Hawkings 4 Pinta Kronenbourg 3

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)4[Stephen Woods 3, Iain Wilson] Pinta Kronenbourg (1)3

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Mark Gouldthorpe

Hawkings took the lead midway through the half when Stephen turned home Mark’s quick free kick, but it was 1-1 at half time despite Craig getting fingers to a blistering shot which eventually went in off the bar.

Iain had a shot against the post, but Hawkings regained the lead when Iain turned his man and placed his shot expertly to go in off the post, and after Craig made an excellent diving save to preserve the lead, his long throw-out set Stephen up for the third. Stephen completed his hat trick with a fine effort, and it should have been more as Rick and Iain twice were foiled by the ‘keeper’s feet in one five second period.

Those missed chances almost proved costly, as Rick turned his ankle and had to go in goal as Hawkings had no substitute. Pinta scored with their first effort at him, hit the inside of the post just afterwards, and although Craig volleyed an effort just wide, Pinta added a third with a shot that deflected in off Stephen. Craig went back in goal for the final minute to defend the lead and ensure another three points in the fight to avoid relegation.

Hawkings 4 Mosiac Utd 2

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (2)4[Richard Molyneux 2, Mark 2] Mosiac Utd (1)2

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Ric Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux, Mark Gouldthorpe

This was a key relegation tussle against a side a place and a point ahead of Hawkings. In a very tight encounter, Rich Molyneux gave Hawkings the lead and later hit the post before setting up Mark for the second goal. Most of the play was at the Hawkings end of the pitch, though, and it took a great defensive performance to keep Mosiac out. They did pull a goal back with a deflected shot just before half time, but a second goal from Rich midway through the half opened up the two-goal cushion again.

Mosiac ensured a tight finish with a superb strike into the corner, but the game was settled in the dying minutes when the previously-excellent Mosiac ‘keeper let a Mark free kick slip over his shoulder and in.

Hawkings 5 Pinta Kronenbourg 1

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)5[Chris Elliott, Mark, Stephen Woods 2, Iain Wilson] Pinta Kronenbourg (0)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Stephen Woods, Mark Gouldthorpe

A third consecutive victory was achieved despite having no substitutes, and although Pinta were a hard-working side, they were lacking in several key areas and offered little real threat to the good run of Hawkings.

Chris scored the opening goal and Mark made it 2-0 after a free-kick one-two with Stephen who added two goals himself before half time. Craig barely had a shot to save in the first half, as despite their high percentage ball possession, Pinta’s finishing was woeful.

Hawkings tired a little in the second half, although they still hit the post on two or three occasions and missed several other very straightforward chances before Chris and Mark combined to set up Iain for the fifth goal. Craig was busier this half, and although he was beaten when Iain blocked a long-range shot onto the post, it looked like he’d managed to get the elusive first clean sheet when a shot from wide found the corner of the net with barely two minutes remaining.

Hawkings 4 Own Goals and Gaffes 1

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)4[Richard Molyneux, Chris Elliott 3] Own Goals and Gaffes (0)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Ric Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux, Mark Gouldethorpe

Against the league leaders, who before this game had a 100% record, a superbly-organised Hawkings’ finished with a comfortable victory. In a very tight first half, Richard M opened the scoring and Hawkings harried their opponents constantly to take overall control of the game.

As gaps began to appear in the Own Goals defence, Chris helped himself to a second half hat trick, the last coming after Iain took a quick free kick, and whenever Own Goals did get a sight of goal, they couldn’t get beyond Craig. Just as it looked as if they’d finally managed to keep a clean sheet, a shot into the corner with three minutes to go provided the only disappointing note of the evening.

Hawkings 6 Moss Lane 2

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)6[Richard Molyneux 3, Chris Elliott, Stephen Woods 2] Moss Lane (0)2

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux, Mark Gouldthorpe

A well deserved first victory of the season against a side who had kept Hawkings scoreless on thier previous meeting. The entire squad were outstanding tonight, but things might have turned out differently had an early Moss Lane shot gone in instead of hitting the post.

By half time, Hawkings were 4-0 ahead, Richard M scoring the first two (the second after Iain set the ball up for him) and Stephen and Chris adding the others. In truth, there was very little between the teams, and both ‘keepers made some excellent stops.

Richard M made it 5-0 early in the second half, before Craig was finally beaten, though he did get a hand to the shot. Stephen made it 6-1, Iain was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out for encroaching in the area, and Moss Lane added a second late on to complete the scoring.

Hawkings 3 Walton Wanderers 5

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)3[Richard Molyneux, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott] Walton Wanderers (4)5

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux

With the return of Craig Wilson in goal, and the luxury of having a sixth player due to the last minute arrival of Richard, Hawkings put their miserable winter season behind them with a performance that, although it didn’t result in victory, did bring back their enjoyment of the game.

The early stages of the game saw Walton always managing to get any fortune that was going, and when they led 4-0 just before half time it seemed Hawkings would go unrewarded for their efforts. But, instead of letting heads fall, Hawkings continued to press forward, and goals either side of half time by new player Richard and Chris Elliott began to worry Wanderers.

