PUT IT THERE: Organiser Brian Haigh welcomes former Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Steve Daley (third, left) to Royton FC’s sportman’s dinner at St Anne’s Rugby League Club. Also pictured are Phil Haigh (left, first-team manager), Gary Leeming (chairman), Phil Dean (secretary), Chris Giblin (MC), John Barratt (press officer), David Whitehead (president) and Rod Highton (second-team manager).

ON PARADE: Bay Athletic captain Graham McLachlan (left), vice-president of the Works League, Neil Atkinson, and Uppermill skipper Chris Squibbs line up before the Hoyle Cup final at the Galpharm Stadium.

THERE is quite a tussle going on for runners-up spot in division two of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

Royton Athletic, Westwood FC and Parkside ended the season tied on 26 points.

It means all three teams are involved in a play-off to decide who claims second place behind FC Broadgate.

And, as it stands, Westwood are favourites to go up after beating Parkside 3-2 in the first play-off game.

They play Royton Athletic tomorrow night and victory would see them promoted.

If Athletic win, they they will require only a draw against Parkside on Tuesday to book a place in David Giblin division one next season.

Athletic made it a three-way tie after a Liam Siddall goal earned them a 1-0 win over FC Broadgate.

Meanwhile, goals from Carlton McKenzie and Alan Tyrell clinched a 2-0 win for Limeside Athletic against Railway FC, the champions, and runners-up spot in division three.

Steven Caine FC pushed Limeside all the way, and they completed their first league campaign with a 4-3 win at Rifle Range.

They will now switch their attention to Sunday’s Shield final, ironically against Limeside.

There is still everything to play for in David Giblin division one.

Although the title is decided — Failsworth Dynamos have been crowned champions — both Royton FC and Holts United can be promoted.

And they meet on Sunday. Victory for Royton would see them clinch second place, while a draw would force a play-off with AFC Church. As for Holts, only a win will earn them promotion.

It was definitely end-of-season stuff in the Jack Abbott premier division.

Failsworth Athletic, who could field only 10 men, went down 10-0 at High Crompton — the club’s heaviest defeat for 20 years.

And Chaddy End FC warmed up for tonight’s Challenge Cup final against Hunt Lane Tavern at Boundary Park (kick-off 7pm) with a 9-7 win over champions Legends of Lees.

Ryan Baldwin struck seven of the goals.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbot premier division: Chaddy End FC 9 (R Baldwin 7, J Greaves, D Caldicott), Legends of Lees 7 (R Casey 2, S Patterson 1, S Barrow, Ch Lees, K Melvin, M Pine); High Crompton CC 10 (D Mullholland 2, A Duffy 2, K Bocking, S Challinor, A Eastwood, D Higgs, A Smith, J Keating), Failsworth Athletic 0.

David Giblin division one: Fitton Hill Rangers 2 (D Crinnon, D Whip), Austerlands 1 (G Holt); Red Star 4 (S Shaw, R Hobin, M Buckley, P Burn), Royton FC 5 (G Townhill 3, R Quinlan 2).

Division two: Royton Athletic 1 (L Siddall), FC Broadgate 0.

Division three: Railway FC 0, Limeside Athletic 2 (C McKenzie, A Tyrell). Rifle Range 3 (M Howard, J Noicely, M Shepherd), Steven Caine FC 4 (P Jackson, Jamie Moss, James Kelly, Martin Gurr); Old Grey Mare 1 (C Johnson), Clarksfield 0; Wellington ‘B’ 1 (T Golding), Coppice Rangers 0 (T Gooding). MIDWEEK

Division two play-off: Westwood FC 3 (N Zamal, A Dafe, I Alam), Parkside 2 (J Stone, A Hall).

Jack Abbott premier division: Chaddy End FC 1 (D Dorward), Hunt Lane Tavern 0; Legends of Lees 1 (S Patterson), Hunt Lane Tavern 1 (M Jones).

