Aintree Villa 2-3 Mersey Royal - Match Report

High-flying and unbeaten Mersey Royal defeated Aintree Villa 3-2 at Aintree Golf Centre thanks to three second half goals from Kieran Cartwright and a double from Jamie Eaton.

Villa began the game well and they had the first opportunity of the contest. Chris Hughes worked well and an effort by him was well saved by Mersey Royal keeper. Aintree Villa took the lead just before the twenty minute mark when Liam Van Gelder slotted his effort under the keeper.

Mersey Royal laid seige on Aintree Villa and were almost level on two occasions. One effort came as a corner was caught by the wind and cannoned off the bar and then Leon Dettalf's crunching free-kick shattered the woodwork. Mersey Royal were in the rights to wonder where their luck would come as another chance to level quickly banished. A ball across the face was there to be won, but a slight touch by Sam Doyle took it away from the striker.

HT: Aintree Villa 1-0 Mersey Royal

Another great chance went gaping for Mersey Royal at the start of the second period, as a great ball was whipped into the area and an advancing Kieran Cartwright was there to greet it however, he could only place it wide of the far post. Cartwright made up for his earlier miss as he brought Mersey Royal level with a powerful header from close range beating the 'keeper.

Aintree Villa instantly went down the other end to try and reinstate their lead. James Leigh’s long ranged effort whistled round the post.

Mersey Royal took the lead for the first time in the conest. Jamie Eaton splendidly caught a dropping ball in the air and his sweetly-caught volley left Tony Webster rooted firmly to the spot as it nestled into the net.

Aintree Villa thought they had equalised when Joel Jackson reacted to an initial blocked effort by Matthew Evans, but the linesman judged the Villa man to be offside after he had slotted the ball home. Jackson then almost turned provider after a crisp through ball found the run of Liam Van Gelder, who's deflected effort just flashed past the post which took it out for a corner.

Royal added a third when again Jamie Eaton placed the ball out of the reach of Tony Webster.

Aintree Villa grabbed one pack from the penalty spot as Joel Jackson places it high into the top right.

As the full-time whistle blew into the chilly Aintree air, it was met by a deafening cheer from the Mersey Royal contingency, who know how hard they had to graft to remain at the summit of the West Cheshire League and continued their unbeaten record. For Aintree Villa, their form continues to slide and they sit 13th in the table out of 16.

FT: Aintree Villa 2-3 Mersey Royal