Cup KO leaves Bennett fuming

GET BACK: Chaddertonians’ Mark Knowles holds off an Old Boltonians opponent.

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MANAGER Paul Bennett was seething after watching his Hollinwood side go out to Stockport Georgians in the last four of the Gilgryst Cup.

Championship contenders Hollinwood were red-hot favourites to reach the final, but their mid-table opponents had other ideas and ran out surprise 4-1 winners.

The damage was done inside the first 12 minutes as Georgians breached the home team’s defence on three occasions.

Alan Beckett provided Hollinwood with a lifeline, but they conceded a fourth moments later.

Bennett said: “It is a good job I wasn’t asked for my reaction straight after the final whistle, because I might have got into a bit of trouble.

“We’re flying in the league and confidence is really high, but I was shocked at what I saw out there.

“No disrespect to Georgians, they were very well-organised, but the players have to remember the game is not won before it kicks off.”

Springhead, meanwhile, produced their best performance for some time in their 2-1 defeat of Atherton Town in the Manchester League premier division.

Luke McAllister has seen his side slip out of title reckoning in recent weeks, but they will have been buoyed this result.

They had to recover from conceding a goal after two minutes.

Ryan Shaughnessy equalised just after the break — his corner flew straight in — before Richard Bennett stroked home the winner at the back post with just four minutes to go.

Avro continued their excellent run of form with a decisive 4-0 win at home to Rochdale Sacred Heart.

They remain fifth in the table, but are within striking distance of Walshaw Sports in third.

Results are —

Gilgryst Cup semi-final: Hollinwood 1, Stockport Georgians 4; Walshaw Sports 2, Wythenshawe Amateurs 3.

Premier division: Atherton Town 1, Springhead 2; Avro 4, Rochdale Sacred Heart 0; Breightmet United 1, Hindsford 5; East Manchester 4, Pennington 1; Gregorians 2, Leigh Athletic 0; Prestwich Heys 2, Chapel Town 1.

Division two: Bury Amateurs Res 2, Prestwich Heys Res 1; Dukinfield Town Res 1, East Manchester Res 1; Hindsford Res 0, Wythenshawe Amateurs Res 1; Leigh Athletic Res 0, Avro Res 2; Monton Amateurs Res 3, Walshaw Sports Res 0; Rochdale SH Res 3, Elton Vale Res 4; Springhead Res 0, Gregorians Res 1; Stockport Georgians Res 2, West Didsbury & Chorlton Res 1.

Division three: Bury Amateurs ‘A’ 3, Beechfield United Res 4; Chapel Town Res 3, Wythenshawe Town Res 0; Old Alts Res 1, Atherton Town Res 1; Royton Town Res 3, Hollinwood ‘A’ 1; Stand Athletic Res 6, Gregorians ‘A’ 4; Stockport Georgians ‘A’ 1, Hollinwood Res 2; Walshaw Sports ‘A’ 1, Breightmet United Res 1.




Chadds keep title hopes alive

Chaddertonians 3, Old Boltonians 1

Match of the Day

by  JOHN GILDER

ANY thoughts that Chaddertonians’ season would go into free-fall after their Lancashire Amateur Cup semi-final defeat were blown away with victory over Old Boltonians at the Lancaster Club.

This latest victory against a side sitting proudly at the top of the Lancashire Amateur League premier division table maintains Chadds’ hopes of title honours.

Yet it was Boltonians who started much the stronger of the two teams, and they bombarded the Chadds’ goal for the first 15 minutes.

A fantastic double save from Chadds’ goalkeeper Karl Stone — the score was 1-1 at the time — proved to be the turning point in a highly entertaining encounter.

Chadds weathered the early storm and went ahead after 28 minutes through Steve Barrow’s well judged lob from the edge of the penalty area.

The start of the second half was a carbon copy of the firstwith Boltonians, as expected, striving for an equaliser.

It duly arrived just after the hour mark and, at that stage, the table-toppers were much the better side.

Then came that Stone save, the ’keeper diving low to his right to parry a stinging effort before recovering smartly to beat away the rebound.

Keith Hanley, the Chadds’ secretary, said: “It was a brilliant stop and it seemed to spark us into life.

“We started playing after that and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

“They were sick as parrots at the end because they really thought they were going to beat us.”

Chadds clinched victory with two goals in the final 15 minutes through Rick Massey and Barrow again.

Hanley added: “We are still in with a shout of the title, although it is only an outside chance.

“Blackburnians have several games in hand on the top teams but with those same teams still to play each other, anything could happen.”

