Mersey Valley equalled the club record for successive league wins with a 4-1 victory over Newton Athletic yesterday at Banky Lane – keeping them in second place just two points behind league leaders St Helens Town.

Manager Jon Hudson made three changes from the side that beat Maine Road Reserves with Aaron Johnson, Ewan Roach and Niall Goldrick all unavailable. Sam Chaddock and Sam Deering both started as did fit again captain Joel Riley.

The visitors made the better start, Dylan Owens forcing Cooke into a great early save. Newton looked to get the ball up to the big centre forward quickly as he was causing problems.

Neither side good get control of the game but it was Newton who looked sharper and more dangerous in the opening period.

Sam Chaddock opens the scoring

Despite that it was the home side that opened the scoring on 20 minutes, a brilliant run by Sam Deering caused panic in the box and his clever ball was turned home from close range by Sam Chaddock.

Deering was dangerous, every time he got the ball he looked the get at the defence and when he got in behind again he was hacked down by Dicks and the referee awarded the penalty. Captain Joel Riley stepped up and stroked home from the spot to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

The away side could feel hard done by after making a good start to the game and they remained positive and continued to threaten and they got the goal their play deserved just before the break – the dangerous Owens firing past Cooke.

HT: Mersey Valley 2 Newton Athletic 1

The second half was a nervy, scrappy game. Valley always looking dangerous with Deering but he was well marked by the impressive Ollie Shone.

At the other end, Jones had a great opportunity to level the scores after he beat the offside line but Cooke was out well the block the shot.

Captain Marvel – Joel Riley scored a brilliant goal to make it 3-1

It looked like it was going to be a mistake or a moment of real quality that would settle the game and it proved to be the later. Joel Riley scoring a beauty, hit with power and pace, the ball dipped and curled past the keeper into the back of the net.

Deering added a last fourth after great work from Dignan and the three points were won.

FT: Mersey Valley 4 Newton Athletic 1