Battling Avro soar into final

HIGH FLYER: Springhead striker Leighton Stephenson (right) is beaten to the ball.

Springhead 1, Avro 2

FOOTBALL: TWO set-piece goals against gritty Springhead ensured Avro’s passage to the Manchester League’s Gilgryst Cup final.

Avro will now meet Royton Town – who overcame Dukinfield Town in the other semi-final – at Hyde FC’s Ewen Fields stadium on May 18.

Avro manager Rob Fuller said: “It was a typical semi-final and the pitch was a bit of a leveller, but we battled well and deserved the victory. We are looking forward very much to the final. It should be a great game of football.”

Fuller’s references to the Ashfield Crescent playing surface at Springhead were matched by the home side’s manager, Lee McAllister..

“Our focus now is on the league because we certainly don’t want to be finishing in the bottom three,” he said.

In-form Avro were expected to register a comfortable victory against struggling Springhead, but the goalless scoreline at the break reflected the evenness of the two sides, allied to the nature of the pitch.

Avro stormed ahead just a minute after the restart as a sweet, 20-yard strike from Mike Barnes-Gott fizzed into the net. Another free-kick around the Springhead penalty area brought about the second goal for Avro 10 minutes later.

There was hope for Springhead with 15 minutes to go when Leighton Stephenson rose highest to nod home a Dale Jackman flag-kick. In that last period of the game, when Paul Stevenson’s shot was cleared off the line, Springhead showed the spirit required if they are to be playing Manchester League top-flight football next season.