Rudheath Social 16-0 Garswood United

RUDHEATH Social secured their place in the Cheshire League’s top-flight for a fifth season after thrashing depleted opponents on Saturday.

Defeats in five of their previous six Premier Division fixtures left them needing a draw against already-relegated Garswood to condemn Styal to the second tier.

They did so with ease.

“It’s been the longest season I can remember!” said co-manager Ben Smith afterwards.

“We’ve struggled with injuries and at times wondered whether we’d get a team out, but we always have.

“Those players that have turned up every week have been absolutely fantastic, and kept us going until the end.”

Nick Newman and Antony Marshall had found the net inside the opening 10 minutes at the weekend to calm any nerves.

That opened the floodgates against opponents with nothing to play for, and the hosts added six goals to their tally before the break.

Marshall completed a hat-trick, Connor Perrie bagged a brace, Nathan Whitlow converted on the slide at the near post and Newman notched again.

Captain Jack Bryning, playing his final game before retiring, made way at the interval.

Smith said: “He’s been at the club for many years, through thick and thin, and has never let us down.”

Marshall made it 9-0 shortly after the interval before leading scorer Steven Hughes added a double.

He also missed a penalty before later succumbing to an injury.

Cameron Bradley scored with a powerful header after meeting Bradley Taberner’s corner, then Newman reached a personal treble.

Garswood’s goalkeeper diverted into his own net, Perrie upped his tally for the afternoon to three and Marshall claimed his fifth of a one-sided contest to complete the scoring.

Smith added: “If somebody had told us we would win a trophy and survive in the league before the season started, we’d have taken that.”

Rudheath | Shalcross (GK), Whitlow, Bryning (Maguire 46), Bradley, Joe Evans (France 46), Taberner, Newman, Rowlands, Marshall, Perrie, Hughes (Carter 77) Sub not used Warburton