Cup shock as Stephen strikes

FOOTBALL: RAIN, rain go away! That was the cry from players and officials alike after the Midas Plumbing and Heating Oldham Sunday League was hit by another deluge.

Only a handful of matches went ahead, and there was a shock in round three of the Challenge Cup when

Royton Athletic - second-bottom in Martin Buckley Division Two - beat David Giblin Division One

outfit Limeside Athletic 4-2.

Stephen Palfreyman did the damage, notching a superb hat-trick, while Danny Oatway got the other goal. Jimmy Winterbottom and Adam Stokes replied.

In an all-Premier Division tie, Jason Hill scored twice for Crompton House Old Boys in a 3-2 defeat of Failsworth Athletic.

Al Amin, Abdul Hussain and Redwanul Hoque were on the mark as Westwood, who are second in Division One, won 3-1 at a determined Alt Athletic side, from Division Three.

Both Division Two Shield ties went ahead — and both were decided on penalties.

Manchester Swifts overcame All Stars and White Hart beat Springhead Libs ‘B’, the spot-kick shoot-outs finishing 5-4.

The only other fixture to get the green light saw Jack Abbott Premier Division team Rifle Range ‘A’ lose 2-1 at Chaddy End Old Boys in the North-West Champion of Champions’ Cup. See John Gilder’s Match of the Day.



ROYTON Town are riding high in the FBT Manchester League Premier Division.

A battling 2-0 win at home to lowly Rochdale Sacred Heart saw Mark Howard’s men climb to the top of the table.

The result, thanks to goals from Carl Caffrey and Wayne Dean, stretched Town’s unbeaten record to nine matches.

Hindsford started the day at the summit, but they slipped to second place after losing 3-1 at East Manchester.

Springhead and Avro were both frustrated by the elements, as were Hollinwood and Uppermill in Division One.