For most of the remainder of the game, only bad luck in front of goal prevented Hawkings narrowing the gap even further. Walton added a fifth, but the goal of the game was reserved for Hawkings. Craig made a fine stop, threw the ball three quarters of the pitch to Chris, whose first time pass found his brother Rick, and from his foot the ball shot into the top corner – from ‘keeper to net, barely a second passed. Hawkings came close twice more in the dying seconds, but a 3-5 defeat ranks as high as many of the victories the side has enjoyed over the last three years.

Carpet Munchers 7 ZAF FC 4

Carpet Munchers FC (4)7 [Sam Roberts 4, Sean Ives 3] ZAF FC (2)4

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Sean Ives, Sam Roberts

Munchers fell behind in the opening minute, but a good team performance produced goals for Sam, Sean and Sam again. Zaf reduced the arrears but Munchers ended the half strongly, Rob hitting the post and Sam the bar before Sean made it 4-2 at half-time.

Zaf hit the post early in the second half, but Munchers stretched their lead to three with a fine solo goal from Sean. The success was founded on a solid defensive performance, with Iain again outstanding at the back and Craig pulling off some fine saves when needed. Sean hit the post before Sam made it 6-2, following up after Iain’s shot had been saved, and Sam scored again to make it 7-2. Zaf replied twice towards the end, the final goal being a deflection in off Iain as he tried to block another effort.

Carpet Munchers 12 CMFC 7

Carpet Munchers FC (7)12[Sam Roberts 5, Sean Ives 3, Iain Wilson 3, Rob Danson] CMFC (4)7

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Dan Arciniega, Rob Danson, Sean Ives, Sam Roberts

Although Munchers fell behind early on to a goal scored after a CMFC player touched the ball in the area, they never looked likely to lose this game and quickly took a 3-1 lead, Sam equalising and – after Rob hit the bar – Sean scoring twice. CMFC did pull a goal back, and it took a superb save by Craig to prevent Iain scoring past him for the equaliser, but moments later Iain scored at the correct end to make it 4-2. Sam added two more goals, and although CMFC scored two more before half time, the goals were split by a fine finish from Iain after Craig’s long throw eluded the CMFC defence.

The early stages of the second half saw the sides trading goals, Sam and Rob netting for Munchers, but when CMFC reduced the arrears to 9-7, memories of their fightback on the previous occasions the sides met must have surfaced. However, to their credit, Munchers concentrated on the game and Iain, Sean and Sam all scored to cement a comfortable victory.

Overall, it was an impressive performance in all positions, with Dan and Iain putting in strong and important defensive performances, Craig making some vital stops and Sam, Sean and Rob bringing a host of saves out of a very competent CMFC ‘keeper.

Carpet Munchers 12 First Touch 11

Carpet Munchers FC (9)12[Rob Danson 2, Sean Ives 2, Iain Wilson 2, Callum Faulds 5, Dan Arciniega] First Touch (5)11

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Dan Arciniega, Callum Faulds, Sean Ives

A great team performance saw Munchers defeat a very good First Touch side for the first time. They took the lead in fortunate fashion, a clearance cannoning off Rob and going in, but First equalised with a shot that deflected in off Callum. Sean gave Munchers a 2-1 lead with a shot that beat the ‘keeper at the near post, and Rob made it 3-1 with a long shot. First Touch came back with some excellent finishing to take a 3-4 lead, but Munchers dominated the rest of the half, Iain scoring to equalise, then hitting the post before goals from Callum, Iain, Callum, Sean and Callum again made it 9-4, and although First Touch scored a fifth five seconds before the half time whistle, Munchers led 9-5 after an excellent half.

Munchers had a blow just a minute into the second half when Sean was injured and took no further part in the game, but Munchers defended as a unit, with all four outfield players making decisive blocks and Craig having a superb evening in goal. First Touch scored to make it 9-6, but Dan notched Munchers’ tenth after Craig’s long throw out found Rob, who blasted the ball off the back wall and into Dan’s path. Again, the sides swapped goals, Callum scoring after Touch had scored, but at 11-7 and with under ten minutes to go, First Touch began to exert real pressure. Despite the great defensive performance, the lead was whittled down to 11-10 before Callum scored with a superb long-range effort to make it 12-10, and although First Touch notched an eleventh, Munchers held out for a well-deserved victory.

Hawkings 1 Walton Wanderers 10

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (0)1 [Iain] Walton Wanderers (3)10

Squad – Craig Wilson (standing in for first five minutes), Iain Wilson, Ric Elliott, Chris Elliott, Andrew Dignan, Karl Robinson

With Karl held up on his way back from Manchester, Craig played for Hawkings for the first few minutes to make up the team of five, and when Karl arrived, the game was still scoreless, with Hawkings having the better of the play. Hawkings competed well throughout the half, but the lack of a regular ‘keeper cost them dearly, and they turned round 3-0 down.

The second half saw more of the same, equality in general in the play but Walton took full advantage of the substitute ‘keepers, although Hawkings deservedly got on the scoresheet when Chris passed wide for Iain to score in the corner.