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VALLEY HIT FIVE AS RILEY RETURNS WITH A HAT-TRICK

By Match Report

WEDNESDAY 20TH AUGUST 2025
CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE ONE

Cheadle Heath Nomads

NOMADS RES

2
Mersey Valley

MERSEY VALLEY

5

MATCH REPORT

Mersey Valley made the short trip to Stockport to take on Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves. Valley included eight former Nomads players in their squad and manager Jon Hudson was making his first return since leaving Nomads in the summer of 2023 before he joined Mersey Valley.

Both sides started the game well, a quick pace both sides looking for their first win of the season but it was the visitors with the best chance – Howarth will a great cross, but Downing couldn’t get power on his header, and it was saved by the keeper.

The deadline was broken on 27 minutes; Valley broke down the left-hand side and Mike Woolley fired over a perfect low cross which was bundled home from close range by Joel Riley.

The home side reacted well and equalised on 38 minutes, Valley failed to clear the ball and the Nomads winger fired home from inside the area past Cooke.

Woolley was again enjoying himself on the wing, he beat three players before he was taken down. Riley curled a dangerous free kick which Adams just couldn’t get on the end of.

HT: Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves 1 Mersey Valley 1

A big half time chat and the visitors started the half on the front foot. Howarth hit the bar with a header and from a Roach long throw Adams was in the right place to fire home after the keeper had saved Riley’s header.

Dignan and Downing combined to send Woolley free down the left who continued his fine form with a brilliant finish to make it 3-1.

Minutes later it was 4 – Riley with a direct free kick that took a slight deflection and found its way into the back of the net.

The game seemed over but the home side rallied, and another piece of sloppy defending allowed the striker to fire past Cooke and make it 4-2.

Valley didn’t stop and when Riley seized on a poor back pass to hit a brilliant lob over the keeper from 30 yards out.

The visitors saw the game out and recorded their first win of the season.

FT: Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves 2 Mersey Valley 5

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MATCH STATS

MVFC: Cooke, Howarth, Dignan, Downing, Greenwood, Roach, Green (Price), Skelton (Inwood), Riley (Fraine), Adams (Renshaw), Woolley (Goldrick)

Booked: Dignan, Skelton, Downing

Referee: Jamie Barlow

MAN OF THE MATCH

JOEL RILEY

A solid team performance but a memorable return to his former club for captain Joel Riley who hit a hat-trick including a 35 year lob over the keeper to complete his trio of goals!

POST MATCH

August 21, 2025
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Cup classic as Valley leave it late

By First Team, Match Report

SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2025
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA CUP
SECOND ROUND

BAGULEY ATHLETIC RESERVES

5

MERSEY VALLEY

6

MATCH REPORT

An out-of-sorts Mersey Valley made it through to the Quarter Finals of the Altrincham & District FA Cup after a crazy 11-goal thriller with Baguley Reserves.

Adams opened the scoring with a header

The game played on a dreadful pitch was lively from the start. Mersey took the lead when Owen Adams headed home from a Riley corner. However, the home side quickly levelled things up after an error keeper Brad Cooke.

The referee then awarded Baguley a penalty after judging Cooke had brought down the striker, a decision that baffled most of the Mersey Valley players. The penalty was dispatched, and the home side now led.

The lead didn’t last long, Goldrick with a brilliant switch to Mike Woolley who cut inside and fired the ball past the keeper to make it 2-2.

There was time for one more goal and another controversial decision by the keeper. The Baguley striker looked offside but the official waved play on and he kept his calm to slot the ball past Cooke.

HT: Baguley Athletic Reserves 3 Mersey Valley 2

Valley made a chance at half-time. Wilson replaced Goldrick, who was struggling with a knee injury with Jordan Downing being moved further forward.

In-form Mike Woolley with another 2 goals including a brilliant second.

Valley started well and was soon level with the goal of the game from Mike Woolley, cutting inside and unleashing a brilliant curling shot over the keeper into the roof of the net.

Valley then took the lead, a lovely move that ended with Riley curling a brilliant cross to the back post, that was met by a fantastic diving header from Adams.

Both sides were throwing everything into the game but the home side got the next goal, a bizarre free-kick cross that sailed over everyone into the back of the net and then they took the lead with a breakaway goal smashed past Cooke.

