Royton secure bragging rights

ROYTON Town turned the form book upside down in midweek with a superb 5-2 away win at near-neighbours Springhead in the Manchester League Premier Division.

Michael Moss and Tommy Bogan gave Royton a two-goal first-half advantage before Springhead roared back to level with ten minutes of the restart.

Ian Hulme made amends for his weekend penalty miss by restoring Town’s lead and it was left to Moss to wrap things up as he completed his hat-trick.

Springhead had earlier maintained their good start to the season against Stockport Gregorians but were forced to settle for a point on a frustrating day for the local side.

Gareth Shaw and Frankie Byrne both went agonisingly close to giving Springhead the lead and it was against the run of play that Gregorians went in front with their only serious attack of the first half.

Springhead continued to dominate possession in the second half but found Stockport difficult to break down and there were only 10 minutes remaining when substitute Richard Ferguson grabbed a deserved equaliser with a glorious 25 yard free kick.

Royton Town had previously suffered another reverse at high-flying newcomers to the Premier Division, going down 3-0 at Elton Vale, Bury.

Town were two goals down at the interval, although Carl Taylor was unlucky with a shot which clipped a post and he might have had two penalties.

Despite dominating the second period, Town could not make the breakthrough and were punished 12 minutes from time when Elton broke away to slot in their third goal.

Ian Hulme had a chance to pull one back for Town in the 81st minute but put the ball over the bar from the penalty spot after Wayne Dean had been brought down.




OLDHAM Athletic’s Community Trust is delighted by the success of its 3 v Free football sessions.



Since the initiative, which also has been supported by Oldham Community leisure, Oldham Youth Service, Groundworks and Oldham Partnership. kicked off on the Grange Astroturf pitch in Coldhurst in July, almost 50 youngsters have been attending the twice-weekly sessions.

Youngsters aged between 11 and 16 years are able to enter a team and play a series of three-a-side games.

The matches include bonus points for trick goals and other pieces of skill like nutmegs.

There is also an opportunity for youngsters to learn freestyle football skills with Athletic coaches Craig Gorey and James Hepworth.

The innovative style of informal street football has helped keep children off the streets on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Trust official James Mwale said: “With this new format of street football, we will be able to work within different areas of Oldham in the future and engage with young people during evenings by providing something different for them to do.”




OLDHAM Hulmeians repeated their 3-3 draw of the opening weekend as they earned a point at Accrington Amateurs in the Lancashire Amateur League.



Goals from Danny Proffitt (2) and Dave Matthews made it two draws out of two in the second division.

In midweek, Hulmeians went out of the first teams’ league cup competition with a 3-1 defeat at Mostonians. Danny Tate scored for the visitors.