Council pitches stay open over festive period

Photo: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

MIDFIELD BATTLE: Uppermill’s Helen Clayton (right) tries to win possession against Middleton Ladies. PICTURES by CHRIS SUNDERLAND

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OLDHAM Council-owned football and rugby pitches WILL be available over Christmas and New Year — but there will be no changing facilities.

Contrary to an email which had been circulated stating that Council-run grounds will shut down on Monday, December 22, and re-open on Saturday, January 10, the department of Parks and Countryside say they will stay open.

However, as well as no changing accommodation, the Council will not carry out any Friday morning ground inspections for the weekends immediately following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

It means all teams must ensure that the referee inspects the pitch prior to kick-off.

Any team to have found to have played without permission of the official face a £50 fine.

The Oldham and Ashton Sunday leagues are expecting to resume their programmes on Sunday, January 4, and it was feared teams would be left kicking their heels when they could be fulfilling fixtures.

Normal service will be resumed on the weekend of January 10/11.




Gloom lifts over five-star Avro

Hollinwood 1, Avro 5

by JOHN GILDER

AVRO produced one of the upsets of the season so far in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division with an emphatic win over Hollinwood at Chapel Road.

The win, their first in the league since September 13, lifted Rob Fuller’s side out of the bottom four.

For Avro, it was a case of third time lucky against Hollinwood. In two previous meetings this season, the Chapel Road side had won 2-1 in the Gilgryst Cup and 4-1 in the league.

A perplexed Hollinwood manager Mark Howard said: “We were shocking.

“There was no desire and we didn’t deserve a thing out of the game.

“I don’t know why because this was the same team that had beaten Atherton last week.

“We made too many individual errors, whereas Avro played with passion and desire.”

Opposite number Fuller said: “We played some good stuff and you get the feeling that things are coming together now.

“The important thing is that the management set up is right and the club as a whole is on the up.”

Hollinwood lost ball-winner Alex Dodds in the 34th minute, the midfield man suffering a dislocated shoulder following an accidental collision.

Avro were already a goal to the good at that stage courtesy of Paul Armstrong as the hosts looked a pale shadow of the side that had stormed to within a few points of the top of the table.

Alan Beckett — who else — levelled matters on the hour mark when he converted a penalty.

But this was to prove a false dawn for Howard’s side as Avro ran in four goals to emerge comfortable victors.

Armstrong was on target again and there were two goals for substitute Steve Gavin, while Kyle White got the other.

Squads —

HOLLINWOOD: Potts, Booth, Smith, Dickinson, Hardicre, Hatton, Blundell, Dodds, Snowden, Beckett, McGrath. Subs: Brooks, Shepherd, Yates.

AVRO: Finch, Armstrong, Harris, Morris, Thornton, Hoskins, Cook, Moran, White, Fitzpatrick, Grimshaw. Sub: Gavin.




Fuller’s side face final reckoning
AVRO will meet Curzon Ashton reserves in the final of the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy next Thursday at Brantingham Road, Chorlton, (7pm).

Previous winners of the competition, Rob Fuller’s side are full of confidence after their magnificent 5-1 defeat of title hopefuls Hollinwood.

It promises to be an exciting clash, with Curzon’s reserve side emulating their senior team’s excellent FA Cup run, albeit at a much lower level.

Avro have beaten Wythenshawe, Pennington and Stand Athletic on their way to the final, and Fuller will have a large squad of players to choose from




Rockettes are aiming to hit the heights

Uppermill’s five-year plan completed ahead of schedule

UPPERMILL FC are gradually finding their feet in the West Riding Girls League.

The club boast a long tradition in boys and men’s football, but never before have they dipped their toe into the open age game for women.

The process started when they entered the Oldham Girls League under the Rockettes banner, with the ultimate aim of fielding an 11-a-side team at senior level.

Club officials set themselves five years to reach their goal, but such has been the response and dedication from players and officials, they are ahead of schedule.

Rockettes coach Simon Tait said: “We had devised a plan to set up an open age women’s football team, but it wasn’t supposed to happen for another two seasons.

“The idea was for the under-16s to filter through to under-18s football and then open age, but the demand was there already for a senior team so we had to go with it.

“We as a club were already affiliated to the West Riding County FA, so to join the West Riding Girls League fitted in nicely.

“We’ve played six games so far in division two. We’ve won one and lost the other five.

