Superior United’s five-star show

SIDE-STEP: Oldham Victoria’s Paul Arrowsmith is beaten by Milton’s James Wainwright.

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Cup romp for Coppice

COPPICE United put Limeside Athletic in their place in round three of the Challenge Cup.

United, third in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League, came up against a team boasting a 100-per-cent record in division two.

But they side-stepped a potential banana skin with a commanding 5-1 win.

Fitton Hill, from David Giblin, division one, also made smooth progress into the last eight at the expense of Marvin Greenwood FC.

Hill, who are pushing for promotion, posted an impressive 8-1 victory against the division two outfit.

Chaddy End FC edged out top-flight rivals Failsworth Athletic 5-4, while Red Star went through without setting foot on the pitch after North Star said they were unable to raise a team.

In the only President’s Trophy tie, Khartoum Northern overcame division one rivals Parkside 7-2.

Royton FC have extended their lead in the premier division to six points after a 7-2 defeat of Shahjalal Unity, while there were also wins for Oddies and High Crompton CC.

FC Broadgate missed the chance to go clear in division one after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Royton Athletic.

That result left the way open for Rose of Lancaster to go top, but they fluffed their lines against improving Wellington, who won 4-3.

Springhead Libs are also making a bold bid to avoid the drop. They secured a 2-0 success at Crompton and Royton.

Limeside’s involvement in the Challenge Cup allowed Steven Caine to regain top spot in division two.

They reached the summit in style with a decisive 7-0 win over Royton Cons, while Rifle Range Royal Blues are up to third after a 3-1 defeat of Northside FC.

Results and scorers are —

Jack Abbott premier division: Avro under-19s 3, Oddies FC 5; Hunt Lane 2, High Crompton CC 3; FC Royton 7 (D Dalton, R Quinlan 3, R. Siddall 2, W. Dean), Shahjalal Unity 2.

David Giblin division one: Royton Athletic 2 (D Wilkinson 2), FC Broadgate 2 (J Walker, J Barker); Wellington 4 (J Shaw, A Biggins, T Lloyd, S Edge), Rose of Lancaster 3 (L Scanlon 2, D Scanlon); Crompton & Royton 0, Springhead Libs 2 (A Ashton, S Kelly).

Division two: Steven Caine FC 7 (M Gurr 2, N Hardman 2, C Lees, R Hursthouse, J Moss), Royton Cons FC 0; Rifle Range Royal Blues 3 (A Oates, S Lee 2), Northside FC 1 (B Boardman).

Challenge Cup, round three: North Star P Red Star P (North Star were unable to field a team); Fitton Hill 8 (T Robinson, D Whipp, D Brooks 3, P Badby, G Armstead, A Blain), Marvin Greenwood FC 1 (M Greenwood); Coppice United 5 (M. Ali 2, D O’Connell, N Butt 2), Limeside Athletic 1 (S Renshaw); Chaddy End FC 5, Failsworth Athletic 4.

President’s Trophy, round three: Parkside 2, Khartoum Northern 7 (K Radcliffe 2, A Murdoch 2, P Simpson, W Hough, B Yates).


Vics push fallen Giants all the way

Oldham Victoria 2, Milton 3

Match of the Day by JOHN GILDER

OLDHAM Victoria came within a whisker of snatching a point off runaway Lancashire and Cheshire League division two pacesetters Milton at Broadhurst Park.

Trailing 3-2 with only seconds left on the clock, Carl Cooper wriggled his way through a packed defence before unleashing a drive which, unfortunately for the home side, was palmed on to a post by the ’keeper.

A draw would have been just reward for mid-table Vics, who fell behind in the first minute and were two goals down after an hour.

But a spirited fightback saw them set up a grandstand finish, before Milton scored the match-winning goal with 15 minutes to go.

Long-serving Vics chairman Malcolm Carr said: “We were all disappointed at the result, but anybody watching could not say the same about the match itself.

“The quality of football played by both sides would not have been out of place in our premier division.

“To be honest, when we conceded so early on, it looked like Milton would run riot.

“But we have a good group of lads here, who never give up. Even at 2-0 down, you could see that we were still very much in the game.

“You can see why Milton were in the Manchester League for so long. They were very well organised and very fast on the break.”

With the regular ’keeper unavailable, striker Anthony Morris was chosen by Vics manager Duncan Statham to take over in goal.

Despite conceding twice in the opening 30 minutes, Statham took heart from his side’s recovery.

Mike Donahue forced the ball home from close range four minutes before half-time to reduce the deficit.

He scored his second 11 minutes after restart — he capitalised on a defensive error — to pull Vics level.

But Vics’ hopes of a point were ultimately dashed when Milton nosed ahead and Cooper looked on in anguish as his effort crashed against the woodwork.

Despite the defeat Vics, who celebrate 25 years in existence with a special function at Middleton Masonic Hall on Friday, May 15, are still on course for one of their best seasons in recent times.

OLDHAM VICTORIA: Morris, Taylor, Sproson, Wakefield, Southern, Keenan, Dearden, Wrigley, Donahue, Cooper, Arrowsmith. Sub: Callaghan.


VICTORIA’S second string went down by the odd goal in five in their Lancashire and Cheshire League division ‘C’ encounter at Whalley Range.


Diggle fix sights on top-three finish
DIGGLE’S best hope for the Huddersfield and District League season is a top-three finish in division one.

Any hope of mounting an assault on the title are all but over after they were beaten 4-3 by second-placed Shepley.

But, with games in hand, Steve Southern’s side can still finish behind Lepton Highlanders, who are well on their way to claiming the championship.

Uppermill were unable to prevent unbeaten Highlanders recording their 11th win of the season.

They lost 3-1 and face a fight to avoid relegation.

Fellow strugglers Heyside remain second-bottom in division three after they were beaten 4-1 by mid-table Shelley.

Trailing 3-0 at the break, a much-improved second half display saw Heyside hit the woodwork twice before Scott Rowbottom reduced the arrears.

But hopes of a recovery were dashed when Shelley scored from a free-kick with five minutes to go.

Diggle reserves bowed out of the FA Junior Cup at the quarter-final stage — they lost 2-0 at Netherton — but the club’s ‘A’ team defeated local rivals Uppermill 2-1 in round two of the Richardson Cup.

In reserve division two, Heyside made it back-to-back wins thanks to a 3-1 defeat of New Mill 94.

Richard Headon put the hosts in front, only for the visitors to draw level before half-time.

But Headon went on to complete his hat-trick to ensure Heyside clinched maximum points.

Elsewhere in the division, Uppermill ‘A’ had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Wooldale Wanderers.

Results are —

FA Junior Cup, quarter-finals: Netherton Res 2, Diggle Res 0.

Richardson Cup, round two: Uppermill Res 1, Diggle ‘A’ 2.

Division one: Diggle 3, Shepley 4; Lepton Highlanders 3, Uppermill 1.

Division three: Shelley 4, Heyside FC 1.

Reserve division two: Heyside FC Res 3, New Mill 94 Res 1; Uppermill ‘A’ 2, Wooldale Wanderers Res 2.


Royton woe

AFC ROYTON went down 5-4 in a topsy-turvy encounter against St Albans in division two of the Rochdale On-line Alliance.

Simon Atkinson, Danny Cole, Jordan Wilcock and Gary Jackson scored for Royton, who were leading 3-1 at one stage.