Chadds close in on final

CHADDERTONIANS are one game away from a first appearance in the Lancashire FA Cup final.

A superb 5-1 win over Rhoden Inn has set up a semi-final showdown with either Preston Wanders or Hooley Bridge Celtic on January 12 at a neutral venue.

They have already created club history by becoming the first Chadds side to reach this far — 12 months after they bowed out at the last-eight stage.

Secretary Keith Hanley said: “We’ve been in existence for 71 years and this is the further we’ve ever got.

“We nearly pulled out of the competition 10 years ago. We played a team from Liverpool and we were kicked off the park.

“I spoke to the organisers and I told them we didn’t want to enter it any more, but they said if we dropped out we wouldn’t get back in again.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the lads and I would say we’ve got a reasonable chance of going all the way.

“We seem to lack a bit of consistency in the league, but we are able to build up to one-off games in the cup.”

According to Hanley, new signings Gary Pickup and Graeme Preston have enhanced manager Craig Stone’s squad this season.

Preston played his part in the equaliser after Blackburn-based Rhoden had taken an early lead.

He combined with Antony Corlett to set up Will Ash, before Scott Owen put them in front after a mazy run from Rick Massey.

A header from Massey made it 3-1 with 10 minutes to go and, with Rhoden now in disarray, substitute Steve Barrow added two late goals.

Rhoden had a chance to reduce the deficit in the last minute when they were awarded a penalty, but Gary Jones, who had impressed all afternoon, saved the spot-kick.




THE Lancashire Amateur League programme was all but washed out.



Chaddertonians reserves fixture at Broughton Amateurs in division one did go ahead, but they went down 2-1.




Last-eight place for Heyside



HEYSIDE stormed into the quarter-finals of the Huddersfield and District League’s Groom Cup with a 3-1 win over YMCA.



All the goals came in the second half, with R Barnes breaking the deadlock on the hour mark.

J Taylor made it 2-0 and Barnes quickly followed up with a third as the home side took command.

YMCA pulled a goal back with 10 minutes to go.

Meanwhile, there is a lot to play for in the league over the Christmas and New Year period.

Diggle, with just one defeat in division one this season, will look to narrow the gap on the leading pack when they travel to Newsome on Saturday.

Heyside will be aiming to extend their mini-revival away to Scissett.

Springhead entertain Linthwaite Athletic in the second round of the West Riding FA Challenge Cup on Saturday, while Uppermill visit Heywood Irish Centre in a third round tie.

Results are —

Groom Cup, round two: Heyside FC 3, YMCA 1.

Richardson Cup, round two: Uppermill Res P Diggle ‘A’ P.

Division one: Diggle P Meltham Athletic P; Shepley P Uppermill P;

Reserve division two: Uppermill ‘A’ P Mount Res P.




High fives for Oldham



OLDHAM Schools under-14s extended their unbeaten run to five games in the Greater Manchester Schools’ League with a last-gasp 6-5 win against Salford at Broughton.



They made a dream start thanks to Matthew Singleton’s strike.

Salford drew level, but Oldham were soon back in command with the Crompton House hot-shot completing a stunning hat-trick.

Salford reduced the deficit before half-time, but Oldham pulled away again after the restart.

The home side refused to lie down and stormed back to restore parity.

There were still more goals to come, but Oldham had the last say when Jake Coe, of Radclyffe, fired home with four minutes to go.




THE under-15s’ Greater Manchester Schools’ League game against Salford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.






CROMPTON House Year Sevens beat Sacred Heart (Liverpool) 1-0 at New Barn playing fields to book their place in the last 32 of the English Schools’ FA Cup.






Gregorians take over lead role



SPRINGHEAD’S reign at the top of the Manchester League premier division is over for now at least.



The Ashfield Crescent outfit had no game, which allowed Gregorians to assume command after a 4-1 defeat of Atherton Town.

In the only other fixture to take place in the premier division, Hollinwood missed the chance to go third after they lost 2-1 to Prestwich Heys. See John Gilder’s Match of the Day.

Meanwhile, Avro will have to wait until the New Year to play their Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy final against Curzon Ashton reserves.

They were due to meet last Thursday, but the pitch at Brantingham Road was frozen.

Results are —

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

Division two: Avro Res P Wythenshawe Amateurs Res P; Elton Vale Res P Gregorians Res P; Hindsford Res P Bury Amateurs Res P; Monton Amateurs Res P Rochdale Sacred Heart Res P; Prestwich Heys Res P Leigh Athletic Res P; Springhead Res P West Didsbury & Chorlton Res P; Walshaw Sports Res P Stockport Georgians Res P.

Division three: Atherton Town Res 5, Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 1; Bury Amateurs ‘A’ P Gregorians ‘A’ P; Old Alts Res P Breightmet United Res P; Royton Town Res P Stand Athletic Res P; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ P Hollinwood Res P; Wythenshawe Town Res 2, Beechfield United Res 4.




Santos hopes soon dashed



ANY chance Santos reserves had of producing a giant-killing act in the Lancashire and Cheshire League Cup were soon wrecked by their Rochdalians counterparts.



Three goals adrift at half-time Santos, from division ‘C’, had a mountain to climb.

They fell four behind soon after the restart and then switched to three at the back as they tried to find a way back into the game.

But Rochdalians, from division ‘A’, added two more to their tally, before Santos finally got on the scoresheet courtesy of an own goal.

The local outfit continued to press forward, but conceded a seventh late on.

o THE other Lancashire and Cheshire League games involving local sides were postponed.




10-goal thriller



LEADERS Turks Head refused to lie down against FC Dale in division one of the Rochdale and District Sunday League.



Returning after a four-week lay-off, they twice recovered from two-goal deficits to draw 5-5 and keep up their unbeaten start to the season.

A fine solo effort from Lee Higginbottom put Turks ahead, but FC Dale fought back to lead 3-1 on the hour mark.

Phil Tonge pulled one back from a free-kick and Andy Eastwood headed home Matt Tonge’s crossfield ball for the equaliser.

But FC Dale regained the advantage and, with 10 minutes remaining, scored a fifth.

However, Turks mounted a last-gasp recovery mission, with Eastwood turning sharply before firing home.

And, with time running out, hat-trick hero Eastwood salvaged a point with a fizzing 25-yard drive.