Time was running out, but Valley regrouped and showed their quality. Firstly, Downing was on the ball to seize on an error and fire the ball past the keeper, and then, with the game minutes away from a penalty shoot-out, Reece Skelton saw his shot deflected past the keeper into the back of the net to seal the comeback and the victory,

All credit to Baguley who didn’t really deserve to lose the game.

HT: Baguley Athletic Reserves 5 Mersey Valley 6

MATCH STATS

BAGULEY ATHLETIC RESERVES 5
MERSEY VALLEY 6

MVFC: Cooke, Howarth, Dignan, Evans, Greenwood, Downing, Goldrick (Chaddock) (Wilson), Adams, Riley, Skelton, Woolley
Subs Not Used: Renshaw, Acton, Downey

Goals: Adams 6, 60, Woolley 19, 54, Downing 83, Skelton 89

Booked: Woolley, Cooke

Referee: Honghai Chu

MAN OF THE MATCH

JOEL RILEY

A captains performance from Riley – worked hard and also assisted three of the goals. Has been one of the most consistent performers all season and now has 18 goal contributions in all competitions.

January 26, 2025
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Deering at the double as Valley stun Sandbach and progress to next round

By First Team, Match Report

SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2024
JA WALTON CHALLENGE CUP
FIRST ROUND

SANDBACH UTD RES

1

MERSEY VALLEY

2

MATCH REPORT

Mersey Valley ended their poor cup form with a brilliant away performance, knocking out League One Sandbach United Reserves.

The two sides met pre-season with the home side running out 4-0 winners but this was a very different Mersey Valley who arrived at the impressive Sandbach Community Football Centre.

It was a slow start, both sides trying to get a foot on the ball, Sandbach looking to break the lines with clips over the top but Cooke was in excellent form, commanding his area and the edge of the box.

Valley started to create chances, Evans with a brilliant cross found Adams in the area but his header went wide. On the break, Lees got in behind Roach but Cooke got his angles right and the danger was eradicated.

The first big chance fell to Riley who found space in the box but scuffed his shot. Deering switched over to the right-hand side and beat his man before curling a great ball to the back post but the pace just eluded Woolley.

Johns was very fortunate to escape with no booking, firstly two fouls on Evans and then a dangerous lunge was seen by the referee but somehow not punished.

Sam Deering

1-0 – Deering beats the keeper to open the scoring.

Sandbach then had their best chance, a poor cross nearly caught Cooke out but he backtracked and made a smart save. Deering went close at the other end after a free kick was cleared.

The breakthrough came just before half-time. Evans with a brilliant pass inside the full back to Deering who did the rest with a clever finish underneath the keeper.

The half ended with another odd decision by the official booking Downing for a foul. Hudson was lucky to escape without a caution after remonstrating with the official at half-time.

HT: Sandbach United Reserves 0 Mersey Valley 1

The second half was all about Valley as they started brilliantly, finding another gear and dominating the ball, the high press worked and Deering went close. From the corner, the ball broke to Mike Woolley who hit a brilliant 30-yarder which smashed against the post and bounced clear.

Deering then went close again, a brilliant run cutting inside but unable to hit the target and from an Evans free kick Woolley headed over.

More baffling decisions from the referee, Johns with his fourth poor tackle went unpunished but Evans who won the ball was then shown a yellow card.

Sam DeeringJust before the hour the pressure finally told, Cooke was again sharp off his line and cleared the danger, Woolley with a great turn found Deering in space after he made a brilliant run, he beat the keeper and made it 2-0.

Deering went close to completing his hat-trick but headed over and Woolley tested the keeper with a drive.

Valley were in complete control going into added time but the referee then gave a bizarre penalty after a brilliant tackle from Greenwood, he also booked the defender. The spot kick was tucked away and the home side had a glimmer.

The referee incredibly added 7 minutes of added time but Mersey managed the game brilliantly not allowing the home side any chances.

The full time whistle went and Mersey Valley were into the second round of the J A Walton League Cup.

