TIM Maxwell pulled off another great escape to beat Simon Forrest in the first round of the Manchester Alliance Matchplay Championship.

The Mottram Hall tournament professional is making a habit of sudden-death showdowns over his home course and was starring defeat in the face when his Styal opponent missed a six footer to clinch the match on the penultimate hole.

"It looked all over because I was pulled up short of the green but I chipped stone dead for a birdie then Simon let me off the hook by failing to sink his putt.

"I then birdied the last to level and settled it at the first play-off hole," said Maxwell who last month ago ousted M.E.N. Manchester Open winner Jon Cheetham from the Cheshire Matchplay Championship at the seventh extra hole.

That equalled his PGA North Region record he set with Welshman Matthew Ellis in the Daily Telegraph Fourball Championship at Wychwood Park last summer.

"I'm certainly cutting it fine these days," said Maxwell who next meets Forrest's assistant Glynn Traynor in the second round.

But before then he has a date with High Legh Park's Anthony Sproston in the Cheshire final later this month.

No advantage

"I'm at home again but that is not such a big advantage because most professionals round here play my course regularly," he added.

And Sproston fired a warning shot at his opponent by despatching Davyhulme amateur Mike Wallwork seven and six in the Alliance knockout after walloping Holyhead's Steve Elliott by a similar margin in the Cheshire event.

Bramhall amateur Gareth Bradley was denied the chance to meet Cheetham in the Alliance matchplay because the Mobberley professional is trying to win a Malaysia Tour card.

"He had to withdraw which gave me a walkover but I would have much sooner played him," said Bradley who has a home date with Shrigley Hall assistant David Wade.

Didsbury pro Peter Barber, who won the title for a record seventh time last season, edged through on the final green against Sale's Peter Mackenzie and has drawn Cheadle's Scott Booth away in the next round.

SECOND ROUND DRAW: R Green (Bramhall) v A Stevens (Shrigley Hall); A Sproston (High Legh Park) v D Green (Denton); G Bradley (Bramhall) v D Wade (Shrigley Hall); S Booth (Cheadle) v P Barber (Didsbury); T Maxwell (Mottram Hall) v G Traynor (Styal); J Murphy (Shrigley Hall) v A Cuppello (Brookdale); G Norcott (Davenport) v D Fitzgerald (Shrigley Hall); J Curtis (Northenden) v M Hollingworth (Denton).

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