitancy in the Alderley defence allowed the forward to take the ball and get his shot away. It did not take long for Alderley to equalise as Coxon broke onto Mattingly's aeriel pass and played in Warburton who picked out Adam Wildig's run and he produced a fine first time finish.
A second was not long in coming after as Sawas' raking pass allowed Wildig to get the run on his marker and he produced a reverse stick finish that was too god for the 'keeper. Parr went close to a third after breaking several challenges and bursting into the D.
Durham Uni had fleeting opportunities but Whitehead was in good form and Cook, his usual combative self, held them at bay. It looked like Alderley would stretch their lead further as Sam Gregory was finding more space and threatening on the break.
Just before half time another goal did come, but it was an equaliser, Durham Uni got the luck of the bounce as a player broke through challenges. Although Alderley were aggrieved he was allowed to do so, the ball was bobbled into the D and a closer range finish made it 2-2.
The second half was similar with Alderley having the better of play, although Durham did win a handful of corners. Alderley retook the lead when fine interplay involving Ben Gregory and Warburton allowed Wildig to squeeze in a shot that beat the keeper.
Wildig made it a personal achievement grabbing his and Alderley's fourth with another fine close rage deflection.
Durham Uni pulled one back from a penalty corner to make it 4-3, and when they pushed forward, it gave space in behind which Alderley began to exploit, create chances and win penalty corners. Alderley scored their fifth from a corner, but it came at a cost as Mattingly's pass in was bravely deflected into the top corner by James Warburton in front of keeper, but the heavy challenge left him with a broken fibula.
In the final minute Durham could have pulled another one back, but Riley saved well one on one. The final score 5-3 and with the teams below all losing Alderley are certainly looking forward to climbing the table in the second half of the season.
The performance of the weekend came from the 7th team, a squad made up mainly of 13 and 14 year olds with a couple of senior players, who have won 10 out of 11 played. This week they made the short journey to Wilmslow 4s and ran out 7-0 winners playing a mature passing game they dominated throughout. Goals came from Sam Buckingham with 4, Charlie Toms (2) and Charles Whitaker.
The second team continued their Jekyll and Hyde season losing 5-0 at Liverpool Sefton.
The 3s leaped up the table with a 2-0 win over Sefton 2s, in one of their more composed performances.
The fourth team went clear in second place in the league with a 5-2 win over Sale.
The 5s are one point off top spot, despite losing 1-0 to Bangor Uni.
Sixth team found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 score line against Lymm.
Photo: Simon Parr on the attack.
Match report by James Riley.
