A brilliant late rally from Mersey Valley saw them take all three points from promotion rivals Lymm Rovers.

With Brad Cooke away and Adam Rigby and Alex Gorst both injured, Mersey Valley handed a debut to 18-year-old goalkeeper Sam Phillips who joined on a dual reg from North West Counties side Abbey Hey.

Both sides looked positive, but the visitors started better, keeping the ball more and winning the early battles but it was Mersey Valley that created the first chances. Deering and Woolley combined, and Deering fired in a dangerous shot that the keeper bundled wide.

Another brilliant performance by Sam Deering

Dignan played a clever through ball for Goldrick, but the keeper was out quickly to smother the ball. Greenwood then set up Deering, who beat the keeper, but the defender was in the right place to clear the ball behind. From the corner, the ball came back to Woolley, who curled a great ball into the box, but Adams couldn’t hit the target.

Lymm reacted by slowing the game down and they started to get more control, their best chance was squandered by Pinney who headed over from close range.

Deering was the danger man; three times he beat his man and fired a dangerous cross into the area but Laidlaw in the Lymm goal was having an excellent game. In added on time Adams played in Deering but this time his shot curled just wide.

HT: Mersey Valley 0 Lymm Rovers 0

The second half started and Valley started to gain control, helped by an injury the Lymm player Roberts who had been a danger in the first half.

Howarth replaced Renshaw and the home side went close, Deering with a great take and turn to open up the space but his shot was straight at the keeper.

A goal and an assist from the in-form Mike Woolley

The breakthrough arrived just before the hour, brilliant work again by Deering created the chance for Woolley who showed his strength to get in front of the full back and beat the keeper.

The league lasted less than a minute but in very controversial circumstances. Quarmby, clearly offside, was allowed to run through and beat Phillips to level the game up again.

The game was end to end, with neither side able to really test the keeper. Fraine replaced the hard-working Goldrick to try and bring some freshness to the attack, but again, it was a lack of quality and composure in the final third, letting Valley down.

With time out and with Lymm tiring the home side took their chance. Woolley with a clever through ball to Fraine who did the rest, a brilliant finish past the keeper sending a good Banky Lane crowd wild!

The home side weren’t finished, Dignan bursting into the box and firing a brilliant shot past the keeper for his first of the season. A brilliant second-half performance and a deserved win for the home side.

FT: Mersey Valley 3 Lymm Rovers 1

A good crowd at Banky Lane for another great advert for the Cheshire League.