“It’s still early days and it always takes time for a new team to gel, but I’m sure results will start to pick up in the New Year.

“The girls are really focused and we’re delighted with their progress. They show a great attitude to training and in games.”

Tait is busy man. His primary role is youth development manager of Uppermill, and he also finds time to coach the under-16s girls side.

He assisted by Adam Wilson, who runs the men’s open age second team in the Huddersfield and District League as well as the under-15s.

They have 18 players signed on, and not all of them hail from the Uppermill area.

After attracting players from Middleton, Rochdale and Denton, some of girls got to know each other when they played in the Oldham Community Leisure Seven-a-side League at Chapel Road in the summer.

“Two of the girls, Katie Wretham and Helen Clayton, have come from our under-16s side,” added Tait who, alongside Wilson, oversee training one day a week at Breeze Hill School.

“Both have just turned 17 and play up front. They are really quick and, with more experience, I’m sure they will go on to score plenty of goals for us.”

Despite this being their debut season, the Rockettes have already gained a reputation for nurturing gifted players.

Midfielders Ashleigh Jackson and Caroline Pinches and forward Rebecca Fox have been picked for the West Riding County FA squad for this season after they were nominated by the club for trials.

Tait explained: “It basically means they are representing West Yorkshire.

“They are a real talented bunch and this is great opportunity for them to show what they can do. It’s also a real feather in the cap for the club.”

o FOR details on how to join Uppermill Rockettes (under-10s to open age), contact Simon Tait on 07974 231735.


Comeback show clinches points

ROYTON Town stayed in touch with the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League front-runners after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Atherton Town.

The Glebe Street outfit had to come from behind after the hosts had taken a second-minute lead.

Town were level just after the half-hour mark when Wayne Dean won the ball at the far post and Chris Mason was hand to fire home.

The goal lifted the visitors, who bossed the second half.

Town’s superiority was rewarded in the 64th minute after a superb piece of individual skill from Michael Moss.

He started the move when he retrieved possession on the half-way line before finishing it off by rounding the ’keeper and slipping the ball into an empty net.

Dean went close to adding a third when his curling effort came back off a post.

Leaders Springhead came within nine minutes of avenging their Gilgryst Cup defeat by Rochdale Sacred Heart.

The Ashfield Crescent outfit were smarting after losing 5-1 to Heart seven days earlier and were desperate to redress the balance.

They went in front when Scott Webster followed up Jack Zaman’s free-kick to score.

He should have added a second moments later, but dwelled on the ball which allowed the ’keeper to save.

This miss seemed to galvanise their hosts, who started to throw bodies forward in their search for an equaliser.

And Heart’s pressure paid off when they drew level after a goalmouth scramble.

Results are —

Premier division: Atherton Town 1, Royton Town 2; Breightmet United 3, Prestwich Heys 4; Chapel Town 1, Walshaw Sports 3; Elton Vale 1, East Manchester 0; Gregorians 2, Wythenshawe Amateurs 0; Hindsford 1, Leigh Athletic 1; Hollinwood 1, Avro 5; Pennington 1, Stockport Georgians 1; Rochdale Sacred Heart 1, Springhead 1.

Division two: Avro Res 2, Gregorians Res 3; Bury Amateurs Res 5, Hindsford Res 4; Dukinfield Town Res 2, Rochdale Sacred Heart Res 1; East Manchester Res 3, Walshaw Sports Res 1; Leigh Athletic Res P West Didsbury & Chorlton Res P; Monton Amateurs Res 2, Stockport Georgians Res 3; Prestwich Heys Res 0, Elton Vale Res 3; Springhead Res P Wythenshawe Amateurs Res P.

League Cup: Royton Town Res 2, Stand Athletic Res 4.

Division three: Beechfield United Res 3, Atherton Town Res 3; Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 3, Breightmet United Res 1; Gregorians ‘A’ 3, Hollinwood Res 2; Hollinwood ‘A’ P Wythenshawe Town Res P; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 2, Old Alts Res 3; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 0, Chapel Town Res 5.




ROYTON Town’s second string bowed out of the League Cup.

They were leading 2-1 thanks to goals from Jack Taylor and Andy Eastwood, but opponents Stand Athletic struck three times in quick succession to win 4-2.

Town’s young ’keeper Stuart McKusley enjoyed an excellent debut.

Avro’s second string lost 3-2 at home to Gregorians reserves in division two, while Hollinwood reserves went down by the same scoreline at Gregorians ‘A’ in division three.




