REPORT: Squires Gate 0-3 Charnock Richard

Squires Gate’s six game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Charnock Richard on Boxing Day.

Gate started the game unchanged after Saturday’s win against Irlam and welcomed back striker Ric Seear from suspension onto the bench.

Charnock opened the scoring after hitting Gate on the counter after 11 minutes. The visitors burst clear after clearing Gate’s corner and found striker Carl Grimshaw in the box who made no mistake to fire past Ben Fletcher.

Gate had the chance to level the game on 20 minutes but Riccardo Egidi’s ball into the box was cleared before James Boyd could meet it.

Gate had calls for a penalty turned down after Grimshaw bundled over Ben Reader in the box after Gate’s corner was cleared.

Carl Grimshaw has the chance to double his and Charnock’s tally for the afternoon when he was found in the box after Joe Noblet was allowed too much time to find a cross, but the big striker fired wide and over.

Half time: Squires Gate 0-1 Charnock Richard

Charnock added a second goal nearly straight from kick off. Winger Woods found Grimshaw in the box and again the striker made it look too easy firing past Ben Fletcher.

Gate’s best effort came from distance as Sam Staunton-Turner struck from outside the box but he couldn’t test the visiting keeper, who had a quiet day.

A freekick just outside the box in a good position for Gate again couldn’t test the Charnock shot stopper who easily caught the shot.

Charnock again hit Gate on the break two minutes from full time to secure the three points and a hatrick from Carl Grimshaw. He was again found in the box capitalising on a Ben Reader slip.

Gate are next in action on Saturday when we host Whitchurch Alport for the first ever time.

Gate: Fletcher, Gray, Reader, Bamba, Sumner, Ing, Staunton-Turner, Mullen, Salthouse, Boyd, Egidi. Subs: Charnley, Riley, Seear.

Report by Mark Ashmore