AT THE READY: Jake Buckley (left), captain of Steven Caine FC, and opposite number Jason Barker, of Limeside Athletic, show off the division three shield.

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL: Royton and Crompton celebrate division two shield success.

AVRO came within five minutes of being crowned Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League division one champions.

A draw between Chapel Town and Monton Amateurs in the last match of the season would have handed Simon Cooper’s side the title.

And with game entering its final stages Avro, who were already promoted to the top flight, had one hand on the coveted piece of silverware.

But Chapel scored a second goal late on to clinch a 2-1 win and snatch the championship away from Avro’s grasp.

“I ‘m sure I would have coped picking up the trophy in front of so many people,” said Cooper, the outgoing manager.

“Considering we lost four of our first six matches, it was a fantastic achievement to get so close.

“It has been a great effort from all 30 players in the squad and only a handful are over 30.

‘It’s also a great set up at The Lancaster Club — the facilities are second to none — so the foundations are in place for a bright future.”

Despite the team’s success in bouncing straight back into the premier division, Cooper is heading for new pastures.

He will be in charge of a Failsworth Dynamos reserve team in the Lancashire Amateur League next season.

Cooper added: “I would like to thank the players for their hard work and also Dave Moxon, the secretary. He has done a brilliant job and has helped me enormously over the season.”

Meanwhile, Springhead, who were already safe from relegation from the top-flight, finished their season on a positive note with a 3-0 win over fourth-placed Atherton Town.

Results are —

Premier division: Atherton Town 3, Gregorians 2; Breightmet United 1, Wigan Robin Park 4; Hindsford 0, Leigh Athletic 6; Stockport Georgians 0, Prestwich Heys 1.

Division one: Chapel Town 2, Monton Amateurs 1; Salford Victoria 4, Fives Athletic 3.

Division two: Dukinfield Town Res 3, Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 0; East Manchester Res 4, Breightmet United Res 0; Springhead Res 1, Monton Amateurs Res 1.

Division three: Leigh Athletic ‘A’ 5, Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 0.

Division four: Wilmslow Albion Res 1, Irlam FC ‘A’ 1.

MIDWEEK

Premier division: Springhead 3, Atherton Town 0.

Division two: Monton Amateurs 1, Avro; Stockport Georgians 3, Springhead 1.

Gilgryst Cup final: Wigan Robin Park 3, Leigh Athletic 3 aet — Wigan Robin Park won 4-2 on penalties.


     

Captain at sharp end of Caine’s glory

STEVEN Caine FC completed their first season in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League on a high note.

They enjoyed an emphatic 6-1 win over Limeside Athletic in the division three shield final at Chadderton FC’s Broadway ground.

Captain Jake Buckley, with a hat-trick, was the star of the show, while Carl Caffery, John Kaminski and Neil Hardman helped themselves to the other goals in a one-sided encounter.

The division two shield final proved a disappointing affair, especially for FC Broadgate.

They were chasing a trophy double, but ended up losing 1-0 to Crompton and Royton. David Thomas scored the all-important goal.

Meanwhile, the league is facing a dilemma after the division two round-robin play-off, which featured three teams, ended with one win apiece.

A win or a draw for Royton Athletic on Tuesday night would have seen them finish as runners-up, but instead they lost 2-0 to Parkside.

Athletic had earlier beaten Westwood FC — the other promotion hopefuls — 3-2.

The goal of the game came from Athletic ’keeper Aaron Barclay, whose 75-yard punt upfield found its way into the Westwood net. Daniel Wilkinson weighed in with the other two.

Westwood had beaten Parkside in the first play-off match last week.

And a play-off will be required to decide who wins promotion to the Jack Abbott premier division.

It will be between AFC Church and Royton FC after the latter drew 4-4 with Holts United. The game will take place on Sunday.

Results and scorers are —

Division two play-off: Royton Athletic 3 (D Wilkinson 2, A Barclay), Westwood FC 2 (U Dafe, M Rahman); Parkside 2 (B Fothergill, J Stone), Royton Athletic.

Division three shield final: Limeside Athletic 1 (A Hamilton), Steven Caine FC 6 (J Buckley 3, C Caffery, J Kaminski, N Hardman).

Division two shield final: FC Broadgate 0, Crompton and Royton 1 (D Thomas).

