Title hopes are still alive

’Head dig deep to stay in hunt

SPRINGHEAD remain in contention for Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League honours after a hard-fought 4-2 win at basement boys Breightmet United.

It was a timely boost for Lee McAllister’s side who had seen their title aspirations take a nosedive after a poor run of results.

They returned to winning ways at the weekend, although they kept their supporters waiting.

After a goalless first half, the game was then held up for 30 minutes because of an injury to a Breightmet player.

When play eventually restarted, Springhead went ahead through Richard Bennett, who was grabbing his first goal for the club since returning from a brief spell at Curzon Ashton.

Breightmet stunned Springhead with a double strike and they had to wait until 15 minutes from time for Bennett to restore parity.

The Ashfield Crescent outfit bombarded the home side’s goal and their pressure finally paid off with late goals from Ryan Shaughnessy and Charlie Lees.

Hollinwood are up to second place — Paul Bennett’s side are five points behind Gregorians — after a 4-2 win at home to Rochdale Sacred Heart.

Avro’s stock continues to rise after they brushed aside Elton Vale 5-1, but Royton Town are heading in the opposite direction after lost 4-1 to Atherton Town.

Results are —

Murray Shield: Old Alts 5, Salford Victoria 0.

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

Division two: Bury Amateurs Res 1, Dukinfield Town Res 3; Elton Vale Res 5, Monton Amateurs Res 2; Gregorians Res 1, Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 1; Leigh Athletic Res 2, West Didsbury & Chorlton Res 1; Rochdale Sacred Heart Res 0, Prestwich Heys Res 3; Springhead Res 0, Hindsford Res 7; Stockport Georgians Res 1, East Manchester Res 1; Walshaw Sports Res 3, Avro Res 3.

Division three: Atherton Town Res 5, Breightmet United Res 0; Beechfield United Res 1, Gregorians ‘A’ 2; Hollinwood ‘A’ 0, Old Alts Res 6; Stand Athletic Res 2, Chapel Town Res 2; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 1, Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 1; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 2, Hollinwood Res 3; Wythenshawe Town Res 1, Royton Town Res 2.




Chadds’ charge hits the buffers

CHADDERTONIANS’ hopes of staging a late charge for the Lancashire Amateur League premier division title suffered a setback when they could only draw 1-1 at home to Old Mancunians.

The game burst into life with just two minutes to go when Chadds fell behind.

But Ben Radcliffe was on the mark for the second successive week to clinch a last-gasp point.

Failsworth Dynamos are one place below Chadds in fifth after they drew 1-1 against second-in-the-table Old Blackburnians.

In division one, Chadds reserves recorded a superb 3-2 win over Lancashire FA Cup finalists Chew Moor Brook.

Lee Higginbottom cancelled out an early Chew Moor goal, but they were seemingly heading for defeat after the visitors regained the lead in the second half.

But, with time running out, Max Harrop and Dave Ashworth gave Chadds a much-needed win.

Misfiring Oldham Hulmeians failed to find the net for the third game in a row as they went down 3-0 at Rossendale Amateurs reserves in division two.

Failsworth Dynamos reserves picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Bacup United in division three.

Chadds ‘A’ beat Little Lever ‘A’ 3-1 in division four, goals from Ashem Arriane, Mark Kearns and Damian Hardman securing their third win on the trot.

Meanwhile, Hulmeians reserves were held to a 2-2 draw at Tate Street by Broughton Amateurs ‘A’. Paul Hinchliffe and Chris Hope scored for the hosts, who remain second in division six.

In another good day for the Chadds club, the ‘B’ team, chasing promotion from division seven, overcame previously unbeaten Old Blackburnians ‘C’ 8-2.

Rob Fielding, Jason Bowes, Jack O’Dea and Warren Griffith scored two each.

Hulmeians ‘A’ had to settle for a point as John Hadfield, Phil Yates and Steve Edge earned them a 3-3 draw with Rossendale Amateurs ‘C’.

