Cappenhurst Villa 1 Mond 3

RANGERS were fielding five debutants in their first league game of the season - and it was one of the five, Terry Noon, who stole the show with two goals and a man of the match performance.

Mond didn't start very well as a bright and lively Villa put the Pavilions-based outfit under tremendous early pressure.

Their defence, however, marshalled by skipper Dave Williams, coped quite comfortably and having rode the early onslaught, Walsh and Wheelhouse in the Mond midfield, started to find a few gaps in the Villa rearguard which Noon and his striking partner Kevin Ward began to exploit.

Wheelhouse and Flaherty went close before Chris Billington started the move which saw the Runcorn side take the lead. Having dispossessed an opponent, he hit a perfect pass to Ward, who controlled the ball on the run before instantly playing it into the path of Noon who beat the advancing keeper with a right foot shot into the bottom corner.

Mond had a couple more chances before half-time but Villa got right back in it when their left back scored from a free kick.

In the second-half Ian Walsh quickly restored Mond's lead, rising to powerfully head home Wheelhouse's perfectly flighted free kick.

Mond still weren't finished. Talk about saving the best until last. With five minutes remaining Noon received the ball about 20 yards out with his back to goal. This time with his left foot, he shot on the turn and bent the ball round the defenders, leaving the Villa keeper helpless as he could only watch the ball fly into the far corner of the net.

Disappointingly, Mond conceded a late consolation goal. Slack marking from a corner saw Villa's Keefe head home unopposed.

Mond Rangers Res 4 Newton 1

LAST year's top goalscorer Andy Gott scored a superb hat-trick to give Mond an ideal start to the new season.

Gott opened his account with a delightful looping header from a long ball from Billy Burns and then put Mond two ahead after 25 minutes with an individual effort, going passed two defenders and hammering a powerful left foot shot into the bottom corner.

After the break Newton were given a lifeline when the referee awarded a penalty after the Newton forward stopped the ball and tumbled in the penalty area, this capped an afternoon of strange decisions from the referee but justice was done when the penalty hit the post and went wide.

Newton did get back into the game with a tremendous goal by Grady flicking the ball over a Mond defender and volleying home.

Mond restored their two goal lead when Bellfield put Gott clear and he completed his hat-trick.

Newton kept up the presure but debut boy Carl Greer rounded off the scoring with a well taken goal three minutes from time.

Last Monday, Mond Res beat Helsby Res 4-0. Andy Gott scored with a vicious drive from the edge of the area followed by a solo effort from Paul Dwyer who beat three defenders before roling the ball passed the helpless keeper.

Helsby were more 9in it in the second half but two goals in quick succession from Gott and Greer sealed Helsby's fate.

Mond Rangers were presented with a new kit by their sponsors Rocksavage Power Company. A top quality 'Prostar' kit made its debut at Capenhurst. The kit was supplied by local sports company Best Sports of Runcorn old town.

The first home game is Wednesday at 6.30pm against Helsby

ON August Bank Holiday there's a car boot sale at Pavilions in Sandy Lane between 10am and 4pm. To book a place ring 590508.

On Friday, September 1, Rod Looker, the former Wigan Casino allnighters DJ presents a motown and northern soul night at Pavilions. From 8pm till late.

Next Saturday Mond visit Vauxhall Motors in a first division game. Kick-off 3pm.

The reserves are at home to Willaston in a third division game, kick-off 3pm. The game is sponsored by Polar Ford, Victoria Road, Runcorn.

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