Dan's The Man to Set Reds on Their Way

Another fantastic midfield display from Dan Mahaffy helped The Non-League reds secure their place in Round 2 of the NWCFL Marcon Cup.

Caleb Jones had the first effort of the match in the 3rd minute, forcing a fine save from South Liverpool's keeper Lucas Allan. However, only a few minutes later it was AFC who broke the deadlock. Cam Rooney did well to win back possession on the halfway line and play it into feet for Adam Moorcroft. The skipper held it up well and knocked it back to Harry Wright-Ocana, who played the ball inside to Joel Skillen. Joel played a great pass to Dan Mahaffy on the right hand edge of the penalty area which he controlled well before firing a shot that went in off the far post to give AFC the lead.

Dan Mahaffy strikes to make it 1-0

The lead could and perhaps should have been extended just two minutes later, when Cam Rooney played a fine through ball to put Skillen one on one with the keeper, but his effort was well saved.

Joel Skillen denied by the keeper

On 17 minutes, Weaver went close for South but was denied by Barnes diving low to his right. A minute later and Caleb jones was denied again by another save from the home keeper. In the 34th minute, South went close from a corner following a goalmouth scramble, but the resulting effort went well wide of the target. Adam Moorcroft then went close with an effort from outside the area which again brough a good save from Lucas Allan. However, the skipper wasn't to be denied and on 42 minutes Matty Brown looped a cross into the area, which Caleb Jones managed to knock back across for Moorcroft to confidently fire home.

Adam Moorcroft makes it two

The home side almost got back in the game right on half-time, but Declan Gallagher's excellent free-kick crashed against the crossbar and went behind, meaning that The Non-League Reds went into the break with a two goal advantage.

Relief for AFC as the free-kick hits the bar

Weaver again went close for South Liverpool in the opening minutes of the 2nd half, sending his shot from inside the area well wide. Caleb Jones fired a free-kick well over the bar on 57 minutes, as both sides looked for the crucial next goal. In the 77th minute, Adam Moorcroft almost put the result beyond doubt, when he won possession back from a South defender and ran through on the keeper. He took a side-footed effort from the edge of the box that went past Allan but also went agonisingly past the wrong side of the post. The goal that did put the contest to bed eventually came in the 85th minute. Great work down AFC's right resulted in Paddy Davies crossing for Liam Paton to finish and make it 3-0.

Davies & Paton combine well for the third

Three minutes into added on time, Wright-Ocana was adjudged to have brought down Gallagher in the area. Weaver stepped up to grab South a consolation goal, but it was AFC who held on comfortably for a 3-1 success. Their reward for coming through the 1st round local derby clash, is another juicy all local encounter against Maghull. The tie is due to be played at The Berry Street Garage Stadium on Friday 10th October.

There's midweek action this week, as The Non-League Reds face a tough trip to West Didsbury & Chorlton. The match takes place on Wednesday evening, with a 7:45pm kick off.

FINAL SCORE - South Liverpool 1 v 3 AFC Liverpool

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Brown 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Lancaster

7. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Moorcroft (c) 10. Rooney 11. Skillen

Subs used - Paton, Davies, Jamieson, Foy

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams

and Billy Stirrup