Golden oldies roll back the years

Amateur football 1

Failsworth Athletic 2, Avro under-19s 1

THIS was a case of men against boys in the truest sense as Failsworth Athletic earned a priceless three points at the expense of Avro under-19s.

In bitterly-cold conditions, Athletic eased their relegation worries in the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Jack Abbott premier division with a performance that rolled back the years.

It would be unkind of me to unveil the average age of the Athletic side, but I am sure that the evergreen Tex Robinson will not mind sharing with you the fact that he his well into his 40s.

I know that purely because Robinson was a few years younger than me at school and I reach my half century this year. Another golden oldie!

Robinson, despite his advancing years in football terms, was voted man-of-the-match by the opposition.

As for the opposition, well, their title is a dead give-away in terms of age. And also certain is the fact that Avro are destined to be one of the leading lights in the league in years to come.

Like Chaddy End FC before them, Avro possess the talent to become a force to be reckoned with.

Especially if they can keep hold of striker Lee Ellis, whose goal in the 72nd minute set up a grandstand finish to the game.

Athletic were in control up until that point.

They opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Andy Callaghan headed home a Mike Gibson flag-kick, but they had to wait until the 70th minute to double their advantage. Matt Olive nodding home a cross from Gary Eyre.

Rodney Clarke, the Athletic secretary said: “The win gives us a bit of breathing space at the bottom of the table and I think we can now look forward to a few more victories.

“Despite the weather conditions, it was a good game played in a sporting fashion.

“I thought Avro passed the ball really well. The lad Ellis, in particular, looked good up front.”

Ellis, then, a candidate for the league’s under-21s representative side if, and when, it is ever resurrected.

As for Robinson, he was one of the leading lights in the inter-league side of the mid-1980s.

FAILSWORTH ATHLETIC: Fitton, Stockwell, Robinson, Robertson, Helme, Callaghan, D Cain, Simpson, Olive, Eyre, Gibson. Subs: Wildbore, Lees, Cooper.

AVRO UNDER-19S: Wilcox, Clancy, Ramsey, Lewis, Regan, Settle, Morrisey, Dibley, Ellis, Stuttard, White.

REFEREE: A Hibbert.


Great Scott!

CHADDERTONIANS are up to fifth in the Lancashire Amateur League premier division after they clinched a last-gasp 2-1 win at home to Little Lever.

Behind in the 10th minute after mix up in defence, Chadds restored parity when Anthony Corlett’s shot came back off a post and Steve Barrow was on hand to convert the follow-up.

Gary Jones made several key saves for the home side until, in the last minute, Scott Owen crashed home a drive after good work from Barrow and Rick Massey.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Failsworth Dynamos slipped further off the pace after they were beaten 1-0 by Horwich RMI.

Chadds’ second team lost 4-1 to Horwich Victoria in division one. Lee Higginbottom scored the consolation goal.

Two goals in the last eight minutes gave Oldham Hulmeians a well-deserved 3-1 victory at Old Boltonians reserves in division two.

The visitors dominated the first-half but could only convert one of many chances, Clint Tate heading home David Bradburn’s free kick.

Boltonians snatched an equaliser deep into the second half but Bradburn’s deflected free-kick restored Hulmeians’ lead before Ryan Fielding made sure with a powerful strike into the top corner.

In division four, Chadds thirds crashed 4-0 at Radcliffe Town reserves.

Meanwhile, table-topping Hulmeians Reserves were edged out 4-3 by second-placed Lymm ‘B’ in a division-six clash at Tate Street.

Gary Melia, Danny Harrison and Lee Johnson were on target for the local side.

In division seven, Hulmeians ‘A’ were thumped 6-0 by leaders Broughton Amateurs ‘B’.

Results are —

Premier division: Chaddertonians 2, Little Lever SC 1; Failsworth Dynamos 0, Horwich RMI 1.

Division one: Chaddertonians Res 1, Horwich Victoria 4; Tyldesley United 0, Mostonians 2.

Division two: Old Boltonians Res 1, Oldham Hulmeians 3.

Division three: Rochdale St Clems ‘A’ 5, Failsworth Dynamos Res 1; Rossendale Amateurs ‘A’ 1, Mostonians Res 3.

Division four: Radcliffe Town Res 4, Chaddertonians ‘A’ 0.

Division five: Mostonians ‘A’ 1, Radcliffe Boys Res 1.

Division Six: Oldham Hulmeians Res 3, Lymm ‘B’ 4.

Division seven: Old Blackburnians ‘C’ P Oldham Hulmeians ‘B’ P; Oldham Hulmeians ‘A’ 0, Broughton Amateurs ‘B’ 6.


