MIDDLEWICH Town progressed in another knockout competition at Ashton Athletics reserves’ expense but the outcome was in doubt until Chris Lunn scored a last-minute goal.

He steered in substitute Marcin Manko’s cross to make it 3-1 at Seddon Street, securing for the Witches a place in the Cheshire League’s President’s Cup last eight.

They dominated the early exchanges during which Cal Priestley’s header was cleared off the line before captain Jamie Petrie’s lob struck the inside of a post.

Ashton, top of League Two, took the lead when Charlie Middlemore bundled a loose ball over the line after goalkeeper Charles Masters had saved an initial shot.

Dean Burgess was first to a rebound to restore parity on 62 minutes before converting a spot-kick after Harry Short had been fouled to put the home team in front – the central defender’s fourth goal in two games.

Ashton committed players forward in an attempt to force a penalty shoot-out and were caught out when Lunn netted late on.

Charlie Hatton’s hat-trick was a highlight for Lostock Gralam when they put seven goals without reply past Ford Motors in League One.

They Grey Lambs remain three points clear of Blacon Youth Club, who dented Broadheath Central’s promotion hopes with a 4-2 victory, as a result.

Jack Woolley set the table-toppers on a course for victory at Moss Farm before Hatton doubled their lead.

Substitute Liam Collins put them out of their opponents’ reach early in the second-half before Hatton found the net twice more to make it 5-0.

Louis Johnson and Collins, again, were on target before the finish.

Winnington Avenue 1994 put behind them back-to-back defeats against rivals above them in the table when they thrashed Rylands reserves.

Sam Didsbury and Joel Hind bagged a brace in a 5-0 win and Steve Warburton’s goal added gloss.

They sit fourth in League Two, five points adrift of second-placed Maine Road reserves – who they play next – with four games left.

Player of the week

Dean Burgess (Middlewich Town)

Has held his nerve to score a penalty at a crucial moment in each of the Witches’ past two matches.

It was a Saturday stroll for…

Lostock Gralam

The Grey Lambs’ biggest victory of the season is a fourth in succession in League One without conceding a goal

In numbers

Lostock Gralam made it to 100 goals for the campaign when Louis Johnson put them 6-0 up against Ford Motors

What they said

“We probably need to win all of our remaining games to keep alive our hopes of being promoted but it isn’t over yet and we’ll keep going until the end.”

Lewis Wood

Manager, Winnington Ave 1994

Results

Cheshire League

Saturday, March 23

Premier Division: Daten 0-2 Malpas; Denton 0-6 Crewe; Eagle 0-0 Congleton Vale; Greenalls PSO 0-1 Pilkington; Poynton 3-4 Whaley Bridge

League One: Blacon 4-2 Broadheath Central; Buxton res 0-0 Halebank; Golborne 2-4 Garswood; Lostock Gralam 7-0 Ford Motors; Styal Abn-Abn Windle Labour; Winstanley 2-1 Grappenhall

League Two: Club AZ 0-1 Mersey Valley; Rylands res 0-5 Winnington Ave 1994

Reserves Division: Billinge 0-4 Styal; FC St Helens 3-4 Garswood A; Greenalls PSO 3-3 Poynton

President's Cup

First Round: Middlewich 3-1 Ashton Ath res