DRAW takes United clear of the pack

JUST three games took place in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

The fixture programme was decimated by the weather, but the match between Oddies FC, formerly known as AFC Church, and Lowerhouse United did go ahead in the Jack Abbott premier division.

And United moved a point clear at the top of the table after a Nathan Eastmond goal clinched a 1-1 draw.

Westwood will be kicking themselves after they were held to a 3-3 draw by lowly Crompton and Royton in David Giblin division one.

A win would have lifted them to within a point of joint leaders Fitton Hill and Rose of Lancaster, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils instead.

But Steven Caine FC boosted their division two title hopes after a 4-0 win over North Star saw them cut Marvin Greenwood FC’s lead to a point.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: Oddies FC (formerly AFC Church) 1, Lowerhouse Utd 1 (N Eastmond).

David Giblin division one: Westwood 3 (S Uddin 3), Crompton & Royton 3.

Division two: Steven Caine FC 4, North Star 0.




THE entire fixture programme in the Ashton Sunday League was postponed because of the weather.



FAILSWORTH Dynamos kept up the pressure on Old Boltonians at the top of the Lancashire Amateur League premier division with a 1-0 win over Old Mancunians.

Dynamos narrowed the gap to six points after the pacesetters could only draw 2-2 at home to Horwich RMI.

Chaddertonians recorded only their third win in the league this season when they overcame Radcliffe Town 2-0.

Oldham Hulmeians produced a performance befitting the miserable weather as they went down 6-1 at Hesketh Casuals in division two.

Steve Shalmani cancelled out Hesketh’s opener, but the home side took the initiative thereafter.

Results are —

Premier division: Failsworth Dynamos 1, Old Mancunians 0; Radcliffe Town 0, Chaddertonians 2. Division one: Mostonians 6, Spotland Methodists 1; Thornleigh P Chaddertonians Res P. Division two: Hesketh Casuals 6, Oldham Hulmeians 1. Division three: Failsworth Dynamos Res P Old Mancunians Res P; Mostonians Res 10, Tottington United 1. Division five: Ashtonians Reserves P Mostonians ‘A’ P. Division six: Oldham Hulmeians Res P Broughton Amateurs ‘A’ P. Division seven: Chaddertonians ‘B’ 4, Rossendale Ams 0; Oldham Hulmeians ‘B’ P Bolton Wyresdale ‘B’ P.




Early double puts Heyside on back foot
HEYSIDE’S mini-revival came to an end when they went down 5-2 at Brook Motors in division three of the Huddersfield and District League.

After shipping two goals inside the first five minutes at the home of the league leaders, they always faced an uphill battle to make it three straight wins.

They conceded two more at the start of the second half but, despite being reduced to 10 men, they were handed a lifeline when Taylor struck twice in quick succession.

Heyside went on to hit the woodwork on three occasions, but a breakaway goal late on sealed their fate.

In reserve division one, Delph’s title hopes suffered a setback when they were beaten 2-1 by Meltham Athletic, but their ‘A’ team brushed aside Uppermill ‘A’ 4-1 in reserve division two.

Heyside boosted their goal-difference with a 12-0 demolition of Mount.

Partington stole the show, scoring five times, while Perry hit a hat-trick.

Hancock (two), Roye and Campbell got the other goals.

Results are —

Division one: Meltham Athletic P Uppermill P.

Division three: Brook Motors 5, Heyside FC 2.

Reserve division one: Diggle Res 1, Meltham Athletic Res 2.

Reserve division two: Heyside FC Res 12, Mount Res 0; Uppermill ‘A’ 1, Diggle ‘A’ 4.Quins held after Newby sees red




HOSTS Harlequin and Roca Juniors each had a man sent off as they fought out a 2-2 draw in the Rochdale On-line premier division.

The home side played some of their best football of the season in the first half and took a deserved lead when Tony Roberts volleyed home from 15 yards.

Roca had a defender dismissed for a professional foul, but they equalised against the run of play.

A tight second half saw Quins reclaim the lead when Roberts headed down for David Bates to sweep home.

But a red card for Jay Newby put Quins on the back foot and it was no surprise when Roca drew level with 10 minutes to go.


A SIMON Atkinson double lifted AFC Royton up to third place in division two.

He struck twice in the second half — his first effort was a long-range thunderbolt — in the 3-0 defeat of Pleasant. Marc Sneyd had put Royton ahead.