Above: more pictures by Bob Shaw

With the new season well underway now, we come to the end of the early preseason midweek games, a tough time for most teams due to work commitments for players.

On Monday evening, our reserve team welcomed Groves FC to Gayton Park for the first time as our guests competed in the West Cheshire League for the first time. The Yellows started well and 2 goals from skipper Nathan Johnstone and an own goal put us 3–0 up at half time. The Groves manager had the Midas touch with his half time team talk, and they came out a different side in the second half, scoring 2 goals to get themselves right back in the game. As play went into the 96th minute, a sweeping free kick from the far side found its way in to draw the Ellesmere Port side level with virtually the last kick of the match.

A tough one to take for our lads and a lesson in the importance of putting the game to bed, but also a valuable experience for our young team as both sides took a point in a great case of a game of two halves!

Wednesday night saw our first team welcome unbeaten league leaders Mersey Royal in the first division. The Royal finished an impressive second in their first season back in the top flight last season and are hoping to go one better this season.

Heswall went 1–0 up with a fine strike from youngster Shay Roberts who beat former Heswall keeper Josh Brooks with a fine finish from distance. The Royal underlined their title credentials with two goals to go ahead in the game and seemed to be withstanding some strong Heswall pressure.

Eventually Shay Roberts helped himself to another goal to level the scores. A draw would have arguably been a fair result but our guests snatched the win with a late winner. In our first season back at the top table, it was good to see us competing with the favourites to take the title and the performance showed we belong at this level. A big crowd was witness to an entertaining and competitive game, but in the end a fruitless one for the Yellows despite some very good performances and lots of positives.

The first team had an immediate opportunity to get back to winning ways on Saturday as Aintree Villa were the visitors to Gayton Park, with both teams missing a number of players due to Creamfields. The much changed home team went into the game confident of getting back to form. What followed was a hugely entertaining and comprehensive victory with two goals apiece for 17 year old Harvey Forster, Skipper Scott Connolly, Matty Morris, Danny Dixon and a single from Dan O'Halloran, giving the Yellows a fine 9–0 win.

Next weekend sees Poulton Vics Reserves face our reserves at Gayton Park in the third division, while our first team begin our quest for victory in the Cheshire Amateur Cup away to Hoole Rovers.

We have unfinished business in this competition after reaching the final in the 2019–2020 season, only to be denied the chance to play the game due to COVID restrictions and some questionable decision making by the powers that be...

By the way, we are hosting a Heswall FC Legends evening on Saturday 31st October. It starts at 7pm and we extend an open invitation to anyone who has ever been involved with our club over the years - former players, managers, committee members or indeed supporters. If you have ever been a part of our great club then please come along, have a drink and share your stories from days gone by.

We are hugely appreciative of those who went before us and laid the foundations for Heswall FC, so please come along and get stuck in.