David Giblin division one: Royton FC 3 (R Quinlan, C Ginniver, L Fletcher), Failsworth Dynamos 4 (L Mack 3, J Dillon); Fitton Hill Rangers 1 (J Fitton), Shaw FC 0; Royton FC 1 (G Townhill), Shaw FC 0.

Division three: Railway 3 (A Ross, L Baldwin, J Mackay), Coppice Rangers 1 (A Haydrian).


     

’Mill stay cool in shoot-out

UPPERMILL FC lifted the Hoyle Cup for the first time in their history after a nail-biting final against Bay Athletic at Huddersfield Town’s Galpharm Stadium.

The match finished goalless after extra time, but it was the club’s Works League team who held their nerve to win on penalties.

Uppermill came closest to breaking the deadlock in extra time when substitute Dave Taylor struck the underside of the crossbar with a long-range effort.

But penalties eventually decided the outcome and Uppermill kept their cool to win the shoot-out 4-2.

The first team ended the season on a high — by beating division one champions Heywood Irish Centre 2-1.

The win, thanks to goals from Dave Taylor’s scorching volley from outside of the penalty box and a Kris Ventriss effort, clinched runners-up spot.

Trailing 2-0 at the break against Wooldale Wanderers, Heyside hit back to draw level through J Cummins and C Taylor, but a breakaway goal in the last minute condemned them to a 3-2 defeat in this reserve division two clash.

However, they put their midweek setback behind them to record an emphatic 7-0 win over Slaithwaite. S Partington (three), N Dempsey (two), J Cummins and M Nolan got the goals.

Results are —

Division one: Uppermill 2, Heywood Irish Centre FC 1.

Reserve division one: Diggle Res 4, Heywood Irish Centre Res 0.

Reserve division two: Heyside FC Res 8, Slaithwaite Utd Res 0.




     

Fingers crossed for title seekers

AVRO will have their sights firmly fixed on Chapel Town’s home match against Monton Amateurs on Saturday.

Victory for either team will see them pip Simon Cooper’s side for the Manchester League division one title.

A draw would mean Avro, who are already promoted to the top flight, being crowned as champions.

Avro set up a thrilling last day with a 3-1 win over Manchester Juniors, a result which saw them leapfrog Elton Vale into first place.

Royton Town, meanwhile, will finish as the highest placed of our three local teams in the premier division.

They would have cemented third in the table with victory against Rochdale Sacred Heart, but a 4-4 draw means they can be caught by Atherton Town.

It was some comeback by Royton, who trailed 4-0 with only 15 minutes to go.

Tommy Bogan was the hero, first reducing the arrears before going to complete a superb four-timer to stun Sacred Heart.

Results are —

MIDWEEK

Premier division: Atherton Town 2, Walshaw Sports 2; Breightmet United 0, Prestwich Heys 3; Rochdale Sacred Heart 4, Royton Town 4; Stockport Georgians 1, Wythenshawe Amateurs 3.

Division one: Chapel Town 5, Old Alts 1.

Division two: Prestwich Heys Res 2, Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 0; Springhead Res P Elton Vale Res P.

SATURDAY

Premier division: AFC Blackley 3, Wythenshawe Amateurs 5; Irlam 0, Hindsford 1; Breightmet United 1, Pennington 9; East Manchester 3, Prestwich Heys 0; Leigh Athletic 0, Gregorians 1; Stockport Georgians 0, Atherton Town 0; Walshaw Sports 1, Wigan Robin Park 2.

Division one: Avro 3, Manchester Juniors 1; Fives Athletic 0, Monton Amateurs 1; Wilmslow Albion 3, Stand Athletic 6.

Division two: Irlam FC Res 2, Stockport Georgians Res 5; Monton Amateurs Res 1, Gregorians Res 2; Springhead Res 3, Leigh Athletic Res 3; Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 0, East Manchester Res 2.

Division three: Atherton Town Res 1, Milton Res 6; Chapel Town Res P Wythenshawe Town Res P; Leigh Athletic ‘A’ 3, Hollinwood Res 4.