Phillips is Santos inspiration

SANTOS, with Jonathan Phillips instrumental in all three goals, returned to winning ways in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

They recorded a 3-0 win over lowly Deans Youth, with John Mayall, James Stockton and Russell Clarke on target

AFC Oldham 2005 gave it a good go against runaway leaders Milton FC before succumbing 5-3.

Meanwhile, Santos reserves extended their unbeaten run to seven games after a 3-2 win at Denton West End Youth in division ‘C’.

Scott Watson scored all three goals after the home side had taken the lead.

Oldham Victoria reserves won 1-0 at Staly FC, while AFC Oldham’s second strong fought out a 1-1 draw against Whalley Range thirds.

Results are —

Division two: Santos FC 3, Deans Youth 0; AFC Oldham 2005 3, Milton FC 5.

Division ‘C’: Denton West End Youth 2, Santos FC Res 3; Staly FC 0, Oldham Victoria Res 1; Whalley Range 3rds 1, AFC Oldham 2005 Res 1.

Division ‘D’: AFC Oldham 2005 3rds 3, Old Ashtonians 3rds 1.


Relegation battle for Uppermill

UPPERMILL are facing a fight to avoid the drop after they slumped to their fourth straight defeat in the Huddersfield and District League.

They went ahead through Bobby Greenwood’s powerful header, but Hepworth United hit back to run out 6-2 winners at Greenfield Paper Mill.

The home side conceded four goals before half-time and, although Nathan Boote lightened the mood with an wonderful 25-yard strike, their fate was already sealed by then.

In reserve division one, Diggle enjoyed a thrilling 4-3 success over Heywood Irish Centre, but Uppermill’s second string were beaten 2-0 at Kirkheaton Rovers.

It wasn’t all bad news for the Uppermill club as the ‘A’ team, with goals from John Lees (two) and Rob Faulkener, overcame New Mill ’94 3-1 in reserve division two.

But Diggle ‘A’ were beaten 6-2 at home by Westend and Heyside lost 3-1 to table-topping Shepley, who were three goals to the good at half-time.

Heyside were much better after the break and reduced the deficit with a Joe Royle header.

Heyside went on to miss a penalty —they also hit the woodwork twice — as their hopes of taking something from the game vanished.

In the Works League, Uppermill’s third team had Ryan Hughes (two) and Phil Austin on the mark in a 3-0 win over Syngenta, while a Simon Poulter goal clinched a 1-0 victory for the fifths against Moldgreen.

Results are —

Division one: Lepton Highlanders P Diggle P; Uppermill 2, Hepworth Utd 6.

Division three: Grange Moor P Heyside FC P.

Reserve division one: Diggle Res 4, Heywood Irish Centre Res 3; Kirkheaton Rovers Res 2, Uppermill Res 0.

Reserve division two: Diggle ‘A’ 2, Westend Res 6; Heyside FC Res 1, Shepley Res 3; ¬New Mill 94 Res 1, Uppermill ‘A’ 3.Mills and Butler keep their coolUPPERMILL under-15s held their nerve to reach the semi-finals of the Tameside Sunday League Cup.

A goal down with 20 minutes to go in the last-eight tie, penalties from Danny Mills and Luke Butler clinched a 2-1 win over Dukinfield Town.


Tameside and District Mini-Soccer League

RESULTS and scorers from the Tameside and District Mini-Soccer League are —

UNDER-NINES: Uppermill ‘A’ 3 (Nick Price, Kian Stewart, Finn Gallagher), Ashton United 3; Uppermill ‘A’ 2 (Matt Pazos 2), Chadderton Juniors 3; Uppermill ‘B’ 5 (Oliver Keane, Lewis Hallett, Connor Hilditch, Toby Kershaw, Ben Kershaw) Ashton United 0; Uppermill ‘B’ 0, Chadderton Juniors 0.

UNDER-10S: Uppermill Blues ‘A’ 0, Failsworth Dynamos 6; Uppermill Blues ‘B’ 0, Failsworth Dynamos 3.

Other results

Uppermill ‘A’ 0, Chadderton Juniors 0; Uppermill ‘A’ 5 (Dan McGroarty 4, Matt Barlow), Uppermill Blues ‘A’ 3 (Ben Forster 2, Joseph Williams); Uppermill ‘B’ 0, Chadderton Juniors 2; Uppermill ‘B’ 1 (Brandon Halliwell), Uppermill Blues ‘B’ 1 (Joseph Ellison).


Avro dinner

FOOTBALL: AVRO are hosting a sportsman’s dinner at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, April 18.

Former Burnley and Huddersfield Town forward Steve Kinden is the guest speaker.

Tickets at £35 — tables of 10 are available — can be obtained from David Moxon on (0161) 205 1978 or 07920 779382.