Cheshire Amateur Cup Quarter Finals

Linotype AFC 0

General Chemicals FC 1

THE Chemics travelled to Altrincham in good spirits, with the news that manager Jimmy Williams had been awarded the Manager of the Month for January.

This prestigious award is given by the West Cheshire League for the most successful manager in the entire league on a monthly basis.

The Chemics have actually not dropped a point in the league and won every cup-tie for over three months, quite an impressive record.

Even the might of Mid-Cheshire League high-fliers, Linotype, did not take away this record, as Chemics beat them 1-0 in a nail-biting match.

Linotype are a very good side and had already seen off two West Cheshire Division One clubs - perhaps they had underestimated Gen Chems. This was to prove very costly to them.

The game started at a fast pace and after 12 minutes came the crucial goal, as once again the speedy Steve Arnold ran at the home sides' defence to see his shot deflected to Lee Gray who was pleased to prod the ball home.

The Chemics' goalkeeper then went on to give a performance which earned him the man of the match. He was assisted by the power of Mark Robinson and skills of Peter Duffy in front of him but Hughson, who was returning from a knee injury, kept a clean sheet.

Mark Ingham and Mark Cahill were also dominant in midfield, skipper Gary Moore (suspended) was not missed in this area.

In the second-half, for the final 15 minutes, Linotype had a string of corners as they frantically searched for an equaliser, these were all defended well, with Robinson doing acrobatics to keep one chance out of the net.

There was some respite as Pete Houghton's strength took him past the home sides back four and he powered a shot just over the bar.

Steve Arnold then found himself clear with only the keeper to beat but he was tripped from behind by the Linotype centre-half who was quite rightly sent off for his sins.

There then came the celebrations as Chemics fans and officials applauded the victory. The semi-final will be played at Runcorn FC's ground and Poulton Vics will be the opponents. This obviously will be another hard game for the Chemics, however, having won three of the previous four ties against good opposition, and away from home, they will not be frightened of anyone.

Chemics' sponsors are Maltacourt, they were at the match and will be well pleased with their team's performance. This week's tote winner was P Owen with number 190. Next week the Chemics visit Halton Borough in the quarter-finals of the Runcorn Cup. Chemics young full-back, Jamie Blackhall, has been selected to play for the Cheshire Youth team.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.