Coppice find room at the top

LOWERHOUSE United have been reined in by Coppice United at the top of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Jack Abbott premier division table.

In the battle of the top two teams, Coppice emerged 2-1 winners, although Lowerhouse remain at the head of affairs by virtue of a superior goal difference.

The result also satisfied both third-placed Royton FC — they defeated Failsworth Athletic 4-0 — and Chaddy End FC, who are four points off the pace but possess games in hand aplenty.

Fitton Hill and Rose of Lancaster are neck-and-neck in David Giblin division one.

Hill were beaten 5-4 by improving Parkside, while four goals from Darren Scanlan helped Lancaster to a 5-3 win over Crompton and Royton.

Westwood are up to fifth after a 4-2 win at Royton Athletic, but the wait goes on for Springhead Libs, who remain pointless after an agonising 3-2 defeat at Red Star.

Khartoum Northern, who are hot on the heels of the front two, were involved in the Challenge Cup, where they swept aside FC Broadgate 8-1.

In the only other cup-tie to go ahead, Old Grey Mare overcame division two rivals Waggon and Horses 4-2.

Both fixtures in division two were postponed.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: AFC Church 5 (P Dolmor, M Casson 4), High Crompton CC 3 (A Duffy 2, D Mulholland); FC Royton 4 (S Conroy, W Dean, R Siddall, G Townhill), Failsworth Athletic 0; Avro under-19s 4, Hunt Lane 5 (C Duxbury 2, W Moran, P Jackson, K Kurpas); Lowerhouse Utd 1, Coppice United 2; Chaddy End FC P Failsworth Dynamos P.

David Giblin division one: Parkside 5 (J Stone 3, L Hargreaves, A Cooney), Fitton Hill 4 (A Brown 3, C Buckley); Red Star 3 (M Booth, P Shaw, M Shaw), Springhead Libs 2 (A Smith, S Kelly); Rose of Lancaster 5 (D Scanlan 4, L Scanlan), Crompton and Royton 3 (G Greenwood 3); Royton Athletic 2 (A Clegg, A Fricker), Westwood 4 (A Dafe, A Amin, S Uddin, N Ramfi).

Division two: Limeside Athletic P Marvin Greenwood FC P; Oldham United P Coppice Rangers P.

Challenge Cup: Khartoum Northern 6 (P Simpson, K Radcliffe, A Murdoch 2, M Hearne, R Radcliffe), FC Broadgate 1 (L Berry); Wellington ‘A’ P Steven Caine FC ‘P’; Waggon and Horses 2 (L Pope, D Ransted), Old Grey Mare 4 (J Buckley, N Jones, B Scholes, A Roebuck).