FT: Sandbach United Reserves 1 Mersey Valley 2

MATCH STATS

SANDBACH UNITED RESERVES 1
MERSEY VALLEY 2

MVFC: Cooke, Wilson, Dignan, Evans, Greenwood, Roach, Deering (Chaddock), Adams (Goldrick), Riley, Downing (Renshaw), Woolley (Dorsey)
Subs Not Used: Downey

Goals: Deering 43, 58

Booked: Downing, Evans, Greenwood

Sandbach United Reserves: Dowey, Barker, Webster, Walker, Skupski, Dalton, Johns, Gorst, Chesters, Lees, O’Reilly
Subs: Bowyer, Nash, Withenshaw, Watson, Dodd

Goals: Barker (pen) 90+1

Referee: Terence Morgan

MAN OF THE MATCH

MIKE WOOLLEY

An excellent all-round performance from Woolley, worked hard all game and used the ball well. Nearly scored one of the goals of the season with a long range drive and also set up the second goal from Sam Deering.

VIDEO

October 20, 2024
Love0

Magnificent Seven as Mersey impress once again

By First Team, Match Report

SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2024
CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
LEAGUE 2

MERSEY VALLEY

7

SANDBACH TOWN

0

MATCH REPORT

Another breathtaking second-half performance yesterday saw Mersey Valley inflict a huge victory over Sandbach Town and move into third place in the Cheshire League.

Gaffers

Hudson and his assistant Paul Riley

Hudson named the same starting eleven as last week’s victory over Stretford Paddock and there was great news on the bench as Jordan Downing returned after over a year out with a serious knee injury.

Right from the first whistle, the visitors set up very defensively and looked to slow the game down and the opening period was very flat, the home side forced four corners in the opening ten minutes but failed to test the keeper.

The opening goal arrived in bizarre fashion, Adams with a great ball breaking the line for Johnson to attack, the Sandbach full-back had to make a challenge but he skewed his clearance, and it rolled into the back of the net to give Valley a deserved lead.

Goal Mersey Valley

Pete Greenwood with another goal as Valley doubled their lead before half time.

It was all Mersey Valley, Johnson creating several half chances and Adams missing a glorious chance from a corner. Good combination play between Riley and Johnson created a good opening for Riley but the defence closed him down and the ball went behind for another corner.

This time Goldrick delivered a good ball and Greenwood found space at the back post to smash the ball past the keeper and double the home side’s lead with his second goal in as many games.

HT: Mersey Valley 2 Sandbach Town 0

The instructions at half-time were very clear, start fast and play with intensity and hunger – it certainly was taken on board by the players who scored two quick goals.

Niall Goldrick

New signing Niall Goldrick has made an impressive start to his Mersey Valley career

Sam Deering went on a brilliant run, beating three players before getting his shot away which was brilliantly saved by the keeper, Howarth attacked the rebound and his drive was again saved but the rebound was pounced upon by Johnson who poked the ball into the net.

Then a poor error by the keeper as he let a pass back roll under his foot, Adams anticipated and smashed the ball into an empty net!

Hudson rang the changes. Woolley, Renshaw, Wilson, Chaddock and Jordan Downing all came on – Dignan, Howarth, Adams, Evans and Riley all withdrawn with the game safe.

Aaron Johnson

Another two goals for striker Aaron Johnson who has now hit 5 goals in 5 games this season.

Johnson made it five after great work from Goldrick down the right, despite the changes the home side continued to completely dominate the game.

It was soon six, Chaddock with a great cross into the box finding the head of Niall Goldrick who powered his header past the keeper.

The biggest cheer of the day was saved for the 90th minute. Chaddock with another brilliant delivery from a corner and Jordan Downing towered above his marker to head home and complete a very satisfactory day for Mersey Valley

FT: Mersey Valley 7 Sandbach Town 0

MATCH STATS

MERSEY VALLEY 7
SANDBACH TOWN 0

MVFC: Cooke, Howarth (Renshaw), Dignan (Woolley), Evans (Wilson), Greenwood, Roach, Deering, Adams (Downing), Johnson, Riley (Chaddock), Goldrick

Goals: Own Goal 25, Greenwood 44, Johnson 49, 73, Adams 51, Goldrick 75, Downing 90
Booked: Roach

Sandbach Town: Birkenhead, Carney, Little, Welch, Smith, Jaffrey, Evans, Lamb, Said, Elfatih, Zadeh
Subs: Williams, Holloway, Powell, Lees, Eitayeb

Goals: None
Booked: Elfatih

Referee: Andrew Ollerenshaw

MAN OF THE MATCH

ALFIE HOWARTH

Another superb display from the youngster at right-back defended will all game and was a constant threat going forward. Building a really strong partnership with Niall Goldrick down the right-hand side.

September 29, 2024
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