A cut above the rest

Photo: Tim France

THAT’S MINE: Paul Stevenson, of Steven Caine FC, has sights fixed on the ball. PICTURES by TIM FRANCE

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Buckley hat-trick makes it a bad hair day for Wellington

Steven Caine FC 5, Wellington ‘A’ 1

STEVEN Caine FC were D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Challenge Cup giant-killers after sweeping aside Wellington at Royton and Crompton.

Jake Buckley was the architect of Wellington’s downfall, scoring a hat-trick for the division two side in this first-round replay.

But Caine can consider themselves lucky to have got another bite at the cherry as, at one stage in the first tie, they trailed 4-1 to the David Giblin division one outfit.

Caine assistant manager George Douse said: “We were a different team in terms of performance, even though we used the same squad of players.

“In the first game, I wouldn’t say that we were down and out but it was one of those matches where Wellington had four chances and took them all.

“The result of the replay was never in doubt after we had built up a two-goal lead early on through Jake.

“He is a terrific player and it is good to have him back after a long injury lay-off.”

Buckley struck in the 10th and 16th minutes before completing his treble 10 minutes into the second half.

Wellington pulled a goal back through Adam Biggins with 15 minutes remaining, but further goals from man-of-the-match Chris Pauley and Paul Bright put the outcome beyond doubt.

Caine is one of the more unusual names in the Oldham Sunday League, the club title originating from the hairdressing partnership of Steven Palmer and Jason Caine.

And, by a quirk of fate, they have been drawn in the second round against the only other team in the league with a forename and surname in its title — Marvin Greenwood FC.

It should be a cracking encounter as both sides are going great guns at the top of the table.

STEVEN CAINE FC: Wheeldon, Moss, Pauley, Stott, Pine, Gurr, Palmer, Hardman, Buckley, Stevenson, Bright. Subs: Corbett, Hursthouse, Twigg.

WELLINGTON: M Knowles, Turner, Wardle, Standring, Burke, Connor, Biggins, Corcoran, Waterworth, K Knowles, Kirwin. Sub: Leech.

Referee: J Keast.

*THE Challenge Cup tie between Steven Caine FC and Wellington ‘A’ was the only game to go ahead in the Oldham Sunday League.

All fixtures in the Ashton Sunday League were postponed.


Poulter’s changes inspire Uppermill

MANAGER Matt Poulter must have felt pretty pleased with himself after watching Uppermill beat Heywood Irish Centre 2-1 in division one of the Huddersfield and District League.

Poulter made three changes to the starting XI that lost 2-0 to Newsome WMC — and they all played their part in securing the team’s third league success of the season.

Byron Coleman and Joe Rigby, who had both been promoted from the reserves, combined to put Uppermill ahead, the former providing the finishing touch to a flowing move.

Heywood drew level from the penalty spot, but Kriss Ventriss, who was returning to the side after injury, raced clear moments later to score the match-winning goal.

Diggle FC made it two wins on the trot as they overcame Hepworth United 2-1.

Steve Southern’s side were full value for their two-goal lead at the break.

Lee Clarke put the visitors in front, sweeping the ball home from Wayne Broadbent’s low cross, before Gareth Goddard added a second with a sublime free-kick from 30 yards.

Diggle didn’t have things all their own way after the break, but solid defending and a fine display from ’keeper Gareth McWatt kept Hepworth at bay.

The home side eventually found a way through with two minutes to go, but it was too little too late.

Diggle ‘A’ enjoyed a 5-1 victory at Mount in reserve division two, and Heyside recorded a second consecutive win when they defeated Scholes 4-2.

Leading 2-1 at the interval courtesy of R Headon’s double, the player went on to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot, before Scholes reduced the deficit once more.

But Heyside had the last say thanks to S Partington’s strike 10 minutes from time.

Results are —

Division one: Hepworth Utd 1, Diggle 2; Heywood Irish Centre FC 1, Uppermill 2.

Division three: Heyside FC P Skelmanthorpe P.

Reserve division one: Diggle Res P Netherton Res P; Uppermill Res P Berry Brow Lib Res P.

Reserve division two: Mount Res 1, Diggle ‘A’ 5; Scholes Res 2, Heyside FC Res 4; Uppermill ‘A’ P Wooldale Wanderers Res P.




Town stung by late strike

ROYTON Town threw away a golden chance to go third in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League premier division.

In a thoroughly entertaining game, the Glebe Street outfit conceded a goal in the second minute of stoppage time as they were held to a 3-3 draw at Prestwich Heys.

Town started brightly and went ahead through Ian Hulme, who converted from the penalty spot after a foul on Wayne Dean.

Heys levelled before half-time and then went in front.

But Andrew Wade restored parity immediately — he fired home from just outside the 18-yard area — and in a complete turnaround Dean capitalised on a slip by a defender to put Town in the ascendancy.

However, all their hard work was undone as, deep into injury time, a moment of madness allowed Prestwich to grab an unlikely share of the spoils.

Avro will be in good heart for tonight’s Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy final against Curzon Ashton at Brantingham Road, Chorlton, (7pm) after they defeated Atherton Town 2-1.

Rob Fuller’s side were making it back-to-back wins after their 5-1 demolition of Hollinwood seven days earlier.

But it was another disappointing afternoon for Hollinwood, who have slipped to fifth in the table after a 2-0 defeat at Stockport Georgians.

Springhead, the leaders, were due to visit Steeton FC, near Halifax, in the West Riding Challenge Cup, but the tie was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

The match has been re-arranged for this weekend.

Results are —

MCFA Amateur Cup: Chorltonians 1, Heywood St James 7; Droylsden Amateurs P East Manchester Res P; Gorse Hill Athletic 3, Avro Res 5; Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 2, Gregorians Res 3.

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

Division two: Bury Amateurs Res P Prestwich Heys Res P; Dukinfield Town Res 3, Stockport Georgians Res 0; Elton Vale Res 0, Walshaw Sports Res 1; Hindsford Res 1, Monton Amateurs Res 1; West Didsbury & Chorlton Res 0, Springhead Res 2.

Division three: Atherton Town Res 4, Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 2; Beechfield United Res 1, Chapel Town Res 4; Breightmet United Res P Gregorians ‘A’ P; Royton Town Res P Hollinwood ‘A’ P; Stand Athletic Res P Stockport Georgians ‘A’ P; Hollinwood Res 7, Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 1.

o THE Avro club had to plenty to celebrate on Saturday.

As well as another win for the first team, the reserves overcame Gorse Hill Athletic 5-3 in the MCFA Amateur Cup competition.