CHADDERTONIANS: K Stone, Corlett, Knowles, Radcliffe, Kitson, Massey, Owen, Higginbottom, Whittaker, Barrow, Pickup. Subs: Sweeney, C Stone.




Errors costly for Uppermill

IT was doom and gloom for local sides in division one of the Huddersfield and District League.

Diggle were beaten 4-2 at home by Heywood Irish Centre and Uppermill’s woes continued as they went down 3-1 at second-placed Shepley.

Despite having conditions in their favour in the first half — they had a strong wind at their backs — relegation-haunted Uppermill rarely threatened to break down the home team’s defence.

They dominated possession after the break, but silly errors gifted Shepley three goals, before Scott Thistleton pulled one back.

Heyside are finding it a struggle in division three, and this time they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat at mid-table Skelmanthorpe.

The elements were also a feature of the game as Heyside, with the wind in their favour, had the better of the first half but were unable to make the most of several chances.

Although the visitors were forced to defend for long periods after the break, the match appeared to be heading for a draw until Skelmanthorpe scored with two minutes to go.

Uppermill’s second string had better luck in reserve division one, with goals from Phil Austin, Jeff Grace and Danny Gartside clinching a 3-1 win over their Newsome WMC counterparts.

But the club’s ‘A’ team succumbed 4-1 at Heyside in reserve division two.

Lee Watkinson put Heyside ahead just before half-time, and a Michael Ward doubled the lead moments after the restart.

John Lees halved the deficit, but a quickfire brace from Terrence Bark sealed victory for the home side.

Results are —

Division one: Diggle 2, Heywood Irish Centre FC 4; Shepley 3, Uppermill 1.

Division three: Skelmanthorpe 1, Heyside FC 0.

Reserve division one: Uppermill Res 3, Newsome WMC Res 1.

Reserve division two: Diggle ‘A’ 0, Mount Res 1; Heyside FC Res 4, Uppermill ‘A’ 1.


IN the Huddersfield Works League, Chris Barlow and Rob Squibbs scored two apiece for Uppermill thirds in a 4-3 defeat of Heywood Irish reserves, and Uppermill fifths swept aside Upperthong 6-0. Lewis Wright, Dave Roberts, Graham Jones, Anthony Skinner (two) and an own goal made up the tally.Atkinson sets the ball rolling.


AFC ROYTON enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Wardle in division two of the Rochdale On-line Alliance.

Simon Atkinson put Royton ahead before the break, and were always in command once Jordan Wilcock and Shane Stott had added to the tally.


Five-star Royton on a high

ROYTON FC put close rivals Lowerhouse United in their place in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

The 5-2 win strengthened Royton’s position at the top of the Jack Abbott premier division table — they are now nine points clear — and all but ruined United’s title hopes.

Failsworth Dynamos, with umpteen games in hand, climbed to third after a 6-2 defeat of Avro under-19s.

But Chaddy End FC suffered a setback as they lost 4-3 to High Crompton CC.

Failsworth Athletic moved further away from the relegation zone with a 5-2 win at basement Shahjalal Unity, while Oddies swept aside Failsworth Athletic 6-1.

FC Broadgate have opened up a two-point lead in David Giblin division one after a 5-1 defeat of Wellington.

With Fitton Hill’s match at home to Crompton and Royton postponed, Khartoum Northern climbed up to second place thanks to a 5-2 win at Westwood.

Rose of Lancaster lost ground on the leaders after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Springhead Libs, who are battling to avoid the drop.

The match between mid-table rivals Parkside and Royton Athletic also ended all square.

Two points cover the top three teams in division two.

Steve Caine FC and Limeside Athletic are neck-and-neck after 7-3 and 3-1 victories over Oldham United and Marvin Greenwood respectively.

Rifle Range Royal Blues are hot on their heels after a 3-1 success at lowly North Star, while there were also wins for Northside FC and Royton Cons FC.


Hughes, Stuttard strike for Dynamos

FAILSWORTH Dynamos, who have blown hot and cold in the Lancashire Amateur League this season, produced an excellent performance to defeat Rochdale St Clements 2-0.

Rob Hughes and Liam Stuttard got the goals and they could even afford to miss a penalty such was their dominance.

Chaddertonians’ second string were beaten 5-1 at home by Prairie United — Alex Byrne scored the consolation — but Oldham Hulmeians returned to winning ways in division two with a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Rochdale St Clements reserves.

Matthew Kemp’s pass allowed Danny McKeever to slot in the opener after 15 minutes and David Bradburn made sure of the points early in the second half when he pounced on the goalkeeper’s parry.