David Giblin division one: Holts United 4, Royton FC 4.


     

TONIGHT sees the President’s Trophy final between Hunt Lane Tavern and Royton FC (kick-off 6.30pm).

Chaddy End FC, who lifted this season’s Challenge Cup, meet Failsworth Athletic in the Premier division shield on Sunday (2.30pm), while Holts United tackle Failsworth Dynamos in the division one shield (11.30am).

All matches take place at Chadderton FC.


     

Dave is Lord of the House

DIVISION one outfit Thatched House upset the odds by lifting the Ashton Sunday League’s Vic Marsden Trophy.

They defeated Halfway House, top-dogs in the premier division, 1-0 in the final at the Tameside Stadium.

Dave Lord hit the all-important goal in the second half. Halfway defender Matt Dickinson was named man of the match.

There was ample consolation for the beaten finalists in the form of clinching the premier division title following a 4-2 defeat of Moston Labour Club in midweek.

Damian Blundell notched a hat-trick and John Parkinson got the other goal.

Moston LC remain favourites for the runners-up spot after they bounced back with a 2-0 win over Houghton Arms. Matt Watson and Dave Young were the marksmen.

Latest results are —

Premier division: Halfway House 0, Warwick United 5; Springbank 0, Horseshoe 4; Moston LC 1, Springbank 0; Horseshoe 3, Springbank 4; Halfway House 4, Moston LC 2; Moston LC 2, Houghton Arms 0.

Division one: Bridge 5, Wellington 0; Thatched House 1, Bridge 1; Royley Athletic 0, Falconers 2; Royley Athletic 0, Dog and Partridge 5; Thatched House 7, Dog and Partridge 2.


     

Rochdale On-line Alliance

HARLEQUIN wrapped up their first campaign in the Rochdale On-line Alliance premier division with a 3-1 win over Littleborough.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, they came back strongly in the second half thanks to goals from Tony Butler, Jon Bland and Jordan Prince,

o SIMON Atkinson scored a hat-trick for AFC Royton, who defeated Donkey Dodgers 7-0 in division two.

Danny Cole (two), Ryan King and Scott Greenwood completed the tally.


     

Thrilling finish to season

AFC OLDHAM 2005 ‘A’, the champions, completed their Lancashire and Cheshire League division ‘E’ campaign with a thrilling 5-5 draw against Burnage Metro ‘C’.

In division two, the first team signed off with a 5-1 defeat of Moorside Rangers.

Results are —

Division two: AFC Oldham 2005 5, Moorside Rangers 1.

Division ‘E’: Burnage Metro ‘C’ 5, AFC Oldham 2005 ‘A’ 5.


     

Pride in cup final defeat for Heyside

HEYSIDE Angels Ladies can reflect on their West Riding Girls League Cup campaign with a great deal of pride despite suffering an agonising defeat in the final.

Michelle Cooper’s side went down 3-2 against Morley Spurs at Ossett Albion FC.

Behind to a seventh-minute goal, Rachael Davies, who had earlier hit the crossbar, levelled for Heyside 60 seconds later.

Helen Smith, the smallest player on the pitch, then headed the local side in front and, at that stage, they were were dreaming of cup glory.

But Morley were level before the break — vigorous appeals for offside turned down — and the Leeds-based club nosed ahead from a disputed penalty in the 67th minute.

Heyside did not give up without a fight and piled forward in search of an equaliser, but their strenuous efforts were in vain.

Buoyed by their performance, they inflicted the first defeat of the season on champions Dearne and District Ladies.

This time Heyside won 3-2, with the diminutive Smith scoring all three goals.


     

Girls eye silverware

OLDHAM Athletic Girls under-14s Blue have one eye on the Oldham Girls League Cup.

They defeated Heyside Angels Clarets 2-0 in the last four — Lauren Steel and Courtney Hunter got the goals — and they will now meet Rochdale in the final.

The other under-14s team ended their season with a 7-0 win over Uppermill Rockettes ‘A’

Shelby Newton scored four times, with Yasmin Deane, Loren Scholey and Hayley Coombes getting the other goals.


     

DESPITE efforts from Ross Morrison (two), Marcus Reid and Lewis Ryan, Heyside Juniors lost 8-4 to Middleton Juniors in the Rochdale and Oldham Youth League.

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