By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986) 

 

STOCKPORT, last season's runners-up, won the battle of the so-called 'big guns' between themselves and Cheadle to pull two points clear at the top of the Men's North of England League Premier Division on Saturday.

 

The Beech Road club were edged to both the Premier Division and Northern Senior Flags titles by Cheadle last season.

 

But this season Stockport remain the team to beat after an impressive start which has yielded seven successive victories.

 

And the winning run continued at the weekend as the leaders - they've been there since week two of the new season - came from behind to beat Cheadle and dent their arch-rivals title ambitions.

 

Down 2-1 after the first quarter and having trailed 5-3 at half-time, Stockport had plenty of hard work left on their hands to stage a comeback.

 

And they did exactly that by winning the second half 5-0 to turn the contest on it's head and secure maximum points once again.

 

Former England international Paul Fullerton top-scored for Stockport with a hat-trick, while midfielder Chris Bland bagged a brace and contributed an assist.

 

Attackers Owen Jones and Richard Wilson were both on target for the hosts, as was midfielder Tom Gosnay.

 

Midfielder Simon McGuigan provided two assists, but perhaps the real star of the show had to be Stockport goalkeeper Ben McAllister.

 

One of four goalkeepers trialling to play for England at next year's World Cup in Manchester, McAllister - who joined from Mellor for this season - starred with a staggering 19 saves from 24 shots on target.

 

In total Stockport out-shot Cheadle 41-25, but the home team only had 16 shots on target from their 41 efforts, while Cheadle hit the target 24 times from 25 shots. No wonder McAllister had to be on his toes.

 

Cheadle keeper Rob Williams kept the defending champions in the contest with eight saves, while midfielders Chris Elia and Paul Flowers both scored doubles.

 

Attacker Daren Baythorpe was also on target for the visitors, but they let slip a two-goal cushion and Stockport punished them by whitewashing them in the second half.

 

Despite defeat Cheadle are still second in the table with 12 points, but Stockport are now two points clear at the summit with a game in hand.

 

Heaton Mersey moved up one place to third with a 15-7 home win against Mellor, with Wilmslow fourth despite their away fixture with Sheffield Steelers postponed because of an unfit pitch.

 

There were also wins for Brooklands Hulmeians and Timerley at the weekend.

 

Hulmeians defeated promoted Rochdale for their third win of the campaign, while Timperley beat Manchester Waconians 14-11 to move two places from ninth to seventh in the standings.

 

Latest Premier Division standings - Week 8, 21st November

 

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Points
Stockport	7	7	0	0	83	40	43	14
Cheadle	8	5	2	1	95	73	22	12
Heaton Mersey	7	4	2	1	82	51	31	10
Wilmslow	7	4	1	2	83	72	11	9
Manchester Wacs	8	4	0	4	75	75	0	8
Brooklands	7	3	1	3	69	70	-1	7
Timperley	7	2	0	5	60	85	-25	4
Mellor	8	2	0	6	60	94	-34	4
Rochdale	7	1	1	5	61	83	-22	3
Sheffield Steelers	6	0	1	5	42	67	-25	1

 

Saturday 21st November 

Men's North of England League - Premier Division: Heaton Mersey 15 Mellor 7, Brooklands Hulmeians 10 Rochdale 5, Manchester Waconians 11 Timperley 14, Stockport 8 Cheadle 5. Postponed: Sheffield Steelers v Wilmslow.

 

Note to editors - for more information on English Lacrosse visit www.englishlacrosse.co.uk

 

Also why not visit the official Manchester 2010 World Cup site as the excitement builds ahead of next year's tournament www.2010worldlacrosse.com

 

And our social networking sites - www.twitter.com/2010_lacrosse, www.2010worldlacrosse.blogspot.com and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6380164361&ref=ts

 

To contact English Lacrosse - The Belle Vue Centre, Pink Bank Lane, Longsight, Manchester, M12 5GL. Tel: 0161 227 3626 Fax 0161 953 2459 Email: info@englishlacrosse.co.uk

 

 

ends...