In division three, Failsworth Dynamos reserves defeated their Accrington Amateurs counterparts 5-2, while goals from Danny O’Keefe and Dave Garnett clinched a 2-1 win for Chadds ‘A’ against Bolton Lads Club reserves in division four.

Meanwhile, Hulmeians reserves maintained their promotion push with a 4-2 home success over Lymm ‘A’ in division six. Elliot McKinnell, Danny Clare, Paul Hinchliffe and Lee Johnstone were the marksmen.

But Hulmeians ‘A’ succumbed 8-3 to Old Blackburnians ‘C’ in division seven — Lee Kerwin, Mike Greenhalgh and Scott Edge scored for the local side — and Chadds ‘B’ lost 3-1 at Broughton Amateurs ‘B’.

Latest results are —

Premier division: Chaddertonians 3, Old Boltonians 1; Failsworth Dynamos 2, Rochdale St Clements 0.

Division one: Chaddertonians Res 1, Prairie United 4; Howe Bridge Mills 2, Mostonians 0.

Division two: Rochdale St Clems Res 0, Oldham Hulmeians 2.

Division three: Accrington Amateurs Res 2, Failsworth Dynamos Res 5; Bacup United 0, Mostonians Reserves 3.

Division four: Chaddertonians ‘A’ 2, Bolton Lads Club Res 1.

Division five: Mostonians ‘A’ 2, Tottington United Res 4.

Division six: Oldham Hulmeians Res 4, Lymm ‘A’ 2.

Division seven: Broughton Amateurs ‘B’ 3, Chaddertonians ‘B’ 1; Oldham Hulmeians ‘A’ 3, Old Blackburnians ‘C’ 8; Rossendale Amateurs ‘D’ P Oldham Hulmeians ‘B’ P.




Oldham’s sights on top-four finish

AFC OLDHAM 2005 have their sights set on a top-four finish in division two of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

They put in a super show to sweep aside title hopefuls New Manchester FC 7-2.

The win keeps AFC Oldham in fifth place, five points behind the team immediately above them in the table, Heaton Mersey. Crucially, the local outfit have two games in hand.

Oldham Victoria bounced back after last week’s narrow defeat by table-toppers Milton with a 2-1 win over basement boys VC United.

Santos AFC felt desperately unlucky after they went down 2-1 at home to Droylsden Amateurs.

Behind in the second minute after Martin Green had sliced the ball on to his own crossbar, they came back strongly and had appeals for a penalty waved away.

Third-bottom Santos eventually got their reward when Jonathan Phillips fired home a free-kick, but a glut of chances went begging and Droylsden scored late on to snatch maximum points.

Vics reserves continue to fly the flag in division ‘C’.

Third in the table, they secured a 12th success in the league this season with a 3-2 defeat of Denton West End Youth.

Dominic Rathmill showed good strength to equalise for Santos reserves against Whalley Range thirds.

But Santos failed to threaten after the interval and it was the team in second spot who went on to clinch a 2-1 win with a deflected effort.

Meanwhile, AFC Oldham reserves were edged out 3-2 at Old Stretfordians thirds.

Results are —

Division two: Oldham Victoria 2, VC United 1; AFC Oldham 2005 7, New East Manchester FC 2; Santos FC 1, Droylsden Amateurs 2.

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


All-square after 12-goal bonanza

A TOP-OF-THE-TABLE thriller in the Ashton Sunday League premier division saw Bridge and Warwick United fight out a remarkable 6-6 draw.

Neither side could capitalise on the fact that second-placed Halfway House were without a fixture.

R Jones (two), L Wolfenden, M Chapman, M Leonard and C Hewitt scored for United, while Steven Gray, Mike King, Dave Ryder, Mick Fleming (two) and an own goal accounted for Bridge’s six.

Elsewhere in the top-flight, Moston Labour Club won the battle of the basement boys, recording their first win of the season with an 8-1 demolition of Springbank.

An Anthony Whitehurst hat-trick, plus goals from Matt Watson, Steve Barratt, Jordan Thompson, Steve Heapy and Ben Diggett, made up Moston Labour Club. Damian Gilkes scored the consolation for Springbank, who remain pointless after six attempts.

Meanwhile in division one, pacesetting Dog and Partridge lost their unbeaten record when they went down 2-0 at Home Guard. Sam Cooke collected both goals.

Manor narrowed the gap on Dog as they won 4-3 at Wellington thanks to goals from Johnny Slicker (two), Keith Melvin and Lee Slater.

Wellington, who were 4-0 down, fought back thanks to strikes from Dwayne Lloyd, Danny Hepburn and Scott O’Brien.

Falconers defeated Charlestown 4-2, with Dave Schofield, Rob Brearley (two) and Justin Fletcher on target.