Will Preston and Phil Hall scored in Hulmeians fourth team’s 6-2 defeat at Broughton Amateurs ‘B’, a result that leaves the local side bottom of the table.Santos stung by late strike

A LATE goal denied Santos maximum points as they were held to a 2-2 draw at mid-table VIP FC in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

The local outfit went ahead when James Stockton converted a Reece Mills cross.

VIP levelled courtesy of a fine long-range effort, but Santos were back in front on the hour mark when a pass from John Bland picked out man-of-the-match Adam McKinney, who fired home.

John Mayall was twice denied by the VIP goalkeeper and they were made to pay for those misses when the hosts equalised with 10 minutes to go.

AFC Oldham 2005 are the highest-placed of the local teams despite losing 6-1 at Hattersley, while Oldham Victoria were beaten 3-2 by table-toppers Milton FC. See Match of the Day.

Santos reserves avenged a recent defeat by their AFC Oldham counterparts in division ‘C’.

They kept the home side at bay to run out resounding 6-3 winners.

Scott Watson put Santos ahead, before Dominic Rothwell (two), Wayne Hamilton, Eddie Power and Phil Cartmill got in on the act.

The AFC Oldham club had a day to forget as their third team also tasted defeat in division ‘D’, going down 3-1 at home to Irlam Steels thirds.

Results are —

Division two: VIP FC 2, Santos FC 2; AFC Oldham 2005 1, Hattersley FC 6; Oldham Victoria 2, Milton FC 3.

Division ‘C’: Whalley Range 3rds 3, Oldham Victoria Res 2; AFC Oldham 2005 Res 3, Santos FC Res 6.

Division ‘D’: AFC Oldham 2005 3rds 1, Irlam Steel 3rds 3.



Hot-shot McMillan

OLDHAM ‘B’, with Darren McMillan, Jason Cartwright and Ged Graham on target, enjoyed a 3-0 success over Liverpool in the North-West Ability Counts League.

McMillan also scored twice as they overcame Sheffield 2-0.

OIdham ‘A’ did not fare as well. Ben Kielty bagged the consolation goal as they lost 2-1 to Everton, but they clinched a point in a goalless draw against Stoke City.

Other results are —

Oldham ‘A’ 1 (Adam Flynn), Llandudno 3; Oldham ‘A’ 2, Stoke Community FC 3; Oldham ‘B’ 4 (Darren McMillan 2, Jason Cartwright, Ged Graham), Preston 0; Oldham ‘B’ 0, Community FC 3.


Key win stretches Dog’s lead

DOG and Partridge have taken a step towards clinching the Ashton Sunday League division one title.

They stretched their lead to four points after beating previously unbeaten Home Guard 4-1.

Ryan Rafferty, Nick Heap, Steve Martin and Paul Tasker scored for Dog in the key clash, while Phil Guy replied.

Bridge have taken over top-spot in the premier division, but they were made to work hard for their 2-1 win over basement boys Moston Labour Club.

S King and S Gray netted for Bridge, while an own goal accounted for Moston’s reply.

Chris Lomas was the star of the show as Charlestown brushed aside Anglers 8-1 in the Vic Marsden Trophy.

Lomas bagged four goals in the all division one clash and team-mate Kevin Buckley got two.

In the premier division cup, title-chasing Halfway House stormed to a 7-0 success over Springbank, with John Parkinson hitting a hat-trick.

Phil Simmons (two), Lee West and Anthony Heatley got the other goals.

John Slicker scored the only goal as Manor booked their place in the last four of the division one cup with a 1-0 win over Wellington.



RACHEL DAVIES delivered a five-star performance in an 8-0 demolition of Ossett in the West Riding Girls League.

The hot-shot scored five times and Debbie Ferguson helped herself to a hat-trick in the emphatic win.

Uppermill Rockettes, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten record to four games after they held Halifax side Northowram to a goalless draw.

Becki Fox and Helen Clayton went close to breaking the deadlock in the second half.