Division four: Pennington Res 1, Wilmslow Albion Res 4; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 2, Irlam ‘A’ 0.


     

Champagne moment for jubilant Dynamos

FAILSWORTH Dynamos cracked open the champagne after winning back-to-back titles in the Lancashire Amateur League.

Dynamos defeated Thornleigh 3-0 to be crowned division one champions.

And it is some achievement from the club’s open age Saturday team, who won the division two title in their first season in the league only 12 months earlier.

o OLDHAM Hulmeians have beaten the drop after winning 5-2 at Accrington Amateurs on Tuesday night.

Hulmeians bounced back from their 7-0 defeat against Howe Bridge Mills on Saturday to secure their division two safety.

Simon Toms (two), Danny Proffitt (two) and Danny Tate got the goals..

The win saw Hulmeians climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of Bacup United, who were defeated by Horwich Victoria in their last game.

Meanwhile, Hulmeians Reserves remain rooted to the bottom of division five after a 3-2 loss at Ashtonians Reserves in their penultimate league game. Keith Ireland’s double strike had given them a 2-0 lead.


     

IT was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show for Chaddertonians.

In their match since lifting First XI Cup, they succumbed 5-1 at home to Old Boltonians in division one.

The reserve defeated Hesketh Casuals 4-2 in division one, but the ‘A’ team lost 6-0 at Rossendale Amateurs ‘A’ in division four and Chadds ‘B’ were beaten 3-0 by Broughton Amateurs in division seven.

Results are —

MIDWEEK

Division one: Little Lever SC Reserves 2, Chaddertonians Reserves 3.

Division two: Accrington Loyal Amateurs 2, Oldham Hulmeians 5.

SATURDAY

Premier division: Chaddertonians 1, Old Boltonians 5.

Division one: Chaddertonians Reserves 4, Hesketh Casuals 2; Failsworth Dynamos 3, Thornleigh 0.

Division two: Howe Bridge Mills 7, Oldham Hulmeians 0.

Division four: Rossendale Amateurs ‘A’ 6, Chaddertonians ‘A’ 0.

Division five: Ashtonians Reserves 3, Oldham Hulmeians Res 2; Radcliffe Boys Res 1, Mostonians ‘A’ 5.

Division seven: Chaddertonians ‘B’ 0, Broughton Amateurs ‘B’ 3.


     

AFC Oldham clinch division ‘E’ crown

THE wait is over. AFC Oldham 2005 ‘A’ have been crowned Lancashire and Cheshire League division ‘E’ champions.

After stalking the leaders for so long, they have finally moved into top spot and cannot be caught as their nearest rivals, Cheadle Hulme Villa ‘A’, have finished their fixtures.

AFC Oldham, meanwhile, still have to games to play and will look to end complete their championship-winning season in style.

The first team enjoyed a 6-4 win at home to Manchester Rovers in a battle of two mid-table teams, while Oldham Victoria wrapped up their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Heaton Mersey.

Vics’ second team were beaten 4-0 by Droylsden Amateurs reserves in their final match of the season in division ‘C’.

Results are —

Division two: AFC Oldham 2005 6, Manchester Rovers 4; Oldham Victoria 1, Heaton Mersey 1.

Division ‘C’: Oldham Victoria IIs 0, Droylsden Amateurs IIs 4.

Division ‘E’: Newton ‘A’ 2, AFC Oldham 2005 ‘A’ 2.

Under-18s division: Chadderton Juniors 1, Denton West End 0.


     

AFC ROYTON, of the Rochdale On-line Alliance, bowed out of the C Potts Cup at the semi-final stage.

They were beaten 4-2 by Farewell, despite leading at half-time through a Scott Greenwood double. Farewell equalised with 15 minutes to go, before two late goals ended Royton’s hopes of reaching the final.


     

KELLY Sessman, Lisa Jones and Yvette Brooksbank got the goals as Oldham Athletic defeated Droylsden 3-0 in the Cheshire and Manchester Women’s League.

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