Last-eight pain for sorry Town

BELOW-PAR Royton Town saw their Gilgryst Cup hopes evaporate at the quarter-final stage.

The Glebe Street outfit were beaten 2-1 by Stockport Georgians, who took full advantage of a disappointing display from the home side to score twice in the last three minutes of the first half.

Town, who entertain mid-table rivals Atherton Town on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm), improved after the break but had to wait until the last minute before they pulled a goal back through Chris Mason.

Avro, on the other hand, are making great strides in the premier division.

They are up to fifth in the table after an emphatic 5-1 win at Rochdale Sacred Heart.

With nearly a third of the league campaign to go, they can still lay down a title challenge.

They should be too strong for visitors Elton Vale at the weekend (2.30pm).

Hollinwood can enhance their own championship credentials when they play host to Rochdale Sacred Heart on Saturday (3pm).

Third in the table, five points behind pacesetters Gregorians, Paul Bennett’s boys stayed in contention with a 5-3 win at home to Elton Vale. However, Springhead’s poor run of form continued as they were beaten 2-1 by Wythenshawe Amateurs. See John Gilder’s Match of the Day.

Results are —

League Cup: Fives Athletic Res 4, Bury Amateurs ‘B’ 1; Hollinwood ‘A’ 3, Chapel Town Res 5; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 5, Standians Res 2 aet.

Gilgryst Cup: Royton Town 1, Stockport Georgians 2.

Premier division: Hindsford 6, Breightmet United 1; Leigh Athletic 2, East Manchester 2; Pennington 2, Chapel Town 0; Prestwich Heys 1, Gregorians 2; Rochdale Sacred Heart 1, Avro 5; Springhead 1, Wythenshawe Amateurs 2; Walshaw Sports 2, Atherton Town 1; Hollinwood 5, Elton Vale 3.

Division two: Avro Res 7, Hindsford Res 1; Dukinfield Town Res 2, Leigh Athletic Res 0; East Manchester Res 2, Monton Amateurs Res 1; Elton Vale Res 2, Bury Amateurs Res 0; Stockport Georgians Res 1, Springhead Res 1; Walshaw Sports Res 0, Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 2; Gregorians Res 3, Rochdale Sacred Heart Res 1;

Division three: Breightmet United Res 2; Gregorians ‘A’ 3; Atherton Town Res 1, Beechfield United Res 2; Old Alts Res 4, Bury Amateurs 1; Stand Athletic Res 2, Royton Town Res 2; Wythenshawe Town Res 1, Hollinwood Res 4.


HOLLINWOOD ‘A’ bowed out of the League Cup after they went down 5-3 at home to Chapel Town reserves.

In division two, Avro reserves brushed aside their Hindsford counterparts 7-1, while Springhead reserves drew 1-1 at Stockport Georgians reserves.

Hollinwood reserves beat their Wythenshawe Town counterparts 4-1 in division three, while Callum Frizzell equalised 10 minutes from time as Royton Town reserves drew 2-2 against Stand Athletic reserves. Ian Marshall had earlier put Town ahead.


Hill cut down Rose in Challenge Cup tussle

FITTON Hill came out on top when two David Giblin division one promotion seekers went head to head in the Challenge Cup.

Hill, the leaders, defeated Rose of Lancaster 3-1 to book their place in round three of the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League competition.

Also through are Limeside Athletic — they overcame Northside FC 3-1 in an all-division two tie — and division one outfit Red Star, who caused a minor upbeat by beating top-flight basement boys Shahjalal Unity 4-2.

Old Grey Mare, from division three, put up a good fight against Westwood (division one) before succumbing 4-3.

Hunt Lane and Oddies, from the Jack Abbott premier division, are looking forward to round four after 4-0 and 7-5 wins over division one outfits Crompton and Royton and Parkside respectively.

Khartoum Northern, third in division one, continued their quest for trophy honours with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Rifle Range Royal Blues, from division two.

In the league, Royton FC maintained their three-point lead in the premier division and at the same time dented Coppice United title hopes courtesy of a 2-1 win.

Nearest challengers Lowerhouse United enjoyed a 6-3 victory over Avro under-19s, while Dynamos edged out Athletic in the Failsworth derby to boost their championships aspirations.

