Another excellent away day performance saw Mersey Valley win their fourth game in a row and finish the day in the second automatic promotion place in the Cheshire League 2.

With Sam Deering recalled by parent club New Mills and captain Joel Riley injured Mersey made two changes from the side that thrashed Sandbach Town last week. Zaid Baroudi replaced Deering and Nathan Wilson came in for Riley with Adams taking the captain’s armband.

The visitors made a good start, Baroudi and Goldrick looking dangerous in the wide areas but the game soon became sloppy with neither side able to get on the ball for long periods – it was the home side that created a number of half-chances.

The first big chance fell to Valley. Johnson with a great run that took three fouls on him to bring him down. From the free kick, Goldrick curled a great effort just wide of the post.

Johnson with another brace now has 7 goals for the season.

The breakthrough came after 29 minutes. Goldrick and Howarth with a brilliant combination down the right-hand side, Howarth rolled the ball to Evans who a brilliant drive from 25 yards which was superbly tipped onto the post by Taylor in the Maine Road goal but the ball bounced back into the box and Johnson reacted quickest to poke the ball home.

It was 2-0 just a minute later. Adams found Johnson in space and the striker did the rest, beating the defender before sliding the ball underneath the unlucky Taylor who thought he’d done enough but the ball slowly trickled over the line.

The home side reacted well to the double blow and got a goal back before half-time, poor defending from Valley allowed the impressive Turner to ghost in at the back post to make it 2-1.

It should have been 3-1 however in the final minutes of the half. A poor clearance was headed back by Adams giving Goldrick a clear sight on goal but the winger sliced his shot horribly wide.

HT: Maine Road Reserves 1 Mersey Valley 2

Valley made a tactical tweak at half time. Wilson moving to right back, Howarth pushing up to right midfield and Goldrick moving into a central role.

It worked as Valley took complete control of the game in the opening fifteen minutes of the half. Dignan played a glorious ball through for Johnson who rounded the keeper but couldn’t hit the target.

From a Ewan Roach long throw Goldrick found himself in a great position but the keeper made two great point-blank saves and from the corner, the ball flashed across the face of the goal.

The pressure finally told. Howarth with a great challenge to win the ball found Evans who curled a brilliant ball to the back post to find Adams who fired home with a superb volley.

A cool calm finish from Baroudi made it 4

As with the first two goals Valley scored another immediately. Johnson nearly completed his hat trick but in the scramble that followed Baroudi kept his composure to fire home to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

Dignan suffered a dead leg and was replaced by Woolley and Downing and Chaddock replaced Evans and Goldrick.

Another defensive error gifted the home side a way back into the contest. Adams failed to clear his lines and Orhenomare was on hand to curl the ball past Cooke.

They almost made it a nervous last ten minutes when their captain Imrie powered a header towards goal but Cooke made a brilliant save, meow.

Johnson hit the bar and Howarth nearly scored a wonder goal from 45 yards out but the game ended with a 4-2 victory for Valley who moved into second place.

FT: Maine Road Reserves 2 Mersey Valley 4