Heswall FC mid-week round-up: things are really looking up

Above: a gallery of pictures by Bob Shaw

Improvement in results was the prime focus for Heswall FC this week after the disappointment of Saturday gone.

First up was our Youth team who faced Vauxhall Motors Youth on Monday evening. It was an entertaining game and featured a vastly improved performance from manager Rob Davies' injury ravaged side.

Conor Wolfe put Heswall ahead with a fine header after some neat build up play down the right flank. Vauxhall hit back with an equaliser in the second half of a fractious and fiery game - which ended with a fair result, 1-1 and a point apiece.

On Tuesday evening it was the turn of our First Team as they attempted to get back to winning ways against neighbours Neston Nomads.

Heswall started brightly and two early goals from a resurgent Joe Ford got us off to a great start. A further goal from Paul Lindfield put HFC firmly in the driving seat going into the second half.

However, a much improved Nomads performance in the second half rewarded them with two goals - but, a Jack Darlington strike gave Heswall the win, the game ending 4–2 to the yellows. This was a welcome, much improved showing from Heswall - and had it not been for a truly inspired display by Neston's 17 year old goalkeeper, a bigger win could easily have been on the cards.

Our Reserve Team completed our midweek fixtures, facing up to Marshalls Reserves. Jason Bull was the hero on the night with two goals and a very good individual performance. The brace took him to seven goals in four games since we restarted. All in all, though, it was a great team effort on the night, notable also for a fourth assist of the season for keeper Josh Brooks.

Wins for the First Team and Reserves mean both teams remain in contention for promotion this season, and confidence around the club is high. This weekend games take our First Team to Marine to face their Reserves. Marine AFC is a club on a crest of a wave following its FA Cup exploits this season, but our Manager Andy Cass is hoping to emulate Jose Mourinho and return from Crosby with a victory.

The Reserves face off against familiar opponents in the West Cheshire League Shield as we welcome Neston Nomads Reserves to Gayton Park. Having come up against this Neston team in the Wirral District Amateur Cup recently and winning 3–0, manager Nathan Brooks is nevertheless aware it will be a tough game against a team working hard to turn their season round.

This game is sponsored by Rustic & Refined by Gaynor, a Wirral based upcycling furniture restoration company. At Heswall FC we are proud to be involved with local businesses, and may I take this opportunity to thank Gaynor for her support, and wish all local enterprises well as we tiptoe back towards normality.

Our Youth team has a tricky game away to Knowsley in the West Cheshire Youth division, but they hope and intend to build on Monday's better showing. It's the final year of youth football for these lads, so they are aiming to finish the season with a flourish.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at Heswall FC, from match day sponsors to full kit and even ground name sponsors. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact me, Chairman Robbie Matthews, via email on [email protected].