FC Broadgate have moved level on points with Fitton Hill at the top of division one thanks to a 4-0 defeat of Royton Athletic, while bottom two Springhead Libs and Wellington fought out a 3-3 draw.

Marvin Greenwood FC suffered their first defeat of the season in division two when they went down 3-2 at Royton Cons, but Waggon and Horses posted their first win after overcoming North Star 2-1.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: Avro under-19s 3, Lowerhouse United 6; Failsworth Athletic 2 (A Callaghan, G Eyre), Failsworth Dynamos 3 (L Mack 3); FC Royton 2 (C Ginnever, R Quinlan), Coppice United 1 (Y Farooq). David Giblin division one: FC Broadgate 4 (P Robinson, A Isles, M Ireson, R Street), Royton Athletic 0; Springhead Libs 3 (S Kelly, S Ashton, own goal), Wellington 3 (A Biggins 2, L Waterworth);

Division two: Royton Cons FC 3, Marvin Greenwood FC 2; Waggon and Horses 2 (C Hamer, G Blackburn), North Star 1 (T Sellas).

Challenge Cup, round two: Limeside Athletic 3 (S Renshaw, W Berry 2), Northside FC 1 (D Percival); Rose of Lancaster 1 (L Scanlon), Fitton Hill 3 (G Armstead, D Whipp, A Brain); Shahjalal Unity 2, Red Star 4; Westwood 4 (A. Hussain 2), S Uddin, S Hussain), Old Grey Mare 3 (N Jones, D Morgan, P Chapman).

Challenge Cup, round three: Hunt Lane 4 (C Duxbury, S Weaver, K Kurpas 2), Crompton and Royton 0; Parkside 5, Oddies FC 7; Khartoum Northern 3 (K Radcliffe, A Murdoch), Rifle Range Royal Blues 2 (C Healey 2).


Bridge stay on track in trophy

PREMIER division outfit Bridge made smooth progress in the Vic Marsden Trophy.

They brushed division one promotion-chasing Wellington 6-0 thanks to S King, M King, M Fleming, C Harris, S Gray and an own goal.

Dog and Partridge also advanced after winning 2-1 at Home Guard in an all division one tie. Gareth Cardwell scored a brace for Dog.

There were goals galore in the only premier division clash as Halfway House trounced Moston Labour Club 6-1 to claim top spot in the table.

A John Parkinson hat-trick, plus Rocky Siddall, Dave Roberts and an own goal made up House’s half-dozen. Anthony Whitehouse scored Moston’s consolation.

In division one, a Keith Melvin double gave Manor a 2-1 win against Falconers, while a Chris Lomas double helped Charlestown to a 5-3 win over basement boys Anglers.


First-half show leaves Santos too much to do

SANTOS were punished for a poor first-half display as they were beaten 2-0 by local rivals Oldham Victoria in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

Vics were two goals to the good at half-time, although the home side should have halved the deficit when they were awarded a penalty for handball just before the break.

Unfortunately for Santos, the spot-kick was drilled wide and Vics went on to claim their seventh league win of the season.

AFC Oldham 2005 remain one place above Vics in the table — they sit fifth — after a 2-1 defeat of Manchester Rovers.

Vics’ second string are in the hunt for division ‘C’ title honours.

Although 15 points behind table-toppers Old Stretfordians thirds, they possess five games in hand.

Their latest win came against Stoconians thirds by virtue of a 5-0 scoreline.

Meanwhile, an own goal and a scrambled Jamie Taylor effort saw Santos reserves recover from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 at home to Milton reserves, but AFC Oldham reserves succumbed 6-0 to their Parrswood Celtic counterparts.

And AFC Oldham’s third team lost 2-1 at Old Stretfordians fourths in division ‘D’.

Results are —

Division two: AFC Oldham 2005 2, Manchester Rovers 1; Santos FC 0, Oldham Victoria 2.

Division ‘C’: AFC Oldham 2005 Res 0, Parrswood Celtic Res 6; Stoconians 3rds 0, Oldham Victoria Res 5; Santos FC Res 2, Milton FC Res 2.

Division ‘D’: Old Stretfordians 4ths 2, AFC Oldham 2005 3rds 1.