Can Witton match their longest unbeaten run this season?

IMPROVING Witton climbed from the relegation zone as a reward for beating Stourbridge on Tuesday.

Albion extend a sequence without losing in the Premier Division to four matches as a reward, their best run of league results since Tony Sullivan replaced Anthony Sheehan as their first team manager.

Their opponents on Saturday are Belper Town, a side that prompted Sheehan to resign following a humiliating defeat at the end of September.

A 5-0 success that day marked the Nailers’ first success of the season after nine previous attempts.

They have won only twice since, leaving them bottom of the table.

A Witton win will match their longest stretch without losing this term in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s top flight.

 

Underdogs out to cause an upset

CUDDINGTON’S incentive to beat higher-ranked Middlewich Town this weekend is a chance to contest the Mid-Cheshire District FA Challenge Cup final for the first time.

They host the eight-time former winners at Norley Road, where they lost narrowly last weekend to Cheshire League Two promotion favourites Wythenshawe.

The Witches, who haven’t reached the final since 2012, are in fine form – they have won seven of their past eight matches in all competitions, scoring 30 times.

Lostock Gralam, runners-up on three previous occasions, visit Rudheath Social in the other semi final.

The Grey Lambs prop up Cheshire League One after winning only two of 18 matches to date, instead saving their best performances for knockout ties.

Rudheath are short of match practice after playing only four times since the turn of the year.

They have though reached the past two finals, winning in 2013 before losing 2-1 against Barnton last season.

Northwich Guardian:

Cuddington's Nick Harvey scored twice in a quarter-final success against Barnton Wanderers, setting up a last four date with Middlewich Town this weekend. Picture: MATT SAYLE

 

A race for third place is back on

FOLLOWING back-to-back victories, Winnington Park have a chance to catch Northwich in a race to finish third in the league.

A 40-17 success at Anselmians last weekend is their first away from home since November, leaving them seven points adrift of their neighbours with five matches left.

They host Sefton on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Meanwhile Blacks recovered from a surprise defeat against the same opponents in a 31-17 success at home to West Park.

It was a contest that marked Dorian Simes’ final appearance at Moss Farm before returning to his Australia on Wednesday.

Relegation-threatened Hoylake, beaten in four of their past five matches, are Northwich’s hosts this weekend.

Northwich Guardian:

How the table stands ahead of this weekend's matches

 

Vale Royal’s finest don Cheshire’s colours

VALE Royal Athletics Club runners will wear Cheshire’s black and gold during Saturday’s CAU Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham.

Races at Cofton Park also mark the concluding round of this year’s British Cross Challenge and, for the older runners, a trial to make the cut for Great Britain’s team at the World Cross Country Championships later this month.

Vale Royal’s Katie Brough was a runner-up in the senior women’s category at last year’s event.

Sarah Murphy, crowned a champion ahead of Brough at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships at Bolesworth Castle in January, joins her.

Another gold-medallist for Vale Royal at those county championships, Josh Betteley, leads the under 17s boys’ challenge this weekend.

 

Sapphires step onto regional stage

NORTHWICH Sapphires seek to extend an unbeaten sequence to four matches in the North West Championship League this weekend.

They travel to Stockport-based North West Jays for their latest Section B fixture.

Sapphires have climbed to sixth in the standings following wins against Capricorn and Macclesfield, either side of a tie with third-placed Oldham, in their past three games.

They make the trip buoyed by an 18-17 success against Alloy in the Warrington and District Winter League’s top flight on Wednesday, when Rebecca Annells was picked as Sapphires’ outstanding performer.