Walters is Chaddy’s hat-trick hero

Non-league FOOTBALL: STRIKER Leon Walters scored his first hat-trick for Chadderton in a 3-2 defeat of Eccleshall in division of the Vodkat North-West Counties League.

Playing their first game for more than five weeks because of snow and ice, the Broadway outfit were never behind against the hosts, who had only lost on one previous occasion at home this season.

But Chadderton were hanging on at the death after midfield man Gaz Morris was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Paul Buckley’s men started brightly, with new-boy Leon Melia and Danny Shaw going close, and it was no surprise when they went ahead in the 41st minute, Chris Pauley delivering the perfect free-kick for Walters to convert on the half-volley.

But Eccleshall equalised soon after the restart when John Rogers gave away a penalty and Danny Walker made no mistake

Chadderton were quickly back in their stride. Goalkeeper Lee Swanson launched a long clearance upfield, where Walters beat the one remaining defender before sweeping the ball home after 63 minutes.

Walters and Mickey Green had opportunities to stretch the visitors’ lead, before the former converted a spot-kick with just five minutes of the 90 remaining.

The dismissal of Morris gave Eccleshall new hope and they pulled a goal back through a Danny Hughes spot-kick deep into injury time, but Chadderton held firm to climb two places to fifth from bottom.


A SUPERB long-range effort from Andy Smith was in vain as Oldham Boro, also returning from a long lay-off, were beaten 2-1 at Daisy Hill in NWCL division one.
The defender smashed home a free-kick 11 minutes from time to cancel out a 55th-minute goal from Damon Clynes, but Tony Mills’ side returned to the Whitebank Stadium empty-handed after David Gregory responded almost immediately for the hosts.

Midfielder Vinnie Howells and full-back Charlie Clarke impressed on their debuts for Boro, whose best chance of the afternoon fell to Darren Scanlan. The forward stuck out a leg in an attempt to get on the end of a cross, but was only able to divert the ball wide.


DUE to the current floodlight problem at Seel Park — two pylons have collapsed and the other six have been condemned — Mossley’s home match against Woodley Sports in UniBond League division one north was postponed.

The Lilywhites are in action tomorrow night, with a hastily-arranged friendly against Chadderton at Broadway (